Category Archives: Physics

Modern Physics for the Layman: the 10 Dimensions.

April 22, 2008 by aaron
This video that demonstrates the causes and consequences of the theory of 10 dimensions was released several years ago. However, it is still the best resource on the web for imagining the higher dimensions. Imagining the Tenth Dimension

Water balloon not exploding in high-speed

April 1, 2008 by aaron
I am so totally stealing this video from Talk Like a Physicist, but it is worth it and I promise I won’t do it again. I really don’t have anything intelligent to add except: COOL!

Calculus Based Physics Formulas: Mechanics

April 23, 2007 by aaron
This is just a basic equation list, explanations can be found elsewhere. For the most part derivations are done for you, but it is beneficial to understand how an equation goes from one form to another. One dimensional Equations of motion (along a single vector direction) Velocity as a function of time : Position as a function of time: Velocity as a function of position: Projectile Motion Horizontal motion Velocity along x: Position from position as a function of time: Max Horizontal dist: Vertical Motion Velocity along y: Position: from position as a function of time Maximum Height: Circular Motion Radial Acc: Tan.
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Units in Physics (mechanical, electricity, magnetism, light and optics) including Si units.

April 28, 2007 by aaron

This is a reference list with notes of all SI and derived units in physics. The notes provide a brief explanation of some of the more confusing elements, but be warned that the full explanation could take many pages, and may be explained elsewhere on this website.

Physics has only 5 base units. (Plus the SI units Mole and Candela, but these are rarely used in Physics.)

Name Abbreviation (Symbol) Standard Unit Notes
Name Abbreviation (Symbol) Standard Unit Notes
Length l, x (for distances) Meter (m) A meter is defined as the distance light travels in a vacumm in \frac{1}{299 792 458} of a second (in physics it is customary to use metric measurements although the basic principles apply if you to use feet instead of meters)
Mass m, M (when used with measurements in meters) Kilogram (kg) A kilogram is defined as the weight of a specific platinum-iridium cylinder
Time t Second (s) Seconds are defined as 9,192,631,770 vibrations of radiation from a cesium atom
Temparature T Kelvin (K) A degree kelvin is defined as \frac{1}{273.16} of the distance between absolute 0 and the triple point of water
Electric Current I Ampere (A) An ampere is the amount of charge (C) passing through a surface per second, and is defined as the current which produces a force of 2*10^{-7} newtons per meter of length between two infinitely long, perfectly straight and parallel conductors with an infinitely small cross section separated by one meter in a vacuum..

Each of these base units is defined on fundamental constants, and all other units are based on these five units. At times it useful to break longer equations down to their most basic units to determine if the equation makes sense. The most common combinations of these basic units are given their own symbols and names. These common units are as follows.

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Using the Rules of Physics to Find the Mass of the Planet Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Takes Place on.

April 24, 2006 by aaron
The clip that is referenced is near the end of the movie after the two female characters fight at the school, and runs for about 2 -3 minutes. It doesn’t take any physics experience to realize that “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” is a bad physics movie, however with physics we can show just how bad it really is. The clip I selected runs only a few seconds long but portrays many of the formula’s that one would use in a simple mechanics physics course.
Read More ⟶

Modern Physics for the Layman: the 10 Dimensions.

April 22, 2008 by aaron
This video that demonstrates the causes and consequences of the theory of 10 dimensions was released several years ago. However, it is still the best resource on the web for imagining the higher dimensions. Imagining the Tenth Dimension

Water balloon not exploding in high-speed

April 1, 2008 by aaron
I am so totally stealing this video from Talk Like a Physicist, but it is worth it and I promise I won’t do it again. I really don’t have anything intelligent to add except: COOL!

Calculus Based Physics Formulas: Mechanics

April 23, 2007 by aaron
This is just a basic equation list, explanations can be found elsewhere. For the most part derivations are done for you, but it is beneficial to understand how an equation goes from one form to another. One dimensional Equations of motion (along a single vector direction) Velocity as a function of time : Position as a function of time: Velocity as a function of position: Projectile Motion Horizontal motion Velocity along x: Position from position as a function of time: Max Horizontal dist: Vertical Motion Velocity along y: Position: from position as a function of time Maximum Height: Circular Motion Radial Acc: Tan.
Read More ⟶

Units in Physics (mechanical, electricity, magnetism, light and optics) including Si units.

April 28, 2007 by aaron

This is a reference list with notes of all SI and derived units in physics. The notes provide a brief explanation of some of the more confusing elements, but be warned that the full explanation could take many pages, and may be explained elsewhere on this website.

Physics has only 5 base units. (Plus the SI units Mole and Candela, but these are rarely used in Physics.)

Name Abbreviation (Symbol) Standard Unit Notes
Name Abbreviation (Symbol) Standard Unit Notes
Length l, x (for distances) Meter (m) A meter is defined as the distance light travels in a vacumm in \frac{1}{299 792 458} of a second (in physics it is customary to use metric measurements although the basic principles apply if you to use feet instead of meters)
Mass m, M (when used with measurements in meters) Kilogram (kg) A kilogram is defined as the weight of a specific platinum-iridium cylinder
Time t Second (s) Seconds are defined as 9,192,631,770 vibrations of radiation from a cesium atom
Temparature T Kelvin (K) A degree kelvin is defined as \frac{1}{273.16} of the distance between absolute 0 and the triple point of water
Electric Current I Ampere (A) An ampere is the amount of charge (C) passing through a surface per second, and is defined as the current which produces a force of 2*10^{-7} newtons per meter of length between two infinitely long, perfectly straight and parallel conductors with an infinitely small cross section separated by one meter in a vacuum..

Each of these base units is defined on fundamental constants, and all other units are based on these five units. At times it useful to break longer equations down to their most basic units to determine if the equation makes sense. The most common combinations of these basic units are given their own symbols and names. These common units are as follows.

Read More ⟶

Using the Rules of Physics to Find the Mass of the Planet Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Takes Place on.

April 24, 2006 by aaron
The clip that is referenced is near the end of the movie after the two female characters fight at the school, and runs for about 2 -3 minutes. It doesn’t take any physics experience to realize that “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” is a bad physics movie, however with physics we can show just how bad it really is. The clip I selected runs only a few seconds long but portrays many of the formula’s that one would use in a simple mechanics physics course.
Read More ⟶