Browsing Tag
dot physics
12 posts
The Physics of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons
If you double the radius of a balloon, you increase the volume by a factor of eight (since…
Why Is It So Tricky to Show the Sun, Earth, and Moon in a Diagram?
Earth, sun, moon: three objects in space whose interactions have a pretty big impact on our lives. Earth…
How to Design a Real-Life Hot Wheels Loop
I get a minimum height of 2.5R. So if the loop is 4 meters high (with a radius…
Solar Sails and Comet Tails: How Sunlight Pushes Stuff Around
During the Age of Sail, ships circled the globe on voyages of discovery and trade. That era ended…
Unlock the Secret of a Gravity-Defying Parkour Stunt—With Physics!
We can break that diagonal motion down into horizontal and vertical portions; for now let’s just focus on…
So You’re Underwater: Why Do You See That Circle of Light Above You?
Have you ever sat on the bottom of a swimming pool and pondered your watery ceiling? Most of…
Tuariki Delamere’s Somersault Could Have Launched a New Era in the Olympic Long Jump
However, since this force is applied at the feet, far from the center of mass (r > 0),…
The Incredible Physics of Simone Biles’ Yurchenko Double Pike
A gymnast can actually perform both of these types of rotation at the same time—that’s what makes the…
What Kind of Battery Would You Need to Power a Lightsaber?
Melting an ice cube takes 3.34 x 105 joules per kilogram. So a single ice cube with a…
Can You Really Run on Top of a Train, Like in the Movies?
Just because you see something done in a movie, that doesn’t mean you should try it yourself. Take,…