Physics

So how does the triboelectric scale work and why is air at the top? ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triboelectric_effect ) Does that mean that an arrow of Ebonite shooting through air will be charged to great measure at the end of its flight.?

This below is from a site where declared non mainstream physics is presented: Meaning that 2 options are open: 1. the Universe is expanding and atoms (all elementary particles) have a defined dimension :that is mainstream physics. 2. the atoms (all elementary particles) are getting smaller and the Universe has a defined dimension. My question is: is point 2 acceptable through mainstream physics, or do we have elements to debunk point 2?

Hello all, I had an idea a while back when reading some of tesla's papers on projecting DC current in a wireless fashion. Why not make a railess railgun in such a way? Since this idea I've sent my vague thoughts to a number of professors and actual scientists, but none have contacted me back and it's getting frustrating. The idea is simple. Instead of splicing AC, use wireless DC that is spliced and remove the rails entirely, thusly solving the problem of the rails degrading and resisting, plus maintenance. I wanna build such a device to launch satellites, but I understand there are other major limitations to over come. I'm certain they can be, if only bec…

Is there a reasonable explanation for pyrokinesis,and does it really exists? If does can you explain how? Just wanna see your opinions

Hi Would it be possible to separate two different flavoured smoothies in one glass so the colours alternate eg apple on the bottom, then blueberry, then apple again, sort of line a rainbow effect in a glass. If so how? Thanks

Who is the world's top physicist and why ?

How is implosion created here on earth?and do you know for some interesting experiment that does that?

Hello everyone. I am a Musician not a Physicist and thus I must apologize if the following question is mundane or even stupid. I sent it to an "Ask a Physicist" site on the net and I was told to Google Black Holes. Not satisfied with the answer I turn to you. Here's the question as I sent it: " Dear Sir, I am watching a Neil Degrasse Tyson interview in which he is describing what a decent into a black hole might feel like if it were possible to experience it. He mentioned that as time and space collapse into a funnel, you would find yourself in a rapidly shrinking space that ultimately extrudes you into sub atomic particles and beyond. …

Hello What is the frequency of a pulse ?? I mean >> If we have a wave (crest and trough) and a pulse (crest) which have the same speed what is the wavelength of the pulse and the frequency Do we say that two pulses are equall to one wave so if we have 8 pulses in a second then the frequency is 4 hz or is it 8 hz ?

Right, well... Were all familiar with most films including this scenario involve some guy in a spaceship or whatever colliding into an asteroid or acidic blood from zenomorphs burning a hole in his ship. Suddenly WHOOOOSH! he's sucked out of a hole and thrown into the vacuum of space; and this is where my problem begins. I'd been of the understanding that because space is empty that theres nothing there to "suck" with, it's really just the pressure within the spaceship "pushing" out and escaping to fill a lower pressure volume, right? If my line of thinking is correct it'd kinda support my second hypothesis of why a spaceship doesn't just get torn apart by the hug…

Took this photo for my assignment and the clear distinct "separation" shown in the midground got me thinking. What causes this to happen? The region of water in the background appears to be "lighter in colour" and smoother as opposed to the region of water in the foreground. Please kindly comment. Regards.

Hello What does the " diamagnetics Repulsion" with a magnet mean ?? does copper for example do that ?? 2- When we are talking about super conductors and maisner phenomenon What causes it ? Is there a current initially in the superconductor ? Or is the current induced by the magnet ??

Hello everyone, I was driving through Oxfordshire at the weekend and spotted a rather amazing-looking building not far from Oxford. I did a bit of research and found out that it is the Diamond synchotron: http://www.harwelloxford.com/node/90. I was wondering if someone could explain to me what it's for? I don't have much of a brain for physics so the simpler the explanation, the better!! Thanks

Can Tesla coil really create music and can it be taped by camera or all those videos are fake. How does it work?

hello i have some difficult to understand the wcip method help me

Quantization of magnetic flux going through superconducting ring is explained that along this loop, quantum phase (order parameter in this case) has to return to the initial phase, so it makes integer number of full rotations - this number determines the total magnetic flux going through this loop (integer multiplicity of 2.067 833 667(52)×10^-15 Wb), like on this picture: There appears natural question - why we couldn't take this argument into just a loop in vacuum? In static picture, we should be able to decrease such abstract loop down to having single flux quant going through it and so they seem to be physical lines in space. These natural consequences of quantum…

TWO of the strangest ideas in modern physics - that the cosmos constantly splits into parallel universes in which every conceivable outcome of every event happens, and the notion that our universe is part of a larger multiverse - have been unified into a single theory. This solves a bizarre but fundamental problem in cosmology and has set physics circles buzzing with excitement, as well as some bewilderment. The problem is the observability of our universe. While most of us simply take it for granted that we should be able to observe our universe, it is a different story for cosmologists. When they apply quantum mechanics - which successfully describes the behaviour o…

in a railgun set-up, if the projectile got to the end of the rails and you reversed the current, would it go back again?

The following post explaining my comparison of weight and voltage as expressions of potential energy has been contested as being "gibberish:" What is gibberish? The idea that "electric charge 'pushes' against an insulator?" What else would it be doing while waiting for sufficient voltage to build up to the point of being able to spark across a gap in the circuit or some other insulator separating the conductors? Is it gibberish to say that "an obstacle preventing an object from falling impairs gravitational motion in the same way an insulator prevents an electric charge from flowing further within the circuit?" If a bowling ball dropped out of a helicopter is st…

What basis is there for claiming that potential energy exists only relative to the arbitrarily chosen frame in which it is measured? Doesn't potential energy, just like kinetic energy, persist until it is converted into another form or dissipated? It may be possible to measure it differently according to what frame of motion/time you're interested in, but ultimately it exists as empirically observable potential insofar as it can be released and measured as such, correct? Just because something runs out of potential in a given frame doesn't make it absolutely devoid of potential energy in any possible frame.

Have been glued to various forums covering recent going ons especially the final mission of the endeavour which had price tag of approx $1.7bn (to manufacture) but lasted 30 years. I can confidently rest peacefully knowing we got so much out of it and still getting some great returns. However, NASA considering sending a 900kg Science Laboratory to Mars at the cost of $2.5 Billion! All to detect carbon-based molecules that could signal life. ‘Curiosity’ will land next August and although I’m all for exploration should we not be spending the wealth into something a little more further afield (aspace). It’s obviously possible but have we not drained that planet and n…

about the experiment in which a 'plasma ball' or 'ball lightning' or 'plasma cloud', or whatever you wish to call it, is produced in a microwave oven by sticking a rod of carbon vertically inside the oven. (which, i would like you to know, i am not about to repeat for the sake of my microwave oven and myself) i have a few questions 1. is the 'cloud' of plasma negatively or positively charged, or neither? 2. why does it go upwards? if you stuck it to the wall of the oven sticking horizontally inwards would it still go up or would it shoot across? 3. is it hot? if so how hot? 4. also, does it have to be a rod?

Hi, I am trying to calculate the heat exchanger calculation for spiral reactor.But,I am not sure what the equation to calculate the heat exchanger..the flow in temperature for the water is about 25C. the water will be heated at the middle part of the reactor and the temperature is about 400C.and then the water will be cooled down when flow out from the middle part.the tube for flow in water is beside the flow out water.so,the hot water will be cooled down because of the heat transfer.i also want to know if the length effect the process.please help me.. I know this might be quite simple but i really don't have any idea to calculate the efficiency.. thank you in advan…

Why elements lighter than iron release energy on fusion and heavier elements absorb energy on fusion?

As sunlight passes from air through glass and back into air again , i.e. , through a window , what constituents will be extracted ?