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Physics/Questions Answered by Expert James J. Kovalcin

SubjectDate Asked
Physics2/11/2012
  Q: A 2075-kg elevator moves with an upward acceleration of 1.5 m/s^2. What is the tension in the cable ...
  A: Applying Newton's 2nd Law there is an upward force caused by the tension in the rope Ft and a ...
hockey player questions2/6/2012
  Q: If two hockey pucks, one 4oz and the other one 6oz, are pushed on ice with the same force, which one ...
  A: The hockey puck with the greater mass will undergo the smaller acceleration and will, therefore, ...
expansion of liquids2/6/2012
  Q: would it be possible to make mercury thermometre for measuring temperature if expansion of glass is ...
  A: Sure you could! But if the thermal expansion of the glass was greater than the thermal expansion of ...
physics2/3/2012
  Q: The mass of 1 cubic meter of air at sea level is about 1.3kg. How much does it weight in newtons? ...
  A: To convert the mass in kilograms to force in Newtons multiply by 9.8 N/kg. Multiply by 8000 to find ...
Mass energy2/3/2012
  Q: Where does the idea come from that energy is "within" mass, when Einstein's equation plainly ...
  A: That is not what Einstein's equation says! E=m*c^2 says that when you convert mass into energy (as ...
reflected light2/1/2012
  Q: Does reflected light say from the moon have an intensity registered in say candelpower? or lumens?
  A: I do not know the actual brightness of the reflected light from the sun but I do know that it is ...
Physics1/30/2012
  Q: I have a wire, that carry a current I? Can we apply the Ampere's law from Maxwell's equation to this ...
  A: You only need to worry about current density if you are looking for,the magnetic field WITHIN the ...
network of circuits1/27/2012
  Q: I want to ask some problems about network in circuits. I am required to find the initial current ...
  A: Immediately after the switch has been closed no charge has yet accumulated on the plates of the ...
energy stored in capacitor1/21/2012
  Q: CASE 1: When dielectric is inserted between plates of capacitor<e increases>, which is disconnected ...
  A: Case 1: Adding the dielectric weakens the electric field between the plates. As a result the ...
Physics help1/14/2012
  Q: my name is Garettruben. I am new member here.So I would like to ask you help on this question.I'm ...
  A: One of the fundamentally conserved quantities in the universe is angular momentum. In order to ...
physics1/11/2012
  Q: I am doing my science fair project on "balloon powered rocket car" for this i wanted to know if my ...
  A: This problem can be looked at in two different ways: momentum conservation and energy conservation. ...
physics1/11/2012
  Q: I am doing science fair project on "skewer through a balloon" . I made my problem for this project ...
  A: I think that the balloon is much less likely to pop if you put the skewer through the balloon where ...
changes of energy stored in capacitor when there is insertion of dielectric in between the parallel plates1/10/2012
  Q: I am studying the changes of electrical potential energy stored in parallel-plate capacitor when ...
  A: Case 1: Since the introduction of the dielectric reduces the electric field between the parallel ...
Music Teacher has Vibration Question1/9/2012
  Q: When playing my Boombox, a tissue happened to be vibrating in front of it. This was not surprising, ...
  A: Sound is a longitudinal [lengthwise] compression wave and consists of alternating areas of high ...
physics1/8/2012
  Q: A ROPE IS ATTACHED IN 100LB OBJECT AND IS PULLED UPWARD WITH A FORCE OF 150LB.WHAT IS THE UPWARD ...
  A: Since the upward force is 50 pounds more that the weight of the mass,, the mass will accelerate ...
Surface area and friction1/6/2012
  Q: I am studying physics and i am doing a project for an assignment. Essentially i made an attwood ...
  A: Without actually doing the experiment with you I cannot account forthe results. When Ihave done ...
sonic energy1/3/2012
  Q: I would like to make a device that is able to create enough sonic energy to vibrate a plant is this ...
  A: I would use an "open tube" with a resonant frequency that matches the frequency of the sound you ...
electrostatically charged spheres12/29/2011
  Q: please tell me; does it make a difference to the output voltage if two or more electrostatically ...
  A: It only matters if the potentials of the spheres are different. If the two spheres are at the same ...
Physics12/23/2011
  Q: This is a most intriguing question that i have asked many people and got different answers. Could ...
  A: An object at the center of the Earth would feel no "weight" as a result of the Earth's gravitational ...
particle physics12/22/2011
  Q: " A particle cannot spontaneously decay into particles heavier than itself is actually a consequence ...
  A: Yes, in fact that is the whole point ofthe Large Hadron Collider! We give protons a LOT of energy ...
centripetal force12/21/2011
  Q: Sir I am confused that why in death well(a person motorcycling on slightly curved vertical walls)the ...
  A: The fundamental problem here is that your understanding of the force of friction is that it does NOT ...
Science Project Bigger Wheels Faster?12/18/2011
  Q: I am helping my son with his 4th grade science project and need some help. His project has to deal ...
  A: All things being equal the smaller wheeled vehicle should have the greater acceleration since less ...
Physics12/17/2011
  Q: James A 40 kg block on a frictionless table is connected to a 15 kg mass by a string passing over ...
  A: According to Newton's 2nd Law the sum of the forces in the direction of the acceleration is equal to ...
about motion12/17/2011
  Q: 1.A person walking on the road with load on his head does not do work against gravity. 2.A body at ...
  A: 1. As you walk horizontally there is no net change in vertical position of the load and so no NET ...
Electrical PE stored in capacitor12/16/2011
  Q: I am VERY CONFUSED with the Electrical PE stored in capacitor. It is what I am thinking about… (A) ...
  A: The problem here is that you are confusing average potential difference and instantaneous potential ...
Coefficients12/14/2011
  Q: Do you know the coefficient of felt on plastic?
  A: Not off the top of my head but it is easy enough to find out. I just used a spring scale to pull a ...
charges on a parallel-plate capacitor12/8/2011
  Q: The two plates of a parallel-plate capacitor initially carry equal amounts of positive charges. If ...
  A: The equation E=2*pi*k*sigma predicts the electric field E near a planar distribution of charge where ...
mass12/7/2011
  Q: why is it that mass of a body can never be negative?
  A: We don't really know. In an experiment reported last year scientists measured the acceleration of ...
charges on a parallel-plate capacitor12/6/2011
  Q: The two plates of a parallel-plate capacitor initially carry equal amounts of positive charges. If ...
  A: The electric field E between the two plates of a capacitor is equal to the sum of the electric ...
Mass12/5/2011
  Q: What is a mass(confused with definition of mass)? How it is measured? Is there any special apparatus ...
  A: Mass is a measure of matter which consists primarily of how difficult it is to change the mass's ...
Astophysics12/4/2011
  Q: What is different about today's asteroid belt and kuper belt from the early condition of the solar ...
  A: There were, of course, MANY more such objects in the early universe. Over time the vast majority of ...
Phyics12/4/2011
  Q: A 2.9 × 10 3 kg car accelerates from rest at the top of a driveway that is sloped at an angle of ...
  A: Using energy conservation: The total energy TE1 at the top of the incline will be only ...
velocity calculation11/29/2011
  Q: Sir I am a bit confused in this question and would be very much thankful to you if you answer this ...
  A: Kinetic energy is the ability of an object to do work because the object has a velocity. In this ...
I need help with the "sources of error" part of this pendulum lab11/29/2011
  Q: We performed a lab involving a pendulum in which we were to find the relationship between the period ...
  A: What about errors related to: 1) The small angle approximation - if you pull the pendulum back more ...
speed calculation11/28/2011
  Q: Sir I would be very much thankful to you if you could answer this question.Please explain it a bit ...
  A: All one dimensional kinematics problems can be solved in the same way. Since there are two available ...
centripetal force11/27/2011
  Q: how does centripetal force depend on velocity? what happens when the velocity increases?
  A: Centripetal force depends on the centripetal acceleration which is ac=v^2/R and is equal to: ...
Dark Matter11/22/2011
  Q: I heard that dark matter was a result of seeing all the gazillion kgs of mass in the universe and ...
  A: Dark matter has been hypothesized due to very real measurements made regarding the motion of stars ...
instantaneous action11/21/2011
  Q: Kolvacin, Is there such a thing as an instantaneous action in the universe? Not instantaneous ...
  A: As far as we know NOTHING, including information, can travel faster than the speed of light. We have ...
Archery and Shooting Games.11/20/2011
  Q: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archery_at_the_Summer_Olympics ...
  A: A projectile flying through the air will also be conserving energy [if we neglect the effects of air ...
Elastic Collision11/16/2011
  Q: A 640 g ball strikes a wall at 15.1 m/s and rebounds at 13.9 m/s. The ball is in contact with the ...
  A: According to Newton's 2nd Law: F=m*a. [Where F is the sum of the forces acting on the system.] ...
nonuniform circular motion11/15/2011
  Q: I am having some difficulty getting the answer. Thank you! A tetherball is a 0.56kg soccer size ball ...
  A: Since this ball is moving in a circular path it is accelerating centripetally and so Newton's 2nd ...
convex lens11/9/2011
  Q: respected sir, can you please tell me what are the uses of convex mirror in detail?please sir it ...
  A: Convex mirrors produce erect virtual images which can be significantly smaller than the 1:1 ...
physic11/7/2011
  Q: sir my question is that,does dilation means in special theory of ralativity that time really passes ...
  A: I guess it all depends by what you mean by "time really passes more slowly". If you mean will the ...
Rotating objects11/7/2011
  Q: A pulsar is a rapidly rotating neutron star that emits a radio beam the way a lighthouse emits a ...
  A: Since the current period of the star is To=0.0731s and since the period increases by dT=2.16 x 10^-6 ...
(REVISED!)Electric field strength VS Density of equipotential lines11/6/2011
  Q: Is electric field strength =density of equipotential lines? Below is what I’m thinking about. ...
  A: You are essentially correct. The direction of the electric field is in the direction of the greatest ...
Question about electric field11/4/2011
  Q: X and Y are two different points in an electric field. A small charged object is released from rest ...
  A: You are on the right track, but you are not quite there yet. To predict the path you need to first ...
Question about electric field11/4/2011
  Q: X and Y are two different points in an electric field. A small charged object is released from rest ...
  A: If the particle is SLOWLY moving it could, in principle, come close to following the electric field ...
momentum and collisions11/3/2011
  Q: a 2.1 kg brick is placed gently upon a 2.9 cart originally moving with a speed of 26 cm/s determine ...
  A: The solution of any two body, one dimensional collision will be of the form: m1*v1+m2*v2=m1*v3+m2*v4 ...
Thermodynamis11/1/2011
  Q: Here's the main part of theA 180g copper bowl contains 170g of water, both at 25 degrees Celsius. A ...
  A: The heat lost of gained by a system is calculated using: dQ=m*c*dT where dQ is the heat lost of ...
Question about electric field11/1/2011
  Q: X and Y are two different points in an electric field. A small charged object is released from rest ...
  A: The problem here is that you are assuming that the electric field lines describe the PATH of the ...
atomic physics10/31/2011
  Q: Why do most stable nuclei have equal number of protons and neutrons?
  A: If you look at the binding energy per nucleon, a measure of how tightly nucleons are held together ...
physics10/29/2011
  Q: For q I am getting 19.8 and M I am getting -.06667, but they are wrong. A converging lens of focal ...
  A: When an object is placed in front of a lens the relationship among the position of the object p, the ...
Useing water weight to increase boyancy10/24/2011
  Q: I am a special education teacher now living in Italy having moved from Texas five years ago. We are ...
  A: If the float has a volume of 1.0 cubic meters it will displace 1.0 cubic meters of water. Since ...
oscillation10/23/2011
  Q: what is the difference between phase, phase constant and phase difference??
  A: Assuming that you are referring to a typical simple harmonic wave or motion where: A=Ao*sin(theta) ...
Mass Transfer10/20/2011
  Q: Assuming air to be composed O2 and N2, with their partial pressures in the ratio of 0.21:0.79, what ...
  A: Since oxygen O2 has a molecular mass of 32g/mole while nitrogen is 28g/mole the mass fractions of ...
Levitating a ball/ring10/19/2011
  Q: I trying to make a device that can levitate a small ball /bracelet size ring in a big transparent ...
  A: 1) An electromagnet is certainly capable of producing a stronger magnetic field at a greater ...
trajectory10/17/2011
  Q: A projectile shot with an initial velocity of 51 m/s at an angle of 45° follows a parabolic path and ...
  A: When you fire a projectile at an angle the first step is to break the initial velocity of the ...
velocity10/17/2011
  Q: I was hoping if you could help me out with this problem: A toy car goes 10.3 meters in 4.15 seconds ...
  A: If the toy car goes 10.3m in 4.15s its average velocity will be: V1=D/t=10.3m/4.15s=2.48m/s The fact ...
Levitating a ball/ring10/14/2011
  Q: I trying to make a device that can levitate a small ball /bracelet size ring in a big transparent ...
  A: 1) To levitate higher you will need a correspondingly stronger magnetic field. Producing such a ...
molecular physics10/11/2011
  Q: In case of laser action if the both stimulated absorption and stimulated emission have equal number ...
  A: If the rate at which energy enters the system is identical ti the rate at which energy leaves the ...
centripetal force10/10/2011
  Q: what is origin of centripetal force which keeps the body in circular path?
  A: The first thing to keep in mind is that "centripetal force" does NOT exit on it's own! Centripetal ...
question10/9/2011
  Q: a block of mass m is pulled by a constant power P placed on a rough horizontal plane. then friction ...
  A: Instantaneous power P is equal to the product of the force being applied F and the instantaneous ...
centre of mass10/8/2011
  Q: Sir I just want to know how to find centre of mass of any rigid body.plzzz give an algorithm or step ...
  A: To find the x coordinate of the center of mass of any system of objects you multiply the mass of ...
Echo - Reflection of Sound10/7/2011
  Q: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echo_%28phenomenon%29 1. why echo only in specific places/areas ? - ...
  A: 1. The existence of an echo depends upon there being an appropriate reflecting surface. What, ...
equilibrium10/5/2011
  Q: Why do high heels worn by a lady walking on a wooden floor leave impressions on the floor? Why do ...
  A: 1. It is not so much that the heels are "high" but because their floor contact area is so small. ...
Physics10/5/2011
  Q: If a washing machine's drum has a radius of 21 cm and spins at 3.9 rev/s, what is the strength of ...
  A: For something moving in a circular path the acceleration is centripetal and is given by a=v^2/R. In ...
Electric potential10/4/2011
  Q: Give examples of situations in which the potential of a charge body has a sign opposite to that of ...
  A: 1. If a positive charge is located close to a negatively charged body it will have negative ...
Light10/3/2011
  Q: I am an Italian boy who has been studying areas of the humanities -like history, linguistics ...
  A: Yes, the color of light is determined by the energy content of the light. Larger transitions ...
Waves10/2/2011
  Q: I'm a first year physics student and I'm having a lot of difficulty with my physics homework. I'm ...
  A: The first thing you to know is what each of the variables in the equation represent: k [measured in ...
Optics10/2/2011
  Q: Im studying in 12th. I want to know the reason for the early sunrise and late sunset?
  A: Because the Earth is tilted at a 23 degree angle relative to the sun [the ecliptic] when the ...
Light9/30/2011
  Q: I am an Italian boy who has been studying areas of the humanities -like history, linguistics ...
  A: You are correct! The diffusion and scattering of light is due to multiple electron transitions as ...
Gauss ratings9/27/2011
  Q: I'm trying to figure out what kind of magnet I have here; it feels quite strong compared to bar ...
  A: The magnetic field at the surface of the magnet is determined primarily by the materials from which ...
potentially world changing theory9/25/2011
  Q: I'm not sure how to describe this in the subject box, it's such a weird idea that even though I ...
  A: The fact is that we cand and DO transmutate one atom into another all the time! But that is not the ...
Ap physics B9/24/2011
  Q: A ball is thrown horizontally from the top of a building 110 m high. The ball strikes the ground 71 ...
  A: All 2 dimensional kinematics problems can be done in the same way. There are 6 kinematics variables ...
Einstein's theory of special relativity.9/23/2011
  Q: There was a man on the planet earth, and there was a man in a space vessel and he travelled for 70 ...
  A: The issue is that the astronaut CHANGED reference frames and, therefore, briefly moved outside the ...
Standing wave in an open end air column9/22/2011
  Q: I am confused about how is it possible for a standing wave to be formed in an open end air column? ...
  A: Waves are being reflected due to the impedance mismatch between the air confined by the walls of the ...
Physics Help9/21/2011
  Q: Unless I receive an answer to this within the next three hours (in which case, kudos to you) my ...
  A: I wouldn't do it that way at all! Much easier would to be to use energy conservation. After giving ...
I Want A simple Title in physics to make a research on9/20/2011
  Q: I Want A simple Title in physics to make a research on im a student and the Auc(American University ...
  A: There are many possibilities here. Are you going to just write about theory or are you going to ...
Solve please9/19/2011
  Q: 1)A ship is sinking in the dark ,the sailors on the ship fire a distress flare into air.it explodes ...
  A: For all practical purposes the light from the explosion reaches you instantaneously [light travels ...
Scalars and Vectors - Examples9/18/2011
  Q: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalar_%28physics%29 Scalars are physical quantities which have ...
  A: A vector quantity will be any quantity which REQUIRES direction for the quantity to make sense. So ...
Gauss' law9/16/2011
  Q: Suppose that a Gaussian surface enclose no net charge. Does Gauss' law require that electric field ...
  A: If you apply Gauss' Law to a long linear charge density L the relevant Gaussian surface would be a ...
Gauss' law9/15/2011
  Q: Suppose that a Gaussian surface enclose no net charge. Does Gauss' law require that electric field ...
  A: 1) Not at all! All Gauss' Law implies is that the NET electric flux through a closed surface ...
Physics9/14/2011
  Q: A plane flies at a velocity of 500 kilometers per hour 35 degrees North of East for 90 minutes then ...
  A: If the plane first flies at 500km/hr of 90min [1.5hr] the plane's final displacement at the end of ...
physics9/13/2011
  Q: A chain that can support 2000 N is suspended between two trees. a 200 kg motor hangs from the ...
  A: This a Newton's 1st Law problem with 3 concurrent forces acting on a point [the location where the ...
average velocity9/12/2011
  Q: A bus travels 250 km south along a straight path with an average velocity of 81 km/h to the south. ...
  A: Since D=Vave*t the time for the first leg would be: t1=D/V=250km/81km/hr=3.10hr Then the rest stop: ...
physics9/11/2011
  Q: 1. State Fleming's left-hand rule. 2. What is the principle of an electric motor? 3. What is the ...
  A: 1. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleming's_left-hand_rule_for_motors for a thorough description! ...
Vectors and Vector Addition9/9/2011
  Q: a vector A has a magnitude of 40.0 m and ponts in a direction of 20.0 degrees below the positive x ...
  A: The first step will be to break each vector up into its x and y components: For vector A: ...
Matter9/9/2011
  Q: I have recently been getting really into physics lately and very interested in how the universe ...
  A: Atoms are held together in matter by the electromagnetic force between charged particles. The shape ...
Reaction and effect9/8/2011
  Q: There are theories on the effects of an asteroid strike on the earth. My question is what would the ...
  A: The size, the direction and the speed of the asteroid/asteroids all matter! Why the issue of 2 ...
Electric field9/7/2011
  Q: Sir, I would like ask three questions. 1. A point charge is moving in an electric field at ...
  A: 1. Of course! The equation predicting the force on a charged particle in an electric field is F=E*q ...
double slit experiment8/14/2011
  Q: ANSWER: When a beam of electrons is put through a double slit an interference pattern is formed ...
  A: I don't know WHY it happens and neither does anyone else! This is the problem with quantum theory. ...
double slit experiment8/14/2011
  Q: ANSWER: When a beam of electrons is put through a double slit an interference pattern is formed ...
  A: From a physicist's point of view what exists is what we measure. For example, there is NO direct ...
double slit experiment8/11/2011
  Q: hi james can you tell me why the double slit experiment changes if you look at it????
  A: When a beam of electrons is put through a double slit an interference pattern is formed according ...
EMF8/10/2011
  Q: I live about 300 feet away from hi power lines. I recently bought a gauss meter (dr.gauss name) to ...
  A: A Gauss meter is designed to measure magnetic field strength. The background magnetic field is on ...
electric fields8/3/2011
  Q: i ben trying to ansa this question 4 hours so cn u plz help.hear the''A proton travels in the x ...
  A: As the proton enters the electric field directed perpendicularly to the initial direction of motion ...
Physics8/1/2011
  Q: kevin and jonas are carrying nick on a uniform horizontal board 3.0m long which weighs 200N. nick ...
  A: This is a typical torque problem. [Remember that torque is equal to the product of the applied force ...
Human Being Resistance Power.7/31/2011
  Q: Human Being Body is a Good Conductor of Electricity (consists of watery fluids) since Water is good ...
  A: Luck of the draw - nothing more. Death depends on what systems of the body are specifically affected ...
Human Being Resistance Power.7/30/2011
  Q: Human Being Body is a Good Conductor of Electricity (consists of watery fluids) since Water is good ...
  A: Actually, pure water is a lousy conductor of electricity! Only when salts are added does the water ...
physics7/27/2011
  Q: under what condition the magnitude of average velocity will be equal to average speed for a moving ...
  A: Average speed is defined to be: speed=distance/time While average velocity is defined to be: ...
Magnetic force7/26/2011
  Q: I am currently studying MA Fashion in London. I am currently looking at magnets and how I can create ...
  A: Unfortunately, there is no reasonable way to do this. As far as is currently known this cannot be ...
How efficiently different technologies turn heat energy into mechanical energy?7/25/2011
  Q: I would like to see a comparison of how efficiently different technologies turn heat energy into ...
  A: Whatever the technology, the thermal efficiency of a heat engine is determined by 2 distinct ...
gravity/space7/25/2011
  Q: if you were to suddenly put a large object in space then the space would be pushed out to the ...
  A: No, because the addition of mass to a particular space doesn't push space out of the way but it does ...
gravity/space7/24/2011
  Q: if you were to suddenly put a large object in space then the space would be pushed out to the ...
  A: The "space" is not pushed out of the way! Space is not like air - which can be displaced by an ...
Physics, projectile motion and momentum7/24/2011
  Q: An arrow undergoing projectile motion passes through an apple while traveling at 45 degrees above ...
  A: Yes it can be used but more information is needed! For example you nee the mass of the arrow, the ...
dark matter7/23/2011
  Q: what actually does dark matter do? does it really exist?
  A: Ordinarily you can determine the orbital velocity of an orbiting satellite by using Newton's 2nd ...
curious7/20/2011
  Q: What is negative matter; is it the same as dark matter, & if not, what's the difference? ...
  A: Every piece of matter has a corresponding piece of antimatter. For example an electron has an ...
Law of decay7/20/2011
  Q: A certain radioactive material is known to decay at a rate proportional to the amount present. A ...
  A: Because your problem statement indicates that the rate of decay dm/dt is directly proportional to ...
time7/19/2011
  Q: it is said that once a particle approaches the speed of light the time eventually slows down for the ...
  A: How is that possible? I don't really know except to say that this is what the equations predict and ...
tachyon7/19/2011
  Q: is there any proof for the existence of tachyon? as it travels faster than the speed of light are ...
  A: Sorry, but there is no evidence for the existence of tachyons. That does not, of course, mean that ...
Heat Engine7/18/2011
  Q: A heat engine has the three step cycle shown above. Starting from point A, 1 L (liter) of ideal gas ...
  A: Since the process C - -> A is a compression [volume is decreasing] while pressure is increasing work ...
Motion6/29/2011
  Q: Sir, why can't acceleration be equal to speed divided by time? Why it is velocity divided by time? ...
  A: Actually, depending on what you are looking for in a particular problem you can divide the change in ...
Physics6/27/2011
  Q: A 50 kg woman stands at one end of a 25 kg, uniform, 20 m long board. How far from the woman is the ...
  A: First assume that the end of the board opposite the woman is the origin. The center of mass of the ...
physics6/26/2011
  Q: Name the factors onwhich the strength of electric current flowing in a given conductor depends?
  A: The magnitude of the electrical current flowing through a wire depends on: 1) The magnitude of the ...
physics6/23/2011
  Q: I am lost at how to approach this problem. A car can decelerate at -4.80 m/s^2 without skidding ...
  A: According to Newton's 2nd Law the sum of the external forces SF acting on an accelerating body is ...
Physics6/22/2011
  Q: The engine of a train(length l)moving with uniform acceleration, passes an electric pole with a ...
  A: All kinematics problems involve 2 equations: Df=1/2*a*t^2+Vo*t+Do and Vf=a*t+Vo These two ...
ELECTRICITY6/19/2011
  Q: IS POTENTIAL AT EVERY POINT ON A CONDUCTING WIRE SAME... PLEASE EXPLAIN CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH AN ...
  A: Yes and no! If you use a voltmeter on a typical wire all of your readings would be the same for all ...
physics6/19/2011
  Q: A 1300kg car runs into the rear of a 1700-kg minivan that was moving at 5m/s. The two vehicles are ...
  A: In any two body collision problem the total momentum at the beginning will be equal to the total ...
Speed and Distance of Travel6/17/2011
  Q: An automobile is traveling at 45 miles per hour and the traffic light changes requiring the vehicle ...
  A: All kinematics problems can be done in the same way! There are 6 possible kinematics variables and 2 ...
Physics6/16/2011
  Q: A car is traveling at a steady speed of 90kph, the driver carries out an emergency stop, locking all ...
  A: First converting 90km/hr to m/s. Vo=90km/hr*1000m/km*1hr/3600s=25m/s C. horizontal surface For a dry ...
error analysis6/15/2011
  Q: Sir I am doing the chapter error analysis in measurement. In that 1) one statement in given that the ...
  A: 1) Actually, I would consider 1/2 the least count to be the error limit of the measuring instrument ...
Trigonometry6/14/2011
  Q: If a girl is 1.5m tall how long is her shadow (correct to one decimal point) when the angle of ...
  A: If the girl is 1.5m tall and elevation of the sun above the horizontal is 58 degrees, the girl's ...
Kinetic Energy6/14/2011
  Q: A mass, weighing 70kg, falls vertically 100 meters. How much potential kinetic energy is ...
  A: Because total mechanical energy is conserved [remains the same] as long as there are no significant ...
Physics6/13/2011
  Q: Calculate the centre of mass of a lamina in the shape of a quarter-circle with constant density and ...
  A: To find the x coordinate of the center of mass Xcm of a system of particles multiply the mass of ...
Orbit6/13/2011
  Q: The fastest possible rate of rotation of a planet is that for which the gravitational force on ...
  A: For the given conditions to be true the centripetal acceleration [ac=v^2/R] at the equator would ...
Dynamic Friction6/12/2011
  Q: A lorry is travelling at a steady speed of 50 km h−1 when an emergency occurs. The driver ...
  A: If the car is moving on a horizontal surface, the only force acting to accelerate the car will be ...
physics6/10/2011
  Q: plz answer my question :consider a girl of mass 40 kg standing on a still board of mass 60 kg . ...
  A: Assuming that the board is floating and that the frictional force on the board is effectively zero, ...
Simple Harmonic Motion6/10/2011
  Q: Greetings: Regarding your answer to ...
  A: As you displace the object to the right from equilibrium the spring on the left PULLS the object ...
Projectiles on Building6/7/2011
  Q: A ball is thrown from the ground onto a roof of height yroof = 15 m from a distance of x = 7 meters ...
  A: Since the ball's reaches a point 4.0 meters high than the roof the maximum height of the ball, at ...
Two-Dimensional Kinematics6/7/2011
  Q: The archerfish hunts by dislodging an unsuspecting insect from its resting place with a stream of ...
  A: For all kinematics problems there are 6 variables: Do,Df,Vo,Vf,A and t And 2 equations: ...
Physics: electric currents, magnetic fields, ampere's law6/5/2011
  Q: Each of the ten turns of wire in a vertical, rectangular loop carries a current of 0.22 A. The loop ...
  A: The loop would slowly rotate until the normal to the loop is parallel to the magnetic field. In this ...
force of hail balls hitting concrete6/5/2011
  Q: I would like to know how much force is applied to flat concrete at the moment of contact when a hail ...
  A: There are several issues here! 1. How fast is the hailstone moving when it collides with the ground? ...
science project in physics- working model6/3/2011
  Q: I want to make a working model for my physics science project, can you suggest me some topics for my ...
  A: Sorry, but I think you are asking me for too much for a project. As a teacher the point of a project ...
science project in physics- working model6/3/2011
  Q: I want to make a working model for my physics science project, can you suggest me some topics for my ...
  A: My best suggestion would be to make a "Rube Goldberg" machine. Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist who ...
Physics6/1/2011
  Q: https://wug-s.physics.uiuc.edu/cgi/courses/shell/common/showme.pl?cc/DuPage/Phys1201/fall-evening/ho ...
  A: The first leg of the football player's displacement is: A = 4m j [Any vector parallel to the ...
Monumental Questions5/26/2011
  Q: If you have a golf ball falling to earth the earth pulls on it with force "A". The golf ball pulls ...
  A: 1. There is one thing that is special about the gravitational force Fg and that is that it depends ...
Pendulums and Newtons5/25/2011
  Q: In our lab we determined that only the length of the pendulum affected the period. We found the ...
  A: Actually, a graph comparing the period of a pendulum and the length should NOT be a straight line! ...
electricity : power5/22/2011
  Q: 1) A piece of wire of resistance 4 ohms is bent through 180 degree at its midpoint and the two ...
  A: The tree bulbs in parallel will be much brighter! Why? Because when you put the three bulbs in ...
electricity : resistance5/21/2011
  Q: 1) A piece of wire of resistance 4 ohms is bent through 180 degree at its midpoint and the two ...
  A: Folding the wire cuts the length in half and doubles the cross section. Since resistance is ...
Innovative idea5/20/2011
  Q: Sir, I am a deputy engineer in an organization, which i don't want to disclose. I just , after ...
  A: Any such device would contradict ALL understanding of the Laws of Thermodynamics and physics. The US ...
string5/20/2011
  Q: If you pluck a string 1/3 from one end, which partials will be missing? Which partial is likely to ...
  A: The equation describing a standing wave is given by: A=Ao*sin(k*x)cos(w*t) where k=2*pi/y is the ...
frequency5/19/2011
  Q: If the tension of a 350 Hz string is made third as large, what would the new fundamental frequency ...
  A: The speed of a wave in a string is given by: s=sqrt[T/mu] where T is the tension in the string and ...
damping time and resonance curve5/19/2011
  Q: The drumhead of a kettledrum has a frequency of 75 Hz. The drumhead makes about 15 oscillations ...
  A: I agree with your damping time being 0.20seconds. As for the width of the resonance curve you don't ...
charges5/18/2011
  Q: I have been studying physics but I just realized i do not know where chargers come from..why ...
  A: Where does charge come from? No one knows! Charge just exists as one of the fundamental properties ...
string tension5/16/2011
  Q: tomorrow's my exam and I'm really worried. could you help me? I have two blocks attached to one ...
  A: This is a little difficult to answer accurately without some additional information, but let's make ...
physics working model5/14/2011
  Q: sir i am studying in class 10. i have to make a working model related to physics.so please provide ...
  A: One of the most fun projects to make is a "Rube Goldberg" machine which can demonstrate many ...
Springs5/13/2011
  Q: A ball of mass 2.6 kg, starting from rest, falls 55 cm directly down onto a vertical coiled spring, ...
  A: The easiest way to do this problem is to use energy conservation. Before the ball is dropped it has ...
physics-simple harmonic motion5/10/2011
  Q: A certain spring has a frequency of 100Hz when a 50 g mass is hung from it. What would the frequency ...
  A: The frequency of a mass vibrating on the end of a spring is given by: f=1/2pi*sqrt[k/m] To find the ...
Mathematics5/9/2011
  Q: Q. A railway train is moving on a circular curve of 1500m radius at the rate of 66kmph. Through what ...
  A: If the train is moving with a linear velocity v of: v=66km/hr=66,000m/3600s=18.2m/s the resulting ...
Dual nature of photon5/8/2011
  Q: It is said that photon has a dual nature and while it propogates it is in wave nature.when the same ...
  A: Light contains energy and as such is affected by gravitational fields. Ordinarily this effect is ...
photon5/7/2011
  Q: If photon does not have any charge,then why do we call it electromagnetic?Also when a photon ...
  A: We call light "electromagnetic" because light is made up of in phase sinusoidally oscillating ...
electromagnetism5/5/2011
  Q: i need help explaining to me an experimental way i could proof electromagnetism in the lab. so, i ...
  A: The difficulty as I see it is the VERY short time allowed for measurements to take place. This will ...
energy state5/4/2011
  Q: Can atoms undergo slight changes such as when bumping up against eachother without being considered ...
  A: Yes. Energy states are primarily the venue of particles confined in a particular area or space. For ...
Question about the Chernobyl Disaster and Physics5/4/2011
  Q: I was wondering if there was a connection between the Chernobyl Disaster and any part of Physics as ...
  A: If you are going to write a detailed report you will need to thoroughly research the events ...
physics5/1/2011
  Q: a body is moving in a straight line having the velocity v1 for the first half and v2 for the next ...
  A: If the moving body moved at velocity v1 for the first half t/2 and moved at a velocity of v2 for the ...
Physics - Rotational Motion4/30/2011
  Q: Hey James, how are you? I just have a question to ask here as follows; A solid disk is rolling ...
  A: A rolling disk contains both linear and angular kinetic energy. Therefore, the total energy of a ...
physics4/30/2011
  Q: I would like to clarify this question A tin weighs 5 N when empty and 70 N when completely full of ...
  A: Density p is equal to the ratio of mass m to volume V: p=m/V In this case the weight W of the paint ...
Physics4/28/2011
  Q: I teach 6th grade language arts. Today, we watched "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (the one ...
  A: Since the acceleration of gravity the velocity of the glow stick at the end of 3 seconds will be: ...
Energy needed to tip over versus energy needed to tip back up again4/28/2011
  Q: Imagine a MagLIGHT brand flashlight... http://bit.ly/hcxlyI ...which has its batteries in its long ...
  A: Let's make several assumptions for an example calculation: 1. The mass of the flashlight is m=2.0kg ...
equal weights on the scales4/26/2011
  Q: why when we put equal weights on the scales it swings up and down for some time till it comes to ...
  A: It swings up and down because the system is an equilibrium system [opposite forces/torques are ...
Physics4/26/2011
  Q: hope that you are fine & enjoying your life with a good health, i have a question for you sir, what ...
  A: The deterministic approach assumes that every result has a specific cause which leads to that ...
Magnetism4/24/2011
  Q: Q1)I've tried to find B(Magnetic Field)at the centre of a current carrying ring in two ways(Please ...
  A: Ampere's Law states that the integral of B dot dl is equal to mu naught multiplied by the current ...
Energy needed to tip over versus energy needed to tip back up again4/20/2011
  Q: Imagine a MagLIGHT brand flashlight... http://bit.ly/hcxlyI ...which has its batteries in its long ...
  A: Pushing the flashlight over will result in a net release of energy as the gravitational energy of ...
physics4/20/2011
  Q: A green laser pointer has a wavelength of 540 nm (5.4 x 10^-7m). What is the frequency of this ...
  A: The speed of any wave is equal to the product of the wavelength and the frequency: s=f*L Therefore, ...
index of refraction4/19/2011
  Q: A beam of light is incident at an angle of 28 degrees on a slab of flint glass. The refracted ray ...
  A: According to Snell's Law: n1*sin(<1)=n2*sin(<2) Assuming that this slab of glass is in air: n1=1.0 ...
physics4/17/2011
  Q: Suppose the ray, in air with n = 1.00, enters a slab with n = 2.14 at a 27.8° angle with respect to ...
  A: 1) Applying Snell's Law: n1*sin(<1)=n2*sin(<2) To the first interface where: n1=1.0 [Assuming the ...
Electric Dipole4/16/2011
  Q: If we consider a Gaussian surface around an ED the flux will be zero.So doesn't that mean E must be ...
  A: Gauss' Law does not say that the electric field is zero, only that the total electric flux through ...
Gauss's Theorm....4/16/2011
  Q: If Coulomb's law of electricity is violated and Force between two charged molecule is inversely ...
  A: Only in a universe where the area A of a "sphere" is proportional to R^(5/2). The reason Gauss' Law ...
simple harmonic motion4/15/2011
  Q: Please help :/ A horizontal spring on a frictionless level air track has a 0.150 kg object attached ...
  A: This problem is an energy conservation problem. After the spring has been stretched the spring ...
electricity4/14/2011
  Q: can a conducting solid sphere act as a capacitor? if yes then what is its capacity?
  A: Virtually ANYTHING can act as a capacitor! All it has to do is store positive charges separately ...
Physics dealing with currents4/13/2011
  Q: The figure below is a cross section through three long wires with linear mass density 33 g/m. They ...
  A: The magnetic force Fm per unit length L between two parallel wires is given to be: ...
physics4/13/2011
  Q: ∆1. KE=(1/2)mv^2 =(1/2)m(456)^2=103968 Spec heat of alum C=900j/kg/k C∆T=103968 chang ...
  A: Your calculation of the kinetic energy of the bullet is correct. Assuming that all of this energy is ...
question4/12/2011
  Q: my name is Emmanuel Salmeron, well im go to JOHN F KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL in silver spring md well i am ...
  A: Here is a very interesting suggestion - study the electric field near a plasma globe! All you will ...
Oscillations Problem4/11/2011
  Q: A cylindrical can of diameter 10cm contains some ballast so that it floats vertically in water. The ...
  A: Assuming that the oscillation of this floating can is simple harmonic, the period of oscillation T ...
physics4/10/2011
  Q: how to calculate positive and negative charge in 250 gram of water ?
  A: The molecular weight of water is: mw=2*H+O=2*1+16=18grams/mole Since you have 250 grams of water you ...
Physics pendulum4/8/2011
  Q: Pendulum. A small rock with mass 0.12 kg is fastened to a massless string with length 0.80 m to form ...
  A: There are two distinct parts to this problem: energy conservation and then Newton's 2nd Law. First, ...
statics of solid4/7/2011
  Q: a smooth hollow cylinder of radius r open at both ends, rest on a smooth horizontal plane. two ...
  A: There are two distinct parts to this problem; both involving Newton's 1st Law. 1) Use Newton's 1st ...
acceleration/deceleration4/6/2011
  Q: Which combination of equations would I use to solve the following, please?: An arrow is fired and ...
  A: You do not indicate the direction in which this arrow is fired and that does matter. Assuming that ...
Physics4/6/2011
  Q: A flat-bottomed rectangular boat is 4.0 m long and 1.5 m wide.If the load is 2000 kg (including the ...
  A: In order for a boat to float the buoyancy force Fb of the displaced liquid must be equal to the ...
Waves & Sound.4/5/2011
  Q: Consider two speakers separated by a distance of 20 m and facing toward each other. The speakers are ...
  A: You don't say what the temperature is so I must assume that the speed of sound is somewhere between ...
Newton's second law4/4/2011
  Q: I was unable to attend class the day this was covered. The notes I got from a friend have been no ...
  A: In any Newton's 2nd Law problem the first step is to make the freebody diagram. In this case there ...
physics4/2/2011
  Q: A particle with a mass of 2.5×10^−5 kg and a charge of +2.2 µC is released in a (parallel ...
  A: [All of the following assumes that there is an electric field E directed towards the right.] The ...
Rolling Ball4/1/2011
  Q: When a ball rolls down a curve and then rolls up the other side, it goes from Mass x Acceleration to ...
  A: I am not entirely sure what you are trying to ask. As a ball rolls down the curve the gravitational ...
Trip or Slip?3/31/2011
  Q: A block of dimensions WxH and mass m is placed on a rough ssurface (coeff of friction=U).A ...
  A: If the box was going to tip over, it would do so about the far bottom edge. Assume that box is being ...
chemistry3/30/2011
  Q: HOW MUCH POTASSIUM CHLORIDE HAS TO BE DISSOLVED IN WATER TO PRODUCE 2.0 LITERS OF A 2.45 M ...
  A: A 2.45 molar solution will contain 2.45 moles of solute [potassium chloride in this case] for every ...
Pulley and masses3/29/2011
  Q: A heavy ball of mass 2m is kept on a smooth horizontal surface and the a lighter ball is dropped ...
  A: Not in this case. The axle of the pulley introduces an external force that changes the direction of ...
chemistry3/29/2011
  Q: methane burns in air to produce carbon dioxide and water.what volume of carbon dioxide,at 1atm ...
  A: When methane is burned in air the balanced chemical equation will be: CH4+2*O2 - - - CO2+2*H20 ...
physics3/27/2011
  Q: two spherical drops of equal size are falling vertically through air with a terminal velocity of ...
  A: Terminal velocity occurs when the drag force [in this case the frictional force of the air] balances ...
Pulley and masses3/27/2011
  Q: A heavy ball of mass 2m is kept on a smooth horizontal surface and the a lighter ball is dropped ...
  A: This problem is essentially a momentum conservation problem. At the moment that the string gets taut ...
Optics3/26/2011
  Q: A small gremlin from Academia finds itself d = 145 cm in front of a two-lens optical system as ...
  A: When you do any 2 lens problem you first solve for the position of the image produced by the first ...
physics3/26/2011
  Q: The freeway off-ramp is circular with a 67 m radius and a slope of 14 deg. If the coefficient of ...
  A: This is a Newton's 2nd Law problem. first step of any Newton's 2nd Law problem is to make a free ...
Relative Motion in Two dimensions3/25/2011
  Q: A plane is seen to travel in a direction [S 30 degrees W]. If its ground velocity was 300 km/h and ...
  A: This is a vector addition problem where the sum of the velocity of the wind Vwind and the velocity ...
Physics, magnitude3/25/2011
  Q: Two tow trucks pull on a car that is stalled because of flooding. With reference to the East as 0 ...
  A: Ultimately this is a vector addition problem. The first step will be to break the two forces into ...
Physics3/24/2011
  Q: I need help with formulating the formula for this problem: A small object of radius r and mass m ...
  A: For a rolling object the total energy is equal to the sum of the linear kinetic energy and angular ...
Force and weight3/23/2011
  Q: "If it takes 5 newtons of force to lift an object off the floor and hold it up for 3 seconds, how ...
  A: I agree with your first impulse, it would take 5 Newtons of force to lift and suspend a 5 Newton ...
Potential Energy and Energy Conservation3/22/2011
  Q: A 0.50kg mass is attached to a horizontal spring with constant k=100N/m. The mass slides across a ...
  A: Whether the object bouncing up and down or sliding side to side is irrelevant. Your initial equation ...
Physics3/21/2011
  Q: Energy is released in nuclear fission because the average binding energy per nucleon of the fission ...
  A: Let me give you an example! A single carbon atom is made up of 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 ...
Physics3/20/2011
  Q: Energy is released in nuclear fission because the average binding energy per nucleon of the fission ...
  A: Increased binding energy means that MORE energy will need to be added to an atom to pull it apart! ...
Generate a current3/20/2011
  Q: Do you know of a list of household products like lemon juice that can generate a current. This year ...
  A: Easy to do with almost any fruit! I just did this with my students. Take an orange, a piece of ...
Physics3/19/2011
  Q: Electrons are accelerated from rest through a potential difference of 10kV in an x-ray tube. ...
  A: A. The electrons will gain 10,000 eV of energy where 1 eV = 1.6 x 10^-19 J. Therefore, the energy ...
mud pot and photograph3/17/2011
  Q: 1.Why the water in a mud pot is always cool? 2. When I see the photograph of any person, he/she is ...
  A: 1. As water evaporates from a mud pot it takes heat with it! In fact 540 calories of heat for each ...
physics question3/16/2011
  Q: Hey I just have a few phyics questions I've been busting my brain on: "The problem asks In Fig. ...
  A: In the original position of e+ the potential energy Uo of the system is: ...
Physics: Thermal expansion3/13/2011
  Q: "A 20.0 gram copper ring at 0 degrees Celsius has an inner diameter of D=.0254 meters. An aluminum ...
  A: This is fairly complicated and involved problem! Here are the steps you need to do. 1. Calculate the ...
Speed Distance Power Weight3/12/2011
  Q: what if we have a car worth 1ton, 100Bhp, does a qarter mile(402.33m) in 18.00secs or a 0-100km/hr ...
  A: If you add 100 kg to a 1000kg car you will roughly increase the car's mass by 10%. This will affect ...
Physics3/11/2011
  Q: A person weighing 134 pounds can run up 500 steps (each step is 0.20 m high) in 18 minutes and 37 ...
  A: Power is equal to work done per unit time: P=W/t=F*d/t=m*g*d/t Converting pounds into kilograms: ...
distance3/10/2011
  Q: A 6000 kg truck going 30.0 m/s on a level road was slowed by applying a braking force of 22,500 N. ...
  A: There are 2 parts to this problem! First, use Newton's 2nd Law to calculate the rate of ...
Resonance3/10/2011
  Q: I am trying to explain resonance, and I just want to make sure I've got it right. In particular, ...
  A: Your basic idea is correct. The resonant frequency of any object/system is the frequency at which ...
Weight3/9/2011
  Q: I know an objects total mass, but how do I calculate the force required to move the object, on a ...
  A: You would need to know the frictional force that you will have to overcome. This value is probably ...
physics help3/9/2011
  Q: a girl at a state fair swings a ball in a vertical circle at the end of a string. is the force ...
  A: Yes, the tension at the bottom of the swing has to be greater than the weight of the ball since at ...
projectile motion3/8/2011
  Q: An object is thrown vertically upward such that it has a speed of 25 m/s when it reaches two thirds ...
  A: If the object is moving upward at 25 m/s, the final height of the object from this position can most ...
Physics3/7/2011
  Q: An electron and proton are released at the same instance from the center of a pair of parallel ...
  A: If you use the kinematics displacement equation to describe the final displacement of each particle ...
Magnitude of Falling Bodies Given Mass & Time3/3/2011
  Q: Consider two falling bodies. Their masses are 4.4 kg and 5.5 kg. At time t = 0, the two are released ...
  A: Final velocity does not depend on mass, only on time! The acceleration of all falling bodies, in the ...
physics3/3/2011
  Q: There is a block of mass 2kg on a wood surface connected to a pulley with a hanging mass attached, ...
  A: According to Newton's 2nd Law the rate of acceleration a is directly proportional to the unbalanced ...
Pendulums3/2/2011
  Q: Pendulum A is 20 cm long and has a 5g mass on it. Pendulum B is 30cm long and has a 10g mass on it. ...
  A: The period of a pendulum is given by: T=2*pi*sqrt[L/g] where L is the length of the pendulum. Since ...
Physics - Electromagnetism3/2/2011
  Q: A 33 cm diameter coil consists of 24 turns of cylindrical copper wire 3.2 mm in diameter. A uniform ...
  A: According to Faraday's Law the emf is given by the change in magnetic flux divided by the time ...
Introductory Physics3/1/2011
  Q: Find the coefficient of kinetic friction between a 3.85-kg block and the horizontal surface on which ...
  A: The force Fs applied by the spring will be: Fs=k*dx=850N/m*0.062m=52.7N Because the block is being ...
kinematics problem solving3/1/2011
  Q: A bullet traveling at 1000 meters/second strikes a piece of wood and comes to rest 3 centimeters ...
  A: Assuming that the acceleration of the bullet is uniform, the average velocity of the bullet will be: ...
Electromagnetics2/28/2011
  Q: A 10.2 cm diameter wire coil is initially oriented so that its plane is perpendicular to a magnetic ...
  A: The induced emf in a closed conducting path is given by Faraday's Law: Emf=-Dphi/Dt where Dphi is ...
Work and Power2/27/2011
  Q: A 1930 kg car accelerates uniformly from rest to 14.3 m/s in 3.76 s. Find the work done on the car ...
  A: Work done is equal to the product of the force applied and the displacement of the object in the ...
Physics2/27/2011
  Q: hi I need to know how I can state a relationship between force and acceleration (for a given mass)
  A: According to Newton's 2nd Law of motion the acceleration of a body is directly proportional to the ...
Work Problem2/26/2011
  Q: Karen has a mass of 50.1 kg as she rides the up escalator at Woodley Park Station of the Washington ...
  A: In order to calculate work you need to multiply the force being applied [in this case the force of ...
Work Problem2/26/2011
  Q: (a) In the 1950’s, an experimental train that had a mass of 40000 kg was powered across a level ...
  A: (a) Work is equal to the product of the force being applied and the displacement in the direction of ...
Physics Homework Help2/25/2011
  Q: If you push a 34kg crate at a constant speed of 2.4 m/s across a horizontal floor (uk = 0.43), at ...
  A: The frictional force between two surfaces is equal to the product of the normal force pressing the ...
What is the force of impact?2/24/2011
  Q: Will the force of impact of a 8 inch piece of hail dropping from the sky be the same force of impact ...
  A: Since the diameter of the 8" hailstone is twice the diameter of the 4" hailstone, the 8" hailstone ...
Potential energy of a system2/23/2011
  Q: There are two dust particles of equal mass and equal positive charge. They are separated by a ...
  A: Yes! In fact it is just this argument that leads many cosmologists and physicists to argue that the ...
angular velocity and linear velocity2/21/2011
  Q: Do you know the relation between the balance and the angular velocity and the linear velocity in the ...
  A: You can't add angular velocity to linear velocity any more than you can add apples to codfish! ...
Physics2/20/2011
  Q: Can you assist me with this? An 8 k8 shot makes 7 complete revolutions during it 2.5 sec flight. If ...
  A: 7 complete revolutions is: 7*2*pi=44rad If the flight lasts for 2.5 seconds the resulting angular ...
Ping pong balls2/20/2011
  Q: Which surface do ping pong balls bounce higher on?? The surfaces are floorboards, concrete, carpet, ...
  A: Concrete will generate the greatest rebound. Why? Because very little energy will be lost to the ...
physics2/19/2011
  Q: An individual lifts a 100 kg weight to a height of 1.9m a) how much work was done? when the weight ...
  A: Since work is equal to the product of force and distance through which that force has been applied, ...
Magnitude and friction2/18/2011
  Q: A 10 kg block sitting in a horizontal surface is subjected to a horizontal force of 150N. If the ...
  A: To accelerate this crate to the right the applied force must do 2 things: overcome the force of ...
time2/18/2011
  Q: I need to figure out the time of a falling object to figure out the speed. I need to find how long ...
  A: This is a standard kinematics problem where: Do=600ft [the initial position of the object], Df=0m ...
Physics2/16/2011
  Q: with what force does a rock that weighs 10 N strike the ground if dropped from a rest position 10 m ...
  A: The problem has no straight forward answer because there is none! The force exerted on the ball by ...
Pendulum Problem2/16/2011
  Q: Given: There is a 5kg sphere hanging in a pendulum mechanism at a fixed point. The sphere is hanging ...
  A: Since gravitational energy is: GPE=m*g*dh, if the pendulum loses 10% of its energy during its swing ...
Physics2/15/2011
  Q: Do you mind helping with this qiestion please. A camper heats up 25 L of water to boiling to get ...
  A: The heat gained by the cold will be equal to the heat lost by the hot water. Since heat gained or ...
Pressure, Temp and Volume2/13/2011
  Q: Can you explain this to me please? The pressure, temperature and volume of a sample gas are P, T ...
  A: The ideal gas law says: P*V=n*R*T I'd you divide this equation by itself: P2*V2=n*K*T2 P1*V1=n*R*T1 ...
Physics2/11/2011
  Q: A 40.0mA current is carried by a uniformly wound air-core solenoid with 450 turns, a 15.0mm diameter ...
  A: The magnetic field within a long solenoid is given by: B=mu*n*I where mu=4*pi*10^-7 is the ...
Physics (Mechanical energy)2/11/2011
  Q: A body of mass 4kg was dropped vertically from a storey building 80m high. Calculate the velocity of ...
  A: All kinematics problems involve 6 distinct variables: Do, Df, Vo, Vf, a & t as well as 2 available ...
Physics2/10/2011
  Q: Gasoline flows into a storage container at the rate of 32.5 gal/min. The storage container is 13 ft. ...
  A: The first thing you need to do is to calculate the volume of the tank in gallons. In this case the ...
Tipping independent objects stacked2/10/2011
  Q: I have pallets with product on them of a known weight and size stacked vertically in a warehouse. I ...
  A: This is essentially a question of opposing torques. If the fork of the forklift applies a horizontal ...
Energy, Power, Machines2/9/2011
  Q: I don't understand the following... 1. A 500-N crate needs to be lifted 1 meter vertically in order ...
  A: c) It doesn't matter how you increase the height of the crate. Either path will do so since ...
physics2/8/2011
  Q: Can you tell me if I am correct in my choice of answers? 1) Consider the directions of the velocity ...
  A: 1) Sorry, no. The correct answer is "a". For an object moving in a circular path the velocity vector ...
velocity of a pitched baseball2/8/2011
  Q: does the velocity of a pitched baseball have any bearing on the distance a batter can hit the ball
  A: I could only speculate on the details of your question due to the complexity. However, it turns out ...
Fall2/7/2011
  Q: Students in a lab measure the speed of a steel ball to be 8 m/s when launched horizontally from a ...
  A: Using kinematics in the vertical direction the variables will be: Do=1.0m [the initial vertical ...
physics2/7/2011
  Q: Can you help me with this question please? A stunt man (69.4kg) swings across a valley at the end ...
  A: There are 2 steps to this problem: first find the speed of the stunt man at the bottom of the swing ...
Physics2/6/2011
  Q: Can you help with this question. I am getting a negative number which I do not think is correct.. A ...
  A: There is a bit of inconsistency in this problem! If you use the vertical information the kinematics ...
Physics2/6/2011
  Q: Can you help? a pail of water is rotated in a vertical circle of radius 1.00 m (a) what are two ...
  A: a) There are two important forces acting on the pail: the force of gravity Fg - down and the normal ...
physics2/5/2011
  Q: Can you assist with this question please? A badminton shuttlecock is struck by a racquet at a 35 ...
  A: This is a really hard problem unless you make the unrealistic assumption that air friction is ...
Weights in containers2/4/2011
  Q: I have a two partYou have an open topped lorry on a set of scales and a chicken inside the lorry. ...
  A: In an open top lorry the answer is not so clear at what it would be in an enclosed vehicle. If the ...
Physics-Force2/3/2011
  Q: A force of 20N distributed uniformly over an area of 20cm sq,find pressure in pascals?PLZzzzz help ...
  A: Pressure in Pascals is calculated by dividing e force in Newtons by the area in square meters. Since ...
Research Paper2/3/2011
  Q: what is static Friction?
  A: Static frictional force between two surfaces when the 2 surfaces involved are NOT sliding relative ...
Particles being heated and gaining energy.2/2/2011
  Q: I know that when you heat gas particles, they gain more energy and fly around faster. Is there any ...
  A: The average kinetic energy of the molecules of a gas is related to the temperature according to: KE ...
Physics2/1/2011
  Q: The gravitational pull between two spheres in outer space is 25 newtons. What would the wieght of ...
  A: Assuming that you mean that the mass of each sphere is cut in half, the new force will be 1/4 the ...
physics-electrostatics2/1/2011
  Q: http://staff.fcps.net/KGILL/AP%20Physics/AP%20Extra%20Homework/electfields.pdf please look at that ...
  A: 19) This problem is about adding electrostatic fields together. Since they are vectors you will need ...
accelerometer measurement1/31/2011
  Q: I was so excited when I heard that a smartphone contains accelerometers. I figured I could move a ...
  A: According to the General Theory of Relativity - and confirmed by the accelerometer built into the ...
Physics1/31/2011
  Q: I am trying to help my 14 year old with two questions that he has left to answer. Any help would be ...
  A: 1. Work is equal to the product of the force being applied multiplied by the distance through which ...
physics1/30/2011
  Q: If you lift a 40N package straight up to a height of 1.5 meters (about shoulder height), a. how much ...
  A: Work is equal to the product of the force applied and the resulting displacement: W=F*d In this ...
Physics HW Question1/30/2011
  Q: Points A, B, and C are at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. A certain positive charge q ...
  A: The new electric field will be the vector sum of the two fields caused by the charges at locations A ...
physics1/29/2011
  Q: can you help with these two problems please 1). A 6.36 gram bullet moving at 272 m/s penetrates a ...
  A: 1) The easiest way to solve this problem is to use the "impulse" equation: F*dt=m*dv [This is a ...
Question1/29/2011
  Q: If a lighter person and a heavier person jump the same distance off the ground, who will burn more ...
  A: Since work is equal to force times distance and since more force will be needed to lift a heavy ...
uncertainties1/27/2011
  Q: If p = q + r, and σq and σr are the uncertainties in the measurements of q and r, what is ...
  A: When you add two quantities with error [uncertainty] the error in the sum is equal to the sum in the ...
physics1/27/2011
  Q: I'm not quite sure how to do this problems. Calculate the acceleration of a person standing near ...
  A: The person standing on the Merry-Go-Round is accelerating centripetally [any acceleration which ...
Physics Project1/26/2011
  Q: I need to figure out 2 specific examples of how the equation impulse = change in the momentum ...
  A: Impulse is defined to be the change in momentum. In this case the initial momentum of the paintball ...
Physics Vertical Throw1/26/2011
  Q: An arrow is shot vertically upward and then 2.10 s later passes the top of a tree 37.3 m high. How ...
  A: First step set up the data table identifying as many of the 6 kinematics variables as possible! ...
physics1/24/2011
  Q: A cannon is placed at the base of a mountain. We tilt the cannon at a 45-degree angle, in the ...
  A: All kinematics problems have 6 possible variables: Do, Df, Vo, Vf, a and t, as well as 2 available ...
physics1/23/2011
  Q: Can you help with this? Two objects with masses of 3.00 kg and 5.00 kg are connected by a light ...
  A: This is a Newton's 2nd Law problem. The first step will be to make freebody diagrams for each mass: ...
Physics1/20/2011
  Q: Hey, why is it that the voltage in a parallel circuit is the same? ANSWER: Voltage is really ...
  A: Potential difference is the difference in the potential at two different points in an electric ...
Physics1/18/2011
  Q: Can you help me to solve the question attacted?
  A: If you are referring to the problem in the bottom right corner, assume that the current I1 in the ...
Physics1/18/2011
  Q: Hey, why is it that the voltage in a parallel circuit is the same?
  A: Voltage is really "potential difference" which means exactly what is says, it is a difference in ...
Physics1/17/2011
  Q: A German U12 rocket from the second world war had a range of 300 km, reaching a maximum height of ...
  A: Assume that the initial velocity of the rocket is V at and angle Q above the horizontal. The initial ...
physics-latent heat of fusion(ice) calorimeter1/16/2011
  Q: 1. would it be possible for a set up to arrive at a final temperature lower than the initial ...
  A: 1) Sure, Think about the cold packs used in athletic events where a compound is formed that in the ...
Electron photon collision- electron orbit jump1/15/2011
  Q: 1.Does a photon have angular momentum? 2.Can angular momentum be conserved about the nucheus when an ...
  A: 1. Yes, a photon has a spin of 1 2. Not only can angular momentum be conserved, angular momentum ...
Conservation of Energy with angle1/13/2011
  Q: I have a problem. a ball was launched at an angle 45 degrees above the horizon on a cliff 256m high ...
  A: Because energy must be conserved the total energy of the ball as it leaves the top of the cliff must ...
physics1/13/2011
  Q: A 50 kg box is sliding along the floor when it encounters a ramp. The force of friction on the box ...
  A: Since energy must be conserved we need to account for all of the energy both at the beginning of the ...
Sir,I have physics problem.I dont know the steps and working1/12/2011
  Q: Two speakers are driven by the same oscillator of frequency 200 Hz. They are located on a vertical ...
  A: Interference between two point sources occurs when the path length difference between the observer ...
PHYSICS1/12/2011
  Q: Q.1) IF THE SPEED OF A WAVE IS DOUBLED, WHILE THE FREQUENCY REMAINS THE SAME, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ...
  A: 1) Since the speed of a wave is equal to the product of the wave's wavelength and its frequency: ...
forces and laws of motion1/10/2011
  Q: while deciding where to drive a supporting nail, you are pressing a 18 N picture frame against the ...
  A: This is a Newton's 1st Law problem. The first step will be to make the freebody diagram. In this ...
Hockey Physics Problem1/9/2011
  Q: A player strikes a hockey puck giving it a velocity of 53.889 m/s. The puck slides across the ice ...
  A: The first step here will be to determine the acceleration of the hockey puck as it slides across the ...
High Mass and Velocity Collisions1/9/2011
  Q: If an object weighing 2 million pounds and moving at a speed of 15,000 MPH collides head-on with an ...
  A: In order to answer your question you would need to know how far each object moves during the ...
a query related regardiing force1/8/2011
  Q: good morning sir I would be glad to know the answer for my question. A ball of any density is ...
  A: When you drop an object in air Newton's 1st Law applies until the object reaches its terminal ...
phys1/6/2011
  Q: If a rock is thrown at a speed of 10m/s at an angle of 30 above the horizontal.. ..what will be the ...
  A: Almost all 2 dimensional kinematics problems can be solved in the same way! There are 6 distinct ...
Simplest steam engine1/5/2011
  Q: I am trying to make the simplest cheapest low-tech steam engine possible. Is there a water mixture ...
  A: What you are describing is NOT a steam engine. Your description sounds more like a typical internal ...
Pressure1/4/2011
  Q: Pressure is force/area.A brick on the table will have force=mg and the pressure will be ...
  A: As long as there is no water flowing out of the hose the pressure on the walls of the hose will be ...
interference1/3/2011
  Q: i wanted to know that where do this formula ( phase difference=(2pi/wavelenth)*path difference) came ...
  A: The 2pi you have included is an angle in radians, the wavelength L will be in meters and the ...
static energy1/2/2011
  Q: A particle of mass 21 g and charge 20 µC is released from rest when it is 35 cm from a second ...
  A: The electrostatic force Fe between these two charges will be determined by: Fe=k*q1*q2/r^2 Where ...
Electromagnetism1/2/2011
  Q: I would like to know if two conducting charged spheres of radius R1 and R2 were put in contact, how ...
  A: If you touch two conducting spheres together their electric potential would have to be the same. If ...
Stopping a 3t vehicle compare to 1t vehicle1/1/2011
  Q: I would be grateful for your assistance to answer the following. I would like to know the stopping ...
  A: Theoretically they would both stop in the same distance! If you apply Newton's 2nd Law to this ...
mathematics1/1/2011
  Q: There is one ship that is 200 metres in length. A second ship is 100 metres in length. The two ships ...
  A: This problem can best be solved by using D=v*t where v is the relative velocity between the two ...
Calculating the work of a float12/30/2010
  Q: A water vessel that is occasionaly filled and emptied with one cubic meter of water has a float that ...
  A: Work done is equal to the force applied multiplied by the distance through which the object has ...
physics12/29/2010
  Q: (Im having a hard time answering this, please help) A photon-powered spacecraft of mass 10.0 kg ...
  A: If the wavelength of the light is L=225nm the energy U of each photon can be predicted from: U=h*c/L ...
Humidity inside a room12/28/2010
  Q: I'm not sure if you are the right person to ask this, but here it goes. My question is this: Where ...
  A: Unless you have sealed the walls of your house with a vapor barrier the water vapor is leaking out ...
auto impacts12/26/2010
  Q: If a small car (2500 lbs.)going 3 mph, hits a larger one from behind (3700 lbs.) which is stopped ...
  A: Assume that when the small car collides with the heavier car at 3mph (4.4ft/s) and that during the ...
Kinematics problem12/24/2010
  Q: I would be very pleased if you help me to solve this problem, A ball of 1 kg falls from a height of ...
  A: This problem can be solved by using Newton's 2nd Law because the object is accelerating: SF=m*a ...
truck and bridge12/22/2010
  Q: There's a bridge that can only hold 6000 kg, however a truck weighing 9000 kg drove on it and ...
  A: It really depends on what it means to say that the bridge can only hold 6000kg. I would assume that ...
Uniform Circular Motion12/20/2010
  Q: A centrifuge is a device in which a small container of material is rotated at a high speed on a ...
  A: Centripetal acceleration is given by: ac=V^2/R If the centripetal acceleration in the centrifuge is ...
circular motion and conservation of energy12/19/2010
  Q: A block of metal is placed on top of a half - sphere made of ice. The block slides on the half - ...
  A: The metal object will leave the surface when the normal force between the sphere and the metal ...
Uniform Circular Motion12/18/2010
  Q: Two satellites are in circular orbits around the earth. The orbit for satellite A is at a height of ...
  A: A satellite orbiting the Earth is acceleration centripetally and is, therefore, following Newton's ...
Work and Energy12/18/2010
  Q: "Rocket Man" has a propulsion unit strapped to his back. He starts from rest on the ground, fires ...
  A: The work done by the backpack will be equal to the energy gained by the rocketman! In this case the ...
physics12/17/2010
  Q: a 6.0 kg block of ice rests on a surface that is tilted by 12 degrees. find the acceleration of the ...
  A: The only force acting to accelerate the block of ice along the tilted surface is the component of ...
Momentum12/16/2010
  Q: A pendulum consists of a 0.4-kg bob attached to a string of length 1.6m. A block of mass m rests on ...
  A: This problem is a 2 part problem involving two different fundamental principles: energy conservation ...
PHYSICS12/15/2010
  Q: Aluminum Rod #1 has a length L and a diameter d. Aluminum rod #2 has a length 2L and a diameter 2d. ...
  A: Assume that the elastic coefficient for the first rod is k1. Because the second rod has 2x the ...
Physics12/14/2010
  Q: Given that q = +12 u(micro-) Coulomb and d = 16cm, find the direction and magnitude of the net ...
  A: The electrostatic force between two charges is given by: F=k*q1*q2/R^2 To find the net electrostatic ...
Cannonball Problem12/14/2010
  Q: My teacher had solved it for us, but I had copied it into a notebook which I, unfortunately, lost. ...
  A: All 2 dimensional kinematics problems can be solved in the same way! There are 6 kinematics ...
Lifting Fans12/13/2010
  Q: How much force must a fan put out to lift a person strait up into the air more than a foot? Also how ...
  A: The fan must produce a force equal to the weight of the person! I do not know specifically how big ...
Physics question12/12/2010
  Q: Calculate the period of a ball tied to a string of length 0.3 m making 1.9 revolutions every second. ...
  A: The period T is the time required for 1.0 revolution. Since this ball is doing 1.9revolutions per ...
Physics12/11/2010
  Q: Just telling me what the formulas are for all of the problems in layman's terms would be great. A ...
  A: This problem is just like the previous problem. I have posted that solution below. "Since the plank ...
Physics12/11/2010
  Q: Just telling me what the formulas are for all of the problems in layman's terms would be great. I do ...
  A: Since the plank is not accelerating it is at equilibrium. If it is at equilibrium 2 conditions must ...
Einstein's relativity12/10/2010
  Q: I have a good reason for not wanting to believe in Einstein's relativity/special relativity ...
  A: Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity has been experimentally confirmed thousands if not millions ...
physics help12/9/2010
  Q: A 5 kg block of iron is suspended in water by a cord attached to a scale. What does the scale read? ...
  A: Since the iron mass is suspended in the water it must be at equilibrium. If it is at equilibrium the ...
physics12/9/2010
  Q: A 100-kg man and a 60-kg man have a tug-of-war. The 100-kg man pulls on the rope such that the 60-kg ...
  A: According to Newton's 2nd Law the sum of the forces SF acting on a mass m in the direction of the ...
Physics12/8/2010
  Q: A sports car and a bus are both traveling at 30 km/hr. Which of the two will require more force to ...
  A: The amount of force needed to stop either vehicle will depend on how much work is needed to remove ...
moment of inertia12/8/2010
  Q: Mass m1=5kg is located on the y-axis at y=-50cm and mass m2=10kg is located on the x-axis at ...
  A: The moment of inertia I of a mass m is equal to the product of the mass and the square of the ...
physics12/7/2010
  Q: A strong man stands in the street and pushes against a car as hard as he can when it drives toward ...
  A: He would have to be VERY strong, but in any case the force he exerts on the car would have to be ...
Central force motion12/6/2010
  Q: a. Explain why eccentricity = 0 represent a circular orbit
  A: The eccentricy of an ellipse is a measure of how nearly circular the ellipse is. Eccentricity is ...
heat12/6/2010
  Q: Water falls a distance of 50.0 meters. The specific heat of water is 1.00 cal/gm°C. What is the ...
  A: As the water falls its gravitational potential energy, GPE=m*g*dh, becomes thermal energy Q=m*c*dT. ...
physics12/5/2010
  Q: at what height can a 1500kg satellite circle the earth with a velocity of 200m/s?
  A: An orbiting satellite is moving in a circular path and is, therefore, accelerating. Since it is ...
AP Physics12/5/2010
  Q: A ladder of unknown length and mass of 29 kg rests on a rough floor, and leans against a rough wall. ...
  A: This is clearly a Newton's first law problem. The first step is to identify all of the external ...
AP Physics; Momentum12/4/2010
  Q: A 2700 kg car traveling to the north is slowed down uniformly from an initial velocity of 25.8 m/s ...
  A: First solve for the acceleration using Newton's 2nd Law, SF=m*a, where SF=-7350N and m=2700kg; solve ...
Physics question12/3/2010
  Q: A box slides down a ramp inclined at 34◦ to the horizontal with an acceleration of 2.26 m/s2. ...
  A: Since the box is accelerating Newton's 2nd Law applies. The first step will be to identify all of ...
physics12/3/2010
  Q: a) If the mass of a golf ball(46g) coul be converted entirely into energy(E=mc^2), how much energy ...
  A: Using E=m*c^2: E=0.046kg*(3.0*10^8m/s)^2=4.14x10^15J One kilowatt hour of electricity correspond to: ...
The cartesian diver....12/2/2010
  Q: Suppose you were creating a Cartesian diver but you used the following instead. What if anything ...
  A: A. Since oil is less dense than water you will have to reduce the average density of the diver - add ...
The LHC11/30/2010
  Q: The LHC states it has created very, very small black holes by colliding particles close to the speed ...
  A: Interestingly such mini black holes are probably being formed all the time by natural cosmic rays, ...
physics11/29/2010
  Q: A basketball player is balancing a spinning basketball on the tip of his finger. The angular ...
  A: Rotational kinematics problems can be done using the same technique as linear kinematics problems! ...
physics11/29/2010
  Q: A 62.0 kg person, standing on a diving board, dives straight down into the water. Just before ...
  A: Use the impulse equation, F*dT=dP, where F is the average force, dT is the time interval over which ...
Friction11/27/2010
  Q: Climbers attempting to cross a stream place a 340 kg log against a vertical, frictionless ice cliff ...
  A: This problem is a Newton's 1st Law problem that involves both conditions that are necessary for a ...
Capacitive Barometer11/25/2010
  Q: I want to add a non-liquid barometer to my observatory. I came up with the idea of using a ...
  A: Why not use the heat shrink plastic used to seal windows during the winter. This is available at ...
creating an electromagnet11/24/2010
  Q: I am wanting to create and electromagnet with an air core (or possibly an iron core, whichever is ...
  A: I don't really think that an "equation" be of much use here. This is what I suggest you do instead. ...
EM radiation11/23/2010
  Q: When an electric field is applied across a metal this causes the "free" electrons to flow and this ...
  A: In a conductor the valence electrons, the ones involved in current flow, can be found in "s shell" ...
physics;kinematics in one dimension11/23/2010
  Q: you are driving home from school steadily at 65 mi/hr. for 130 miles.it then begins to rain and you ...
  A: During the first 2.0 hours the car goes 65 mph and so the time for this part of the trip is: ...
stealth technology in planes11/22/2010
  Q: stealthy planes are made up of special meterial which is "light resistance",I want to know that ...
  A: The two primary modes of stealth are: absorb the incoming radar beam and reflect the radar in any ...
Physics11/21/2010
  Q: A ball is projected horizontally from the edge of a table that is 1.21 m high, and it strikes the ...
  A: The first step here is to find the horizontal velocity of the ball. To do this you need to find the ...
angular displacement11/20/2010
  Q: A fan rotating at 2.1 radian/s slows down with a constant acceleration and comes to a stop in a ...
  A: Although this problem is rotational rather than linear, the relationships for rotational motion are ...
physics11/20/2010
  Q: Electrons are ejected from a surface with speed ranging up to 669km/s when light with a wavelength ...
  A: According to the photoelectric equation: KE=h*f+phi=h*[c/lambda]+phi where KE is the kinetic energy ...
physics temperature problem11/19/2010
  Q: I already asked you part of this problem, I figured out some other questions that went along with ...
  A: The added ice must do two things: increase in temperature to 0oC and cool the water to 0oC. Relative ...
temperature physics problems11/18/2010
  Q: 0.1kg of ice initially at a temperature of -10 degrees Celsius is added to a cup with .5kg of water ...
  A: There are four distinct steps to this problem: 1. How much heat is needed to bring the ice up to the ...
physics11/18/2010
  Q: A college rower can easily push a small car along a flat road, but she cannot lift the car in the ...
  A: Simple! Much more force is needed to lift the car than to push the car. To lift a car requires a ...
Calculus11/17/2010
  Q: A tennis ball is thrown vertically in the air and lands after 2.1 seconds. Given the velocity ...
  A: As far as I can tell this problem does not involve any calculus. This is a typical one dimensional ...
physics11/16/2010
  Q: 1)how the frequency and wavelength of light is related to its refraction through different medium? ...
  A: 1) As a light wave changes mediums its frequency remains the same. Since the speed of a wave through ...
Magnets11/14/2010
  Q: Suppose you drop a magnet and a non-magnetized object through a long vertical copper pipe. You ...
  A: When a magnet falls through the copper pipe the changing magnetic field [caused by the motion of the ...
collisions11/10/2010
  Q: I can't seem to figure out the speed when there are two different masses. 1)A 2.0 kg ball at rest ...
  A: For all momentum conservation problems involving two objects: m1*v1+m2*v2=m1*v3+m2*v4 where v1 and ...
physics11/9/2010
  Q: a length of thin-walled cylindrical copper tubing of radius 3cm stands on a smooth horizontal ...
  A: It doesn't matter! Since both ball bearings fall within the boundaries of the cylinder's footprint ...
Science question11/9/2010
  Q: I am standing in a bus moving at a constant speed of 35 mph. If I throw a ball straight up into the ...
  A: The bus, you and the ball are all moving at a constant velocity in the horizontal direction. When ...
thermal expansion11/8/2010
  Q: A pendulum clock consists of an iron rod connected to small, heavy bob.If it is designed to keep ...
  A: The linear thermal expansion of a solid is given by: dL=L1*alpha*dT where dL is the change in ...
tension11/8/2010
  Q: Suppose that a line were stretched almost perfectly horizontally between two poles that are 21 ...
  A: If the wire sage 10 cm the angle Q between the wire and the horizontal can be found by using the ...
Please Help11/7/2010
  Q: Explain why the smallest fragments from an explosuon can cause damage over a wide area? Thank you
  A: When an explosion occurs chemical potential energy is converted into the kinetic energy of the ...
question11/6/2010
  Q: A particle starts from the origin at t=0 with an initial velocity of 5 m/s along the positive ...
  A: a. Since final velocity is equal to: Vf=a*t+Vo And since in this case: a=(-3i+4.5j), t=2s and Vo=5i ...
physic11/6/2010
  Q: A projectile-buoy target lies 100m away.Determine at least one possible set of values for the ...
  A: Maximum range of a 2 dimensional projectile occurs when the launch angle is 45 degrees so let's ...
physics11/5/2010
  Q: At the instant the traffic lights turn green, an automobile that has been waiting at an intersection ...
  A: First identify the 6 kinematics variables for the car: Do=0m [given], Df=? unknown], Vo=0m/s ...
Physics11/5/2010
  Q: A bus driver forgets to stop at a bus stop. Just as he passes the stop, he begins to decelerate. ...
  A: All one dimensional kinematics problems can be solved in the same exact way! There are 6 possible ...
Physics11/4/2010
  Q: A bus starts from rest at a station and accelerates at a rate of 2 m/s for 25 s. It then runs at ...
  A: The easiest way to do this, in my opinion, is to make a graph plotting the velocity of the bus as a ...
Work Energy Theorem11/4/2010
  Q: How does the Work-energy theorem explain why anti-lock (normal brake situation)brakes are good for ...
  A: That's because it does not relate. Anntilock brakes are not about the work-energy theorem, but are ...
hmm im bad with equations i need for future reference and i forget these11/3/2010
  Q: How would you determine the center of mass for a long piece of wood? Just the equations
  A: To find the center of mass of a set of discrete objects you multiply each object's mass by its x ...
Physics acceleration11/2/2010
  Q: I've got a question about the internal combustion engine. The piston has a displacement of 10 cm. ...
  A: Since the piston represents a one dimensional component of the rotational motion of the crankshaft ...
light-speed & a merry-go-round11/1/2010
  Q: What would be the diameter of a merry-go-round whose outside edge is moving at light-speed?
  A: This is an if-then statement where the if part is false. Therefore, it is really impossible to ...
total acceleration vector just before string breaks10/31/2010
  Q: With a mass at the end of a string in a vertical circular orbit, how might one figure out the ...
  A: If you spin an object in a vertical circle the tension in the string will be greatest at the bottom ...
coulombs force law/electromagnetics10/30/2010
  Q: i was hoping you could check if my answer was correct. The question is -Estimate the charge present ...
  A: Why would you say that gravity has no effect on atoms? This is just not true. Your analysis seems ...
not sure10/29/2010
  Q: My boyfriend was hit in the head at work the other day by a 100 pound pole that fell approximately ...
  A: That is very difficult to answer exactly but we can make some estimates. If the pole fell from a ...
constant acceleration10/28/2010
  Q: A person standing at the edge of a roof throws sphere A vertically upward with an initial velocity ...
  A: As ball A moves upward it is accelerated downward by gravity a=-g. This results in a change in the ...
Physics10/28/2010
  Q: An 8.4 g bullet leaves the muzzle of a rifle with a speed of 621.5 m/s2. what constant force is ...
  A: The easiest way to do this is to use the impulse form of Newton's 2nd Law! Ordinarily Newtons' 2nd ...
wave propagation10/27/2010
  Q: We have read that wavelength is the distance between two consecutive crests, and wave height is the ...
  A: The problem here is your definition of "wave height". The correct term is "amplitude" and is defined ...
Physics homework question help!10/27/2010
  Q: A 46 gram golf ball is dropped on a sidewalk from a height of 2.0 meters and rebounds to a height ...
  A: Impulse will be equal to the change in momentum of the ball: Pf-Pi So what you need to do is to ...
motion10/26/2010
  Q: My girlfriend Father asked me this question. A bird is flying inside a train travelling at a speed ...
  A: You are correct, the bird will collide with the forward wall of the train car. The bird is initially ...
Physics10/24/2010
  Q: a man pushes a 40 kg box up a 20° slope by applying a force P at 30° to the slope surface. What is ...
  A: Your first equation: F_p*cos30=-F_f-F_g*cos20 Should be: F_p*cos30=-F_f+F_g*sin20 Your second ...
physics10/23/2010
  Q: At what point will the string be most likely to break for a lead ball being swung in a vertical ...
  A: When the lead ball is swinging in a vertical circle the string is most likely to break at the ...
Physics, acceleration10/21/2010
  Q: An airport has runways only 200 m long. A small plane must reach a ground speed of 40 m/s before it ...
  A: All one dimensional kinematics problems can be solved in the same way. In kinematics there are 6 ...
linear momentum and collision10/20/2010
  Q: I tried to work through this and came up with something really long and weird looking....i'm ...
  A: There are a number of steps that must be used to answer this question! 1. Use momentum conservation ...
physics10/20/2010
  Q: - Business - Computers - English - Foreign Languages - Health - Home Economics - Math - Music - ...
  A: When you drop the stone from the roof of the building to the ground the required time can be ...
Physics, Tension forces10/19/2010
  Q: A tow truck is connected to a 1400 kg car by a cable that makes a 25 degree angle to the horizontal. ...
  A: Since the cable makes an angle of 25 degrees with the horizontal the component of the tension in the ...
Parabolic Motion10/19/2010
  Q: A projectile is shot with an in initial velocity of 101 m/s at and angle of 45 degrees follows a ...
  A: At the highest point of its trajectory the projectile will be traveling horizontally and only the ...
finding magnitude10/18/2010
  Q: Image attached: I've been trying to figure out how to find force for b, d, e, g and h. For b would ...
  A: How much force would be required to lift the mass and the string/chain/spring? Just add the weight ...
Physics10/16/2010
  Q: There is a 100 m high tower. It shoots a cannon ball horizontally with an initial velocity of 8,000 ...
  A: Effectively what you need to do here is to calculate the orbital velocity of a satellite at an ...
Modern Physics10/15/2010
  Q: a charged water drop of weight (6x10^-14)N falls at a terminal speed of (0.15mm s-1) in air between ...
  A: Since the droplet is falling at terminal velocity the gravitational force on the drop must be ...
Electric Potential and Charge10/14/2010
  Q: Two point charges 3.0 cm apart have an electric potential energy -120 microJoules. The total ...
  A: Electrostatic potential U is given by: U=k*q1*q2/r where k=9.0x10^9Nm^2/C^2 is the electrostatic ...
Newton's 3rd Law10/13/2010
  Q: Sir, please help me with this homework question. I just don't understand and I have used up all but ...
  A: If you apply Newton's 2nd Law [SF=m*a] to the entire system the sum of the forces SF is equal to the ...
kinematics10/12/2010
  Q: standing at the edge of a cliff 32.5m high, you drop a ball. Later, you throw a second ball downward ...
  A: The accelerations of both balls will be the same. The ball thrown downward will reach the ground in ...
modern physics10/12/2010
  Q: if uncertainty in location of a particle is equal to its de-brogile wavelength. What is the ...
  A: According to the Uncertainty Principle the uncertainty in momentum multiplied by the uncertainty in ...
Question on friction10/9/2010
  Q: A ladder 5m long inclined on a smooth wall at 4m above the ground and 3m from the wall at a rough ...
  A: This is a Newton's 1st Law problem that involves both force and torque. The first step is to make a ...
motion10/9/2010
  Q: why does an apple in the coach of train does not collide to the wall of coach when it is thrown in ...
  A: Because when you toss the apple upward the apple is already moving horizontally in you hand at the ...
projectile motion10/8/2010
  Q: Romeo is tossing pebbles at Juliet's window and wants the pebbles to hit the window gently, with ...
  A: I would like to suggest a completely different approach! Fundamentally, all 2 dimensional kinematics ...
Physics10/7/2010
  Q: If you were going to shoot a fish under water with a bow and arrow while standing on a rock, how ...
  A: As the light from the fish reaches the interface between the water and the air the direction of the ...
Physics question- a concept10/7/2010
  Q: If I wanted to throw a football while I'm running without changing my velocity, would it be ...
  A: It would be possible, but you would have to throw the ball at a very steep angle so that it would ...
physics10/6/2010
  Q: a 1.0 kg box is pulled along a horizontal wooden plank by a 62 Newton force that acts parallel to ...
  A: This is a typical Newton's 2nd Law problem. The first step will be to make the "free body" diagram ...
physics10/6/2010
  Q: how much force must be applied to accelerate a 15 kg stone straight up at 12m/s square
  A: To accelerate a stone straight up will require a force capable of doing 2 things; lifting the object ...
Fly on a train.10/5/2010
  Q: I understand that if I was standing on a moving train and I jump I would not move back as the ...
  A: The train is moving, the air within the train is moving and the fly is flying in the air contained ...
kirchoff's laws10/4/2010
  Q: Sir plz tell me while appling Kirchoff's voltage law on a circuit havin two loops then direction of ...
  A: When the currents through the common branch are in the same direction you will add the currents ...
free fall acceleration10/4/2010
  Q: so i completely don't understand how to solve for free fall, like A ball is thrown vertically ...
  A: All kinematics problems in one dimension involve 6 variables [Do, Df, Vo, Vf, a and t] and 2 ...
work10/3/2010
  Q: when golfing, i pull my bag on a cart and my friend carries his. assuming we hit in exactly the ...
  A: The person pulling the golf cart does more work! Why? Because the person pulling has to: 1. Lift the ...
physics10/3/2010
  Q: From the top of the building 85.0 m tall a ball is dropped . At the same time another ball is thrown ...
  A: To solve this problem set up 2 separate kinematics problems: one for the first ball and another for ...
Mechanics, using Newton's Laws, Kleppner & Kolenkow10/1/2010
  Q: Regarding 2.19 from above textbook, image available here: ...
  A: I agree with most of your qualitative statements but not with your resulting equations. The force ...
physics9/29/2010
  Q: You are rushing to the train station to catch your morning commute. The train leaves the train ...
  A: All kinematics problems can be solved in essentially the same way! First, identify as many of the 6 ...
PHYSICS9/28/2010
  Q: A Stack Of Books Rests On A Level Frictionless Surface. An Unknown Force F Acts On The Stack, And It ...
  A: To solve this problem apply Newton's 2nd Law (F=m*a) twice; once with the original load and again ...
physics9/27/2010
  Q: what's the minimum stopping distance for a car traveling at an initial velocity of v, if the ...
  A: This is a Newton's 2nd Law problem where the sum of the external forces SF will be equal to the ...
combining forces9/27/2010
  Q: I'm stuck with this question. This is what I understand, not sure if it is correct. Since a force ...
  A: I wouldn't think so. A problem stating that a force F is being applied to the right would seem to be ...
Conservation of energy9/26/2010
  Q: this is a general question, I hope you don't mind if I'm a little vague on the details. I remember ...
  A: Systems will, as far as we know, tend to move to their lowest energy point if conditions permit. ...
Conversions9/26/2010
  Q: 1. How much gasoline does a 10,000 watt generator use per hour assuming 1 gallon of gas contains ...
  A: 1. A 10,000 watt generator will generate an output of 10,000 Joules of energy each second. Since ...
Force9/25/2010
  Q: A person is holding a 5-kg briefcase stationary while traveling in an elevator. Determine the ...
  A: As long as the elevator is moving with a constant velocity [that is it is NOT accelerating] the ...
What happens when we approach a mirage?9/23/2010
  Q: What happens when we approach a mirage? Does it disappear?
  A: It depends on what you mean by a mirage! If you are referring to the fact that when you are walking ...
Average velocity9/23/2010
  Q: A car looking for parking moves 275 m east in a straight line, then takes a left turn and covers ...
  A: Because displacement is a vector quantity and since the two given displacements are perpendicular to ...
MPV9/22/2010
  Q: what happens to the fraction of molecules or atoms with most probable velocity in a closed system ...
  A: Raising the temperature of a gas increases the average linear kinetic energy of the molecules of ...
speed and acceleration9/21/2010
  Q: a stone falls from a height of 40.0 m. find its speed
  A: Assuming that you are looking for the speed as the stone strikes the ground, this is a standard one ...
Friction9/20/2010
  Q: when brakes are applied in a car, two brake shoes of inner radius 'a' and outer radius 'b' press ...
  A: Torque will be equal to the product of the force and the perpendicular distance to the center of ...
Translational Equilibrium9/18/2010
  Q: A gong is suspended by two ropes, one makes an angle of 25 degrees with the vertical and is under ...
  A: The horizontal components of the tensions in these two ropes must be equal as long as the gong is ...
motiom9/16/2010
  Q: a box weighing 100 N is suspende by a string . if it is applied a froce of 50 N what angle is made ...
  A: When you add the additional mass this problem becomes a Newton's 2nd Law problem where sum of the ...
weight vs incline9/15/2010
  Q: I am training for a strongman competition in which on of the events is to pull a firetruck ...
  A: When you pull the truck up an incline you need to overcome two different forces: the frictional ...
physics questions9/15/2010
  Q: this is my first time asking a question on here. I have 2 questions I've been struggling with all ...
  A: 1) For each football player the graph of the displacement-time graph would be an upward curving ...
motiom9/14/2010
  Q: a box weighing 100 N is suspende by a string . if it is applied a froce of 50 N what angle is made ...
  A: Assuming that the force Fa is applied horizontally, the angle between the string and the vertical ...
Catching a train9/14/2010
  Q: I found a similar question on one of your homework sheets to one that has been puzzling me and here ...
  A: In this problem a graph of displacement vs time for the accelerating train will be an upwards ...
kinematics9/13/2010
  Q: I can't understand this problem please help me. thnks.Approximately 0.1% of the bacteria in the ...
  A: Despite the context of this question it is, none the less, a straightforward kinematics problem! All ...
Physics9/12/2010
  Q: i am a college student and right now i am taking a physics class, i have no idea whats going on in ...
  A: I will answer your questions but I am much more concerned about your statement that "I have no idea ...
atoms, molecules9/11/2010
  Q: I am writing a book in which a college student in modern times gets to look through a new microscope ...
  A: You have asked quite a bit here! Yes matter is mostly empty space if you mean by "empty" the absence ...
physics9/10/2010
  Q: A truck of mass 2100kg is raised using a jackscrew having a pitch of 7.1mm and a handle radius of ...
  A: To lift a truck which has a mass of 2100 kg would require a force equal to the truck's weight Fg: ...
Area of Semicircle9/9/2010
  Q: A uniform field is parallel to the axis of a hollow hemisphere (basically 3D semicircle), What is ...
  A: Assuming that the electric field is uniform and parallel to the symmetry axis of the hemisphere the ...
teacher8/16/2010
  Q: What is Higgs boson
  A: The Higgs Boson is the as yet undetected particle that is believed to be responsible for the ...
electrostatic8/15/2010
  Q: A charge +Q is distributed uniformly on a ring of radius a which lies in the plane z = 0. The ring ...
  A: Electric potential at a point is given by V=k*q/R. The resulting potential at the origin due to the ...
Engineering Science8/14/2010
  Q: we have p, q and r be three vector forces, Where p = 4i+ j – 2k, q = 3i – 2j + k and r = i – 2k. ...
  A: First let me note that: ixj=k jxi=-k jxk=i kxj=-i kxi=j ixk=-j (p-2q) x r = -10i -8j -5k ...
average velocity8/12/2010
  Q: A car travels 35km west, 90km north in two hours. What is its average velocity?
  A: Average velocity is equal to the displacement dD divided by the time dT: Vave=dD/dT Since the car ...
electrostatics8/9/2010
  Q: how do i find the magnitude and direction of the force on a charge due to numerous other charges by ...
  A: The force exerted on a charge q1 sitting is an area where there are other charged particles present ...
physics8/8/2010
  Q: what happens to the speed if we drop a short conductor between two magnetic poles?
  A: Nothing! [Other than the fact that a small potential difference will be induced between the ends of ...
Black Holes8/7/2010
  Q: What would happen if two black holes were to collide? Both of them have an infinite singularity at ...
  A: The idea that each black hole has a singularity at the center is primarily an artifact of the ...
physics8/7/2010
  Q: in a conductor all electrons have same mass and experience same force due to electric field then why ...
  A: The drift velocity of electrons through a wire results because the moving electrons collide with the ...
Engineerinf Science8/6/2010
  Q: Can YOu Please help me with question below? A sinusoidal AC is specified by the equation, ...
  A: a) The coefficient of the sine function will be the peak current since the sine function varies ...
Physics8/5/2010
  Q: why would a soccer ball bounce higher on harder surfaces ? why would a soccer ball not bounce as ...
  A: It is not so much a hard surface as it is a surface which converts the energy of the incoming ball ...
Strings8/4/2010
  Q: A child's toy consists of a bat of mass 0.12 kg attached to a small ball of mass 0.03 kg by a light ...
  A: First, the fact that there are two toys is incidental due to the symmetry of the situation. I will, ...
Eletricity8/3/2010
  Q: What is electromagnetic field and wave? What is inside the magnetic for which it show magnetism?
  A: Magnetism is a relativistic effect! As current flow through a wire the moving electrons are measured ...
Why ? Why ? Why ?8/1/2010
  Q: Why can't physicists get a grip on the absolute truth of EinsteinGravity.com ? Please be specific. ...
  A: The minute ANYONE uses the words ABSOLUTE TRUTH you have lost the respect and attention of virtually ...
help with planet acceleration7/28/2010
  Q: 7/25/10 Hi-I'm helping a friend with a question. I'm not asking you to solve it-I'm asking you to ...
  A: I do not agree on the acceleration of the Sun. The centripetal acceleration of the Sun will depend ...
help with planet acceleration7/28/2010
  Q: 7/25/10 Hi-I'm helping a friend with a question. I'm not asking you to solve it-I'm asking you to ...
  A: The first problem is that the mass of Jupiter is mJ=1.9 x 10^27 kg The resulting gravitational force ...
help with planet acceleration7/25/2010
  Q: 7/25/10 Hi-I'm helping a friend with a question. I'm not asking you to solve it-I'm asking you to ...
  A: Interestingly, there are two entirely independent ways to solve this problem; using kinematics and ...
physics7/24/2010
  Q: James,how do i figure out the distance to impact when i let go of a rope swing into the water? For ...
  A: The first step is to determine the height at both the beginning and the end. If the rope is pulled ...
Engineering Science7/23/2010
  Q: Can you please help me out, I cannot solve this problem it is very difficult A coiled Hookean ...
  A: i) To find the spring constant divide the force applied to the spring by the resulting change in ...
help7/23/2010
  Q: 9000kg railroad car moving at 3m/s strikes a stationary 5000kg railroad car,what is the kinetic ...
  A: Kinetic energy is given by: KE=1/2*m*v^2=1/2*9000*3^2=40,500J Momentum is given by: ...
sound waves7/22/2010
  Q: what song do you need to push a book over with some speakers
  A: This is just not something that could happen under m normal circumstances. A sonic boom might work, ...
physics7/21/2010
  Q: what is the maximum possible value of the slope of a v versus t curve for a car released from rest ...
  A: Since the slope of a velocity-time graph is equal to the acceleration ...
Physics7/20/2010
  Q: Please can you explain how a small loss of intensity (of light)occurs after reflection between two ...
  A: The process involved in reflecting light from a mirror is NOT 100% efficient and some energy is such ...
Newton's law of motion' problem7/13/2010
  Q: I am currently stuck in this problem: The lower chamber of the heart, (the left ventricle) pumps ...
  A: The 0.2 seconds is the time interval during which the blood is accelerating. If the final velocity ...
Physics7/12/2010
  Q: A 533-N person stands on a uniform board of weight 113 N and length of 8.3 m. The board is supported ...
  A: For a system to be at equilibrium [meaning that there are no accelerations] two conditions must be ...
Elastic collisions7/11/2010
  Q: The 176-g head of a golf club is moving at 45 m/s when it strikes a 46-g golf ball and sends it off ...
  A: This is a problem using the concept of momentum conservation where momentum is equal to the product ...
Physics - Horizontal Acceleration7/8/2010
  Q: Two forces f1 and f2 act on the 7kg block. The magnitudes of the forces are f1=59N and f2=33N what ...
  A: Using Newton's 2nd Law: SF=m*a where SF is the vector sum of the forces acting on the mass m. If the ...
Significant - units7/2/2010
  Q: How do i know when to put an accuracy of significant figures (respective to their units such as Kg ...
  A: The position of the decimal really doesn't usually matter. when you multiply two numbers your answer ...
infinity6/29/2010
  Q: Can their be infinitely big but not infinitely small ??
  A: This question is more opinion than knowledge. That said, it is my opinion that neither infinity is ...
Significant Figures6/28/2010
  Q: When we a convert a unit to its cubic unit like cm to cm^3 how do we deal with significant figures? ...
  A: According to the rule of significant digits when you multiply the number of significant digits in ...
physics6/27/2010
  Q: Cathy takes the bus home from work.In her hand she holds a 2.0 kg cake boox, tied together with a ...
  A: 1) According to Newton's 2nd Law the sum of the forces acting on an object will be equal to the ...
Crossing Ships6/26/2010
  Q: How does one calculate the amount if time two ships will be next to each other when traveling in ...
  A: As the two ships pass one another from bow to bow until they are stern to stern the two boats need ...
physics6/26/2010
  Q: Peter and John are playing a game of tug-of-war on a frictionless, icy surface. Peter weighs 539N ...
  A: First of all, the masses of Peter m1 and John m2 will be: m1=539N/9.8N/kg=55.0kg and ...
Time, Speed and Distance6/25/2010
  Q: Firstly, I am not requesting you to solve a text book problem. In fact, I could not really ...
  A: The problem is that you are assuming that the times of the journey traveled at each speed are the ...
Physics6/24/2010
  Q: A uniform sphere of mass 1.8 kg and radius12 cm is rolling from the top of an incline plane. If the ...
  A: 1) The height of the incline will equal the length of the incline multiplied by the sin of the ...
physics6/23/2010
  Q: IF I WANT TO DECLINE A 50 KG BOX FROM THE HEIGHT OF 18 FT. WHAT SLOPE SHOULD I GIVE SO THAT THE BOX ...
  A: You would want the box to slide down the incline at a constant speed. To do so the opposing forces ...
physics6/20/2010
  Q: 1) An object that weighs 150.0N resets on a flat surface inclined at 150 degree. A force of 80N ...
  A: Assuming that the incline angle is 15 degrees instead of 150 degrees, the force acting up the ...
Wheatstone bridge6/20/2010
  Q: Sir, can we remove the Galvanometer when the balance point has been reached, in the Wheatstone's ...
  A: If the bridge is "balance" removing the galvanometer will have no effect whatsoever since when the ...
Physical Science6/19/2010
  Q: A box with a mass of 4.5kg is pushed along a horizontal surface at a sonstant velocity by a force of ...
  A: Since the box is being pushed along the horizontal surface at a constant speed the system is a ...
impact-physics6/18/2010
  Q: "A 15 kN vehicle at 80kmph and 20 degrees angle of impact strikes a crash barrier. How do i ...
  A: To calculate the force on the barrier use the impulse equation to calculate the force required to ...
impact-physics6/18/2010
  Q: A 15 kN vehicle at 80kmph and 20 degrees angle of impact strikes a crash barrier. How do i calculate ...
  A: You need to know more information! Specifically, you need to know either the time interval over ...
Dynamic Systems6/16/2010
  Q: Please help get me started. I've drawn a diagram and put the forces on. I think I need to work out ...
  A: Using energy conservation! The total energy at the beginning of the problem is all gravitational. As ...
Engineering science question.6/15/2010
  Q: Can you please assist with the following problem: a Canon is fired horizontally at a velocity of ...
  A: Since the ball leaves from a point 20 meters above the ground with no initial vertical velocity the ...
vacuum technology6/14/2010
  Q: I was hoping you could help my brother and I with an argument we have regarding vacuum technology. ...
  A: The suction of a vacuum hose depends on both the length and diameter of the hose. Roughly speaking, ...
water pipe pressure/volume question6/13/2010
  Q: We are scratching our heads about our private community water system. We've found that over the ...
  A: If you increase the diameter of the pipe by even a small amount you will increase the flow rate ...
magnetic field6/13/2010
  Q: A 10-cm-long wire is pulled along a U-shaped conducting rail in a perpendicular magnetic field. The ...
  A: 1) Since power is equal to: P=I^2*R you can find the currnt: I=sqrt(P/R)=sqrt(4/0.2)=sqrt(20) 2) Now ...
physics: sound and wavelengths6/12/2010
  Q: If sound has a wavelength and the higher the pitch of the sound the shorter the wavelength, then ...
  A: It is true that as the frequency of a sound increases the wavelength decreases. And as frequency ...
waves6/10/2010
  Q: ok so how do you find the path difference and if it is destructive or constructive
  A: If we assume that two waves are initially in the same place and with the same phase, whether or not ...
Physics question6/9/2010
  Q: 15 clowns are late to a party. They jump into their sporty coupe and start driving. Eventually they ...
  A: This is a Newton's 2nd Law problem where the sum of the forces acting on the car is equal to the ...
physics6/9/2010
  Q: A fire fighter climbs up a 10.0m ladder leaning against a vertical wall. The ladder makes an angle ...
  A: The ladder leaning against the wall forms a right triangle where e height of the wall is the ...
Architecture6/5/2010
  Q: If we throw continuous water on concrete building which is kept in the air direction, the outside ...
  A: Water cools in 2 different ways: it will cool if the temperature is less than the temperature of the ...
Conservation of momentum6/5/2010
  Q: Here's something that somebody asked a while back, but I haven't been able to quite get it right. ...
  A: The problem is that you are assuming that the first object has stopped in the collision! Here is the ...
physics6/4/2010
  Q: Your question was A helium-filled balloon rises upward, at a rate for 0.7 m/s, to a height of 20 m ...
  A: (a) If the balloon is rising at 0.7m/s while the wind blows east at 1.5 m/s the velocity of the ...
physics6/4/2010
  Q: Question A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at a rate of 4.0 m/s^2 East. At the same ...
  A: (a) If the car accelerates east at 4.0m/s^2 for 10.0 seconds it moves: Dc=1/2*4*10^2=200m (b) Since ...
Electromagnetic Induction6/3/2010
  Q: How fast would a metalic airplane with a 25 m wingspan have to fly through the vertical 5.6 x 10-8 T ...
  A: The potential difference generated across the length of a wire moving perpendicularly to a magnetic ...
Physics6/2/2010
  Q: To measure the speed of light, Fizeau used a rotating disk with equally spaced holes through which ...
  A: If the distance to the distant mirror is 18000 meters away, the round trip time can be determined by ...
relativistic addition of velocities5/31/2010
  Q: james, can you explain to me why we must use -0.42c in the relativistic addition of velocities ...
  A: The relative speed between two such objects moving through space is given by: ...
torque,equilibrium5/29/2010
  Q: (1) can we do it?if not then why? with our nose touching the end of the door.put our feet astride ...
  A: In order for you to do either of these things opposite torques acting about your center of mass must ...
Learning Physics5/27/2010
  Q: Do you mind telling me a good way how to learn physics(i.e reading textbook, teaching people)? How ...
  A: Each person learns in a different way. The most important part of learning physics is understanding ...
physics5/26/2010
  Q: a bowling ball traveling 2 meters per second and has a kinetic energy of 12 joules, what is mass of ...
  A: The total kinetic energy of a rolling ball is equal to the sum of the rotational kinetic energy plus ...
mechanical principles5/25/2010
  Q: a pile driver of mass 162kg falls freely through a distance of 4.1m to strike a pile of mass 393kg ...
  A: This is fundamentally an energy conservation problem. The initial gravitational energy of the pile ...
Work Energy Theorem5/24/2010
  Q: WET is derived from Energy conservation,right? I know I can do all the WET problems using enery ...
  A: 1) The Work Energy Theorem essentially says that if any external work is done by or on an otherwise ...
Understanding physics5/23/2010
  Q: I'm a student and i need some advice regarding learning physics. I have a lot of difficulty doing ...
  A: Below is an example of the thought processes needed to solve a typical physics mechanics problem. ...
Electricity5/22/2010
  Q: I'm a 12th grade student.I'm confused a lot about electricity and it's hard to imagine the flow of ...
  A: 1. For electrostatics it is entirely possible for the potential to be nonzero when the electric ...
Electricity and Magnetism5/21/2010
  Q: A three-way lightbulb produces 5W, 10W and 15W, connected to a 12V power supply. The bulb contains 2 ...
  A: a) Connect both filaments in parallel with each other with a single throw switch is series with each ...
High Amp Vs High Freq5/21/2010
  Q: My question is Can less no. of photons having high energy can compensate high no. of photons having ...
  A: Light waves do not really behave in the ways that you are suggesting. Light waves are NOT exactly ...
Doubt5/20/2010
  Q: A person is sitting in a car that travels with constant velocity. He throws a ball verticall ...
  A: As the car moves forward the ball in your hands also moves forward. I the car is moving at 30 mph ...
Understanding physics5/19/2010
  Q: I'm a student and i need some advice regarding learning physics. I have a lot of difficulty doing ...
  A: The fundamental thing you have to learn is that it is the concepts that are most important! If you ...
Electricity5/19/2010
  Q: I'm a 12th grade student.I'm confused a lot about electricity and it's hard to imagine the flow of ...
  A: 1. Interactions between the electrons flowing through a wire and the matter from which the wire is ...
Motion5/18/2010
  Q: Define uniform and non uniform motion? Give examples.
  A: In uniform motion the speed and direction of motion of an object is constant. If both of these ...
High Amp Vs High Freq5/18/2010
  Q: My question is Can less no. of photons having high energy can compensate high no. of photons having ...
  A: That doesn't change my answer at all! The energy content of light is transferred in small packets or ...
question5/17/2010
  Q: A 2.5kg block is suspended vertically from a spring, which stretches .2 meters from its original ...
  A: When you connect springs in series the total spring constant is related to the separate spring ...
Water Level5/16/2010
  Q: We all know the saying that "water seeks its own level". What physics principal is it called??
  A: Ultimately what happens is that in a container open to the atmosphere the pressure exerted at any ...
High Amp Vs High Freq5/15/2010
  Q: My question is Can less no. of photons having high energy can compensate high no. of photons having ...
  A: Depends on the context of your question. In the case of the Photoelectric Effect [for which Einstein ...
Refractive index5/14/2010
  Q: *Is it possible to have refractive index less than 1?Why and why not? *If there is any medium which ...
  A: Normal materials will always have an index of refraction greater than or equal to 1. If a material ...
static electricity5/14/2010
  Q: When a man touches the metal bar when using a treadmill he occasionally gets a small shock. Why ...
  A: The small shock occurs because of the accumulation of charge - and this takes time. It also depends ...
Physics - Inclines5/12/2010
  Q: I need help with thisA car, with a mass of 1100kg, can accelerate on a level road from rest to 21 ...
  A: First calculate the force needed to accelerate the car at the given rate using Newton's 2nd Law: ...
Atoms5/12/2010
  Q: has what we know about atoms harmed humankind? like the atomic bomb?
  A: This is very difficult to respond to! We are made of atoms! Everything we eat or breath is made of ...
specific heat5/11/2010
  Q: Why specific heat of diatomic molecule is greater than mono atomic molecule?
  A: The answer to this question rests primarily on the fact that a diatomic molecule has many other ways ...
velocity5/10/2010
  Q: If a ball that is freely falling has attained a velocity of 19.6m/s after two seconds, what is its ...
  A: If the ball was moving at 19.6 m/s after 2 seconds the acceleration of the ball must have been: ...
How do I find the center of gravity using this data I collected?5/10/2010
  Q: In a lab in my physics class, we were supposed to find the CG of my physics teacher. My partner and ...
  A: Try this approach! The center of mass of the board multiplied by the mass of the board plus the ...
Particle acceleration5/9/2010
  Q: I've just finished watching two multi-episode introductory courses on physics (Goodstein's & ...
  A: First of all, in general, we do not accelerate a single particle but rather we accelerate bunches of ...
Physics5/8/2010
  Q: find the density of a solid 1.5 kg paperweight you submerge it in a water tank and note that the ...
  A: Density is equal to the mass of an object divided by the object's volume. Since the submerged object ...
i have a question.5/8/2010
  Q: What could cause a force of impact?
  A: When an object is in motion it contains kinetic energy [the ability of a moving object to do work ...
physics C, mechanichs5/4/2010
  Q: a highway curve that has a radius of curvature of 100 meters is banked at an angle of 15 degrees. ...
  A: In the first case let’s assume that the curve is frictionless [much like the conditions that might ...
Physics5/1/2010
  Q: How come in a plane mirror,the image is virtual but the imaginary light rays do not meet at an ...
  A: But the imaginary light rays DO meet behind the mirror! The light Ray drawn to the vertex of the ...
Electric Field Intensity (E)5/1/2010
  Q: I've a lot of Qs regarding E.Please help me kind sir and stuck in a mire of confusion. 1)Consider a ...
  A: 1) The electric field inside a neutral conducting spherical shell will be exactly zero as long as ...
Moment of inertia4/30/2010
  Q: A 25.7 kg block (m1) is on a horizontal surface, connected to a 6.30 kg block (m2) by a massless ...
  A: To solve this problem you will need to apply Newton's 2nd Law 3 times! Once for each mass and once ...
Mechanics4/29/2010
  Q: sir, the question is in the image itself
  A: As this frictionless incline is accelerated to the right Newton's 1st Law applies to the vertical ...
Electric potential4/29/2010
  Q: Sir why is mathematically Electric potential not analogous to Gravitational potential? I've a Q ...
  A: But it is as long as you realize that unlike the gravitational force, the electrostatic force can be ...
capacitors4/28/2010
  Q: my question is as follows: A 400(micro)Farad capacitor is charged so that the voltage across its ...
  A: The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is given by: C=Q/V Using this information we can ...
i need help with gratings4/27/2010
  Q: A diffraction grating produces a first-order bright fringe that is 0.0904 m away from the central ...
  A: The equation relating the wavelength of the light illuminating a diffraction grating and the ...
i need help with photons4/27/2010
  Q: The maximum wavelength for which an electromagnetic wave can eject electrons from a platinum surface ...
  A: Since the 196 nm light is the least energetic light capable of freeing an electron from the given ...
Physcis Momentum4/26/2010
  Q: I need a help ASAP in one problem. Due is 5:00 PM, April 26. I have some idea but not sure is right. ...
  A: a. Puck 1 will be to the right of the dotted line. Since the accelerations of both pucks are the ...
temperature of mixture4/26/2010
  Q: sir; how to find the resultant temperature of mixtre of given quantity of ice and boiling water????
  A: The problem is a somewhat annoying problem to solve since as many as 5 calculations will have to be ...
molten iron4/25/2010
  Q: eric
  A: It will no longer be ferromagnetic! When you heat any ferromagnetic material [iron, cobalt, nickel] ...
Flux4/24/2010
  Q: Sir, Electric Flux is the no. of electric lines present in a unit area, right?It can be either +ve ...
  A: I think that you are taking the idea of electrostatic flux too literally. The "lines of flux" are ...
Physics4/23/2010
  Q: An elastic cord has an unextended length of 13.0 cm. One end of the cord is attached to a fixed ...
  A: Actually, I suspect that this question is flawed! From the way the question is stated it seems to me ...
Question about a satellite orbiting Mars4/23/2010
  Q: Although the Constellation Program which planned to send humans back to the Moon and on to Mars ...
  A: In geosynchronous orbit the orbital period of the satellite must match the rotational period of the ...
MA of inclined plane4/22/2010
  Q: Sir: How can i calculate MA of inlined plane in lab?is it calculated by dividing total length of ...
  A: The ideal mechanical advantage IMA of an inclined plane will be equal to the length of the incline ...
Physics4/20/2010
  Q: If we were to drop a cart to the ground from a height of 3 meters, how long will it take to land on ...
  A: Thus is a standard kinematics problem. First identify each of the possible kinematics variables: ...
Four Wheel Drive4/19/2010
  Q: my roommate and I were having a conversation on four wheel drive vs two. So coming from someone with ...
  A: The primary difference is that in 4 wheel drive every wheel is capable of providing friction for ...
electricity4/19/2010
  Q: if a circuit containing 1 meter of wire and three light bulbs was changed to 0.75 meter of wire and ...
  A: Assuming that all of the components are identical . . . Ordinarily changing the length of the wire ...
Time Dilation - This is a bit tricky for me - Please Explain?4/18/2010
  Q: Twins who are 19 years of age leave the eath and travel to a distant planet 12 light years away and ...
  A: The time to reach and return from the distant planet in the rest frame can be determined by ...
Physics - forces problem4/17/2010
  Q: A 2.0 kg frictionless puck is at rest on a level table. It is pushed straight north with a constant ...
  A: This is a standard kinematics equation. First identify as many of the 6 kinematics variable as ...
Electric Field4/15/2010
  Q: An electric field of approximately +100 V/m is often observed near the surface of the Earth. If this ...
  A: a. To determine the total electric flux at the surface of the earth multiply the field intensity by ...
Vertical Acceleration4/14/2010
  Q: I need help with these questions (particularly the equations used to solve) A 5kg ball is released ...
  A: A. The initial vertical velocity will be 0.0 m/s. [The ball is not moving vertically as it is ...
Physics-Kinematics3/23/2010
  Q: A boat travels at 10.3 km/h relative to the water aims straight for the opposite bank of a 33.1 m ...
  A: First find the time to cross the river by dividing the width of the river by the speed of the boat ...
magnetic3/20/2010
  Q: Using current loops,explain the difference between a paramagnetic and a ferromagnetic material.
  A: Paramagnetic materials and ferromagnetic materials both have unpaired electrons in common. In ...
physics 111 (algebra based physics)3/19/2010
  Q: My name is Shawn. This is my third year in college and i have never taken physics before this ...
  A: In order to push this carton up the incline at a constant the applied force Fa must do two things: ...
Conservation of Energy3/15/2010
  Q: A 0.40kg ball is thrown with a speed of 9.5m/s at an upward angle of 37 degrees. a)what its speed at ...
  A: If you throw the ball with a velocity of 9.5m/s at an angle of 37 degrees above the horizontal, the ...
energy3/11/2010
  Q: I'm stuck on this problem, i need to know step by step please. A pulley system is used to raise a ...
  A: If the output force is 100kg*10N/kg=1000N [assuming the acceleration of gravity to be 10m/s^2] while ...
(physics) acceleration3/10/2010
  Q: What force is required to accelerate a 6 kg bowling ball at 2 m/s squared? (UPWARD)
  A: In order to accelerate an object upward you need to do two things: overcome the force of gravity and ...
electric field3/9/2010
  Q: electric field lines represent the field at various locations. except in very special cases, they do ...
  A: The fact that the particle is moving has nothing to do with whether or not the particle feels a ...
modern physics3/8/2010
  Q: respected teacher, i will feel obliged if you answer my question Why we write wave equations to ...
  A: According to quantum mechanics the wave function is related to the probability that at particular ...
electric field3/8/2010
  Q: electric field lines represent the field at various locations. except in very special cases, they do ...
  A: In any case the electric field lines do not illustrate the path of a charged particle through a ...
Electricity3/7/2010
  Q: Electric current deals with flow of charges. But, What is electric field? How the electrons travel ...
  A: An electric field is an area of space where if a charged particle is placed in that field it will ...
Special Relativity3/6/2010
  Q: I am studying through a correspondence university so i do not attend lectures. I know you probably ...
  A: The time dilation equation relates the time passage in the moving frame of reference T=0.5yr with ...
capacitor3/5/2010
  Q: how capacitor used to remove noise in electronic circits?
  A: When unintended electrical spikes occur in a circuit, a properly placed capacitor can temporarily ...
sound and thunder3/3/2010
  Q: 1. A common statement is that when you see a lightning flash, and count the number of seconds until ...
  A: The point here is that, for all practical purposes, the speed of light is instantaneous while the ...
Physics - Dynamics3/2/2010
  Q: 1. With the engine working at constant full power, the car's acceleration decreases as it goes ...
  A: 1. The issue here is turbulent air flow. In general the frictional force of the air on a moving car ...
electronics2/28/2010
  Q: respedted sir, of what physical law is The equation of continuity a mathematical statement ?
  A: The law of continuity is a statement of mass conservation! The amount of matter flowing into a pipe ...
hello, can you help me with this2/27/2010
  Q: A rectangular loop of wire is moving toward the bottom of the page with a speed of 0.023 m/s (see ...
  A: The rate of change of magnetic flux will be dphi/dt=d[B*A]/dt=d[B*x*y]/dt=B*x*dy/dt=b*x*Vy where ...
Gravity, mass and force2/24/2010
  Q: If I have two metal balls which are the same sizes but one is 20 kg and the other is 5 kg. If I drop ...
  A: IF you ignore the effects of air friction they will both hit the ground at the same time. If air ...
physics help please its driving me crazy2/24/2010
  Q: The four masses shown in the figure are connected by massless, rigid rods. a.Find the coordinates ...
  A: a. To find the center of mass in the x direction multiply each separate mass by its x coordinate and ...
Electric Circuit Analysis2/22/2010
  Q: First off, I want to tell you that this is not a homework problem. It was, but the assignment is ...
  A: Tough problem to do with text only! I assumed that the top left loop had a clockwise current I1, the ...
electronics2/21/2010
  Q: why it is that in series connection current remains constant but in parallel connection voltage ...
  A: Current is a measure of matter! Whatever current enters a series circuit must exit that same ...
drawing graphs2/20/2010
  Q: tom is driving to the soccer field. he starts from rest and speeds up to 20m/s-1 in 5 seconds. the ...
  A: The velocity-time graph should be a straight diagonal line between 0-5 seconds with a slope of ...
Galilean/Newtonian Relativity2/19/2010
  Q: A person in an elevator drops a ball of mass m from rest a height h above the elevator floor. The ...
  A: Treat this as a normal one dimensional kinematics problem. First identify as many of the kinematics ...
physics2/18/2010
  Q: what forece are at work when an object is spun in a circle?
  A: Depends! In any case, some specific force will be required to cause the object to move in a circular ...
physics2/17/2010
  Q: A 2.0 kg box rests on a plank that is inclined at an angle of degrees above the horizontal. The ...
  A: You don't give the angle, but the maximum force that the spring can apply up the incline will be ...
physics2/16/2010
  Q: Theories, and basically all of science is full of assumptions and over-simplified versions of ...
  A: I think you really underestimate scientists in general and physicists in particular! Models are used ...
gravity, speed2/15/2010
  Q: A girl is standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon. She throws one ball straight up and another she ...
  A: You are correct, the ball thrown up will strike the bottom of the canyon with greater velocity [only ...
Gravity2/15/2010
  Q: The wave properties of gravity. I have knowledge that when two very massive objects(neutron ...
  A: Most physicists do believe that gravity waves exist, but we have never yet detected them! Why not? ...
Electroststic Induction2/13/2010
  Q: When I bring a charged body near to a conducting body electrostatic induction occurs. How can I find ...
  A: Without more details all I can say is that if the charged body is positive, electrons on the ...
Doppler Effect2/12/2010
  Q: I am busy with a very important physics module. Do you mind helping me out with this question. I ...
  A: As the observer is walking AWAY from speaker A the apparent frequency will be given by: ...
Wave-particle duality2/12/2010
  Q: I have just started studying Quantum Mechanics. Consulting to book, “Quantum Mechanics” by ...
  A: Unfortunately, I suspect that I will not be able to help the way you would like! All that can be ...
heat & thermodynamics2/11/2010
  Q: A ball of copper [Cp=.093 cal/gm C] has a mass of 125 grams and is at a temperature of 145 C. This ...
  A: 17. A ball of copper [cp = .093 cal/gmoC] has a mass of 125 grams and is at a temperature of 145 oC. ...
Physics2/11/2010
  Q: I recently read your response to a force vector problem: If two snowcats tow a housing unit to a ...
  A: In order to pull the house straight ahead the components of Fa and Fb acting perpendicularly to the ...
#17 on Homework #1722/10/2010
  Q: How do you solve #17 on your homework #172? We know the answer, but all our pitiful attempts at ...
  A: 17. A ball of copper [cp = .093 cal/gmoC] has a mass of 125 grams and is at a temperature of 145 oC. ...
Transverse waves2/9/2010
  Q: I have looked all through my textbook for a way to help me solve the following problem: The speed ...
  A: If the amplitude of the wave 2.0mm during one cycle a point on the string will move from crest to ...
expansion in solid and liquids. lens focal length2/7/2010
  Q: would it be possible to make mercury thermometre if expansion of glass becomes more than mercury? ...
  A: Mercury thermometers are calibrated with this in mind! Mercury is selected because its thermal ...
help2/7/2010
  Q: draw the force diagram foa block of wood resting on an inclines plane. NOTE that the wood is acted ...
  A: When you add a force to a force diagram every force must be real! What I mean by this is that you ...
Arcemedes Principle2/6/2010
  Q: A piece of metal of unknown volume is immersed in water by means of a thread.Before lowering into ...
  A: For a submerged object the upward buoyancy force is equal to the volume of the displaced liquid. If ...
Physics - Friction2/2/2010
  Q: A box being pushed with a force of 85N slides along the floor at a constant speed. What is the ...
  A: Since the box is sliding at a constant speed it is at equilibrium and opposite forces are equal. In ...
question2/1/2010
  Q: You are driving down the road and hit a bump which causes your fishing tackle box to bounce out of ...
  A: First identify as many of the kinematics variables at possible. In this case: Do=0m [always assume ...
Gas problem1/31/2010
  Q: Two moles of He gas are at 27 degrees C and a pressure of 250 kPa. If the gas is heated to 44 ...
  A: According to the universal gas law: P*V=N*R*T Therefore the initial volume of the gas is: ...
2D kinematics1/30/2010
  Q: A ball is launched horizontally off a table top that is 1m high. It lands 3m from the base of the ...
  A: First calculate the time using the vertical information: Do=1.0m, Df=0m, Vo=0m/s, Vf=?, a=-9.8m/s^2 ...
physics1/29/2010
  Q: 1.) A log is floating on swiftly moving water. A stone is dropped from rest from a 70-m-high bridge ...
  A: This is a straightforward one dimensional kinematics problem. First find the time for the stone to ...
Phyics1/28/2010
  Q: Ions with a charge of 1e (e is the charge of the electron) travel at a speed v = 4.7 times 10 to the ...
  A: Since the magnetic field exerted a force acting perpendicularly to the direction of motion of the ...
Photoelectric Effect Related Problem1/28/2010
  Q: Monochromatic light of wavelength λ falls on Potassium surface, it is found that stopping ...
  A: What you want to do is to make a graph comparing the kinetic energies of the emitted photoelectrons ...
resistance1/27/2010
  Q: sir I have one question. we all know that copper is a better conductor than iron. Now in text books ...
  A: Keep in mind that there is a lot of space within the conductor for the electrons to move. The ...
Magnetic field and current generation1/27/2010
  Q: Sir, if I move a conductor such as a wire past the magnetic field of a permanent magnet, the field ...
  A: First, note that a current will be produced only if the conducting wire is moving perpendicularly to ...
Mmm... Newton's laws, perhaps?1/26/2010
  Q: Is it Newton's law that an external compressive force applied on a tube (like an artery, I'm a ...
  A: When you compress the center of a tube you increase the pressure, a force per unit area. That pulse ...
Physic ? Help Im lost1/25/2010
  Q: A ball is dropped on a distant planet with no atmosphere. The ball Falls a distance of 3.0 meters in ...
  A: Since the distance traveled by as accelerating object is proportional to the square of time, ...
magnetic1/24/2010
  Q: a vertical conducting sheet is permitted to fall under the action of gravity between the poles of a ...
  A: Yes [assuming that the entire sheet isn't between the poles of the permanent magnet all at once]. As ...
Physics1/24/2010
  Q: The click beetle can project itself vertically with an acceleration of about 400g. The beetle jumps ...
  A: This is a 2 part kinematics problem. 1. In the first part Do=0m [given], Df=0.0067m [given], ...
help please!1/23/2010
  Q: The potential at location A is 385 V. A positively charged particle is released there from rest and ...
  A: If you multiply the change in potential difference by the magnitude of the charge moving between ...
Motion1/23/2010
  Q: In my exam there was a question "When a train(rail)driver starts a train(diesel train) he first ...
  A: My guess is that by backing up first the engine develops some slack between the engine and the train ...
About B-field generated by moving charge.1/22/2010
  Q: 1)When a charged particle is accelerated, does it too generate a circular magnetic field around its ...
  A: Any MOVING charged particle will generate a magnetic field! The generation of this field does NOT ...
Recoil1/22/2010
  Q: I was out for a week while my teacher was talking about recoil, momentum conservation and stuff. I ...
  A: Since total momentum has to be conserved in a closed system: m1*v1+m2*v2=m1*v3+m2*v4 In this case ...
Moving Charges1/21/2010
  Q: Sir, 1)Why can't a magnetic field change the kinetic energy of a charged particle? 2)Why can't an ...
  A: In a cyclotron the magnetic field is used to keep the moving charged particles moving in a cicular ...
Moving Charges1/20/2010
  Q: Sir, 1)Why can't a magnetic field change the kinetic energy of a charged particle? 2)Why can't an ...
  A: 1) The magnetic force [Fm=q*VxB] acting on a moving charged particle is always exactly perpendicular ...
physics1/18/2010
  Q: A child throws a ball straight down off the balcony of an apartment building at a speed of 7.5 ...
  A: All kinematics problems can be solved in the same way! First identify as many of the six potential ...
physics1/17/2010
  Q: bullet has a much smaller mass than a one-ton car, yet, it may deliver more force when it strikes an ...
  A: The amount of force delivered to the target is determined in large part by the kinetic energy of the ...
physics1/16/2010
  Q: A ball is thrown 125m upwards. What initial speed does the ball need to remain in the air for total ...
  A: All one dimensional kinematics problems can be solved in exactly the same way! First identify as ...
Photoelectric effect1/16/2010
  Q: on doubling the frequency of incident radiation does the kinetic energy of emitted electrons get ...
  A: Actually, neither. Assume for a moment that the incoming light contains 15 eV of energy and that the ...
physics1/15/2010
  Q: A bus is traveling a roadway at the base of an improperly designed road cut. Because of the geology, ...
  A: When a mass is sitting on an inclined plane the force tending to pull something down the incline ...
Physics. Sorry wrong address1/14/2010
  Q: In a sample of seawater taken from an oil spill, an oil layer 6.0 cm thick floats on 52 cm of water. ...
  A: The pressure at the bottom of a depth of fluid is equal to the product of the fluid density p, the ...
Conservation of Linear Momentum1/13/2010
  Q: Mr. Kovalcin, Please help me with this question. My nephew is taking AP Physics (senior in high ...
  A: I am using a coordinate system along the x axis with zero at the left, the initial position of the ...
physics1/11/2010
  Q: f you have a charge of q=-1 microCoulomb at point A, the potential of point A is Va=2 volts, and the ...
  A: If the potential at point A is Va=2 Volts and the potential at point B is Vb=4.3 Volts it would take ...
Effects of x-ray on vitamins & supplements1/9/2010
  Q: What are the effects of airport x-rays of vitamins, nutritional supplements and medications?
  A: The effect is very insignificant. The only thing that may be significantly damaged by the xray ...
relation between derivatives of speed and velocity1/3/2010
  Q: This may be very basic: Consider a motion influenced only by gravity (some frictionless 2D ...
  A: It appears that you are confusing the difference between vector and scalar. When you are calculating ...
Gasses,Temperature,velocity and pressure.1/3/2010
  Q: When the temperature of a gass is risen the kinetic energy of a gass rises. Why is that? If it's ...
  A: You are working under an invalid premise! The velocities will NOT be the same. The average ...
optics1/2/2010
  Q: My question is why do we obtain images on screen only after all rays emerging from a point on the ...
  A: For images far away, such as stars, we do NOT, in fact, get an image! All we get is a point of light ...
Question about phisics12/31/2009
  Q: I can't understand special theory of relativity.it has two postulates.tell me how it effect on these ...
  A: Basically, the two postulates are based on our observations. 1. The speed of light is the same for ...
Optics12/30/2009
  Q: A small piece of wood is floating on the surface of a 2.5 meter deep lake. Where does the shadow ...
  A: As light travels from one medium into another the angle between the light ray and the normal to the ...
optics12/29/2009
  Q: why can we see nearby objects more clearly than comparatively farther object ? ANSWER: The reality ...
  A: Actually, for stars this is NOT the case! Almost all stars, except the very closest, appear in ...
Physics - Electrostatics12/29/2009
  Q: Two point charged objects produce an electric force on each other of 6.20x10^-2 N. What is the ...
  A: Since the electrostatic force between two charges is given by Fe=k*q1*q2/r^2 if you increase the ...
optics12/28/2009
  Q: why can we see nearby objects more clearly than comparatively farther object ? ANSWER: The reality ...
  A: Because "all light from far objects" does not reach our eyes! The light from a star, as an example, ...
physics12/27/2009
  Q: how banking of roads provide required centripetal force to vehicle? and if a car is moving with high ...
  A: Ordinarily, for a car on a level road, the source of the normal force that is responsible for ...
Moment of inertia12/26/2009
  Q: I've solved quite a lot of MoI questions but now I've seen sth different.How do I find the MoI of a ...
  A: Assuming that you a talking about the moment of inertia around the same axis, the central axis of ...
electric field of isolated metal box has a charge in center12/26/2009
  Q: The point charge Q is at the center of a metal box that is isolated, ungrounded, and uncharged. ...
  A: The answer is A. A. Since the box is an uncharged conductor -Q will be attracted to the interior ...
optics12/25/2009
  Q: In light diffraction using single slitwhich is correct from the following ,and why?: 1- Light ...
  A: Diffraction of a wave around a slit will be more significant when the wavelength of the wave is long ...
Braking12/25/2009
  Q: Does the time you take to slow a car using the breaks effect how much wear and tear is done to the ...
  A: My guess would be that stopping quickly would wear the brakes more quickly since the increased ...
electric current12/24/2009
  Q: 1.What is the difference between emf and potential difference? Explain me in detail. 2.What is the ...
  A: There are two different kinds of potential differences: EMF's and voltage drops. An EMF is any ...
nuclear force12/24/2009
  Q: 1.Why the nuclear force is a short range force, but gravity is a long range force? Why these forces ...
  A: 1. The nuclear force is very short in range for a very simple reason - the boson that communicates ...
bandwidth12/23/2009
  Q: please tell me is there any relation between bandwidth and frequency of the signal?does higher ...
  A: Greater bandwidth just implies that more information can be carried on the carrier signal. For ...
hydrostatic equilibrium12/23/2009
  Q: In hydrostatic equilibrium pressure of gas at the surface of the planet is equal to the weight of ...
  A: The pressure will remain the same; whether liquid or gas is irrelevant. For example the atmosphere ...
Work Energy Theorem12/22/2009
  Q: I'm a bit confused in writing equations stating conservation of energy. Suppose a block of mass m ...
  A: It seems to me that your analysis is correct. If the mass started at rest at the top of the incline ...
Circular motion concepts12/22/2009
  Q: 1. If a body moves with a fixed speed but changes its direction it is said to accelerate, right? So ...
  A: 1. When we refer to the tangential component of the acceleration of an object moving in a circular ...
light12/20/2009
  Q: Will you explain shortly about refraction, diffraction, interference and polarisation of light? If ...
  A: Refraction - The process where a wave transfers from one medium into another frequently accompanied ...
momentum and gravity12/20/2009
  Q: 1.I know that momentum = mass*velocity. But, what it means. Why we're multiplying mass and velocity. ...
  A: First of all you can NEVER add unlike quantities such as mass and velocity. In any case, momentum is ...
momentum and gravity12/19/2009
  Q: 1.I know that momentum = mass*velocity. But, what it means. Why we're multiplying mass and velocity. ...
  A: 1. It is exactly what it says it is! If you multiply the mass of an object by its velocity the ...
Banking of roads12/18/2009
  Q: "Sir I've been trying to figure out a situation in banking of roads i.e. the first case in this link ...
  A: 1. Not exactly. As a car moves down a straight road at a constant speed there is air friction ...
gravity12/17/2009
  Q: Acc. due to gravity is 9.81m/s/s....when in orbit around the Earth is it still the same or less? ...
  A: The acceleration of gravity near a planet is given by: g=G*m/R^2 where G=6.67x10^-11 is the ...
Physics - work -12/17/2009
  Q: * A girl pushes a 300 N box along the floor for a distance of 4 m. The coefficient of kinetic ...
  A: Work is defined to be equal to the product of the force F applied and the resulting displacement d ...
kinematics12/16/2009
  Q: an elevator car whose floor to ceiling ht is 2.7m starts ascending with constant acceleration ...
  A: Because the elevator is accelerating upward for 2.0 seconds at 1.2m/s^2 before the bolt falls the ...
Physics12/15/2009
  Q: Wile E. Coyote decides to try and catch Road Runner. He launches himslef from a cannon at a 33.7 ...
  A: This problem is a typical two dimensional kinematics problem - all of which can be solved in the ...
Physics12/14/2009
  Q: A 70-kilogram diver jumps off a 12-meter tower and hits the water below. The diver comes to a stop ...
  A: The first step here is to determine the velocity of the diver as he/she reaches the water. this can ...
Normal Force and Friction Force12/13/2009
  Q: A 80 N block rests on a 29° inclined plane. Determine the normal force and find the friction force ...
  A: When a block sits on an inclined plane it is at equilibrium. If it is at equilibrium then opposite ...
Bullet train & Car12/7/2009
  Q: Why we can pour water to the cup without spill it out in a bullet train? And why we can barely ...
  A: Because of the much larger mass, velocity and momentum the Bullet Train will be much more stable; it ...
upward pressure12/6/2009
  Q: we have a bag of cotton and iron bar each indicating a mass of 100 kg. when measured on a weighing ...
  A: I suppose that one could argue that the bag of cotton would weigh less because it displaces a much ...
atomic radar action12/6/2009
  Q: In thinking about how radar works, what is going on at the atomic level?
  A: Basically all that is happening is that electrons in the material absorb the radar energy driving ...
not sure? physics question12/5/2009
  Q: a student takes a meter stick w/ a mass of .5 kg and drives a nail through the 50 cm mark. the ...
  A: Use energy conservation! Initially the m1=2kg mass and the m2=0.020kg wad of clay are at the same ...
physics... vibrations12/4/2009
  Q: A simple pendulum with a length of 2.33 m and a mass of 6.79 kg is given an initial speed of 1.46 ...
  A: a) The period of a simple pendulum is given by: T=2*pi*sqrt(L/g) where L=2.33m is the length of the ...
Physics12/1/2009
  Q: Block A and block B are moving toward each other. Block A has a mass of 2 Kg and a velocity of 50m/s ...
  A: All one dimensional momentum problems between two objects can be solved in the same way! Since ...
chemistry 10012/1/2009
  Q: Suppose in the middle of a pool game, you shoot the cue ball, causing it to hit the balls on the ...
  A: I wouldn't say "impossible", but the probability of such an event is incredibly small! The concept ...
Conservation of momentum Q11/30/2009
  Q: A dog of mass 5kg is standing on a flat boat so that he is 10m away from the shore.He walks 4m on ...
  A: In an isolated system [which this boat + dog approximates] the velocity of the center of mass ...
Coefficient of restitution11/29/2009
  Q: A ball moving with a velocity i^(unit vector along X axis)collides with a huge wall which is at rest ...
  A: The coefficient of restitution relates the relative velocity of the two colliding objects after the ...
some question :)11/28/2009
  Q: I have 4 question . pleaseteacher, I want the solution steps . Question : 1. A 5.0 kg object placed ...
  A: 1. Newton's 2nd Law problem; The sum of the external forces SF acting on a system is equal to the ...
Newtonian Physics 211/27/2009
  Q: Re:Newtonian Physics Sit Thanks you very much for the help Sir.I'm really glad that I could ...
  A: The key here is that each plank does a certain amount of work on the bullet as it passes through. ...
Newtonian Physics11/26/2009
  Q: I've tried this problem for like 25 times but couldn't get the correct answer, sir. 1.A bullet ...
  A: 1. If the bullet loses 1/nth of its velocity it will retain [(n-1)/n]^2th of its energy [since ...
optical physics11/24/2009
  Q: In diffraction grating experiment using spectrometer we see violet fringe first and then ...
  A: The answer to this quest is caused by the fact that the two effects are entirely different and ...
General Force Question11/22/2009
  Q: Why is the anti-derivative of the net Force exerted on an object equal to potential energy of the ...
  A: Work done is equal to the product of force and the distance through which the force is applied while ...
concave mirror11/22/2009
  Q: what are some application of a concave mirror
  A: Concave mirrors are used for: 1. Newtonian, catadioptric and Dobsonian Reflecting telescopes 2. Long ...
Physics AP homework problem, plz help!11/21/2009
  Q: a person jumps from the roof of a house 3.9 meteres high. when he strikes the ground below, he bends ...
  A: There are two parts to this problem: first find the time to stop, second find the required force. To ...
physics11/21/2009
  Q: is insulator has a charge?
  A: All matter contains charge. What makes an insulator special is that the charges contained within the ...
dynamics11/20/2009
  Q: can u help me in this question Steep safety ramps are built beside mountain highways to enable ...
  A: (a)If the acceleration of the truck is constant and if it takes 6 seconds for the truck to lose 1/2 ...
Carnot Engine11/18/2009
  Q: Kovalcin, I am a student at Laurentian University studying Geology. I am in first year and in ...
  A: If 30% of the heat is dumped into the cold reservoir the efficiency of the process is 70% rather ...
radioactivity11/17/2009
  Q: In the process of beta decay a proton transforms into a neutron according to p-----> n + ...
  A: The energy of the incoming proton is converted into the mass of the resulting products. Mass is NOT ...
Circular Motion and Gravitational Forces11/16/2009
  Q: Early skeptics of the idea of a rotating Earth said that the fast spin of Earth would throw people ...
  A: Question 1 is a relative velocity question. Just add the velocity of you to the velocity of the bus! ...
Physics11/15/2009
  Q: Sorry if this question has been asked before but i can't find it on the sheet. Someone jumps a hole ...
  A: All 2 dimensional kinematics problems can be solved in the same way. There are 6 kinematics ...
Circular Motion and Gravitational Forces11/14/2009
  Q: Early skeptics of the idea of a rotating Earth said that the fast spin of Earth would throw people ...
  A: a) To determine the velocity of someone at the equator use the definition of velocity: v=dD/dT ...
physics11/14/2009
  Q: please give me ideas for making working model on any topic of physics like light, electricity, ...
  A: One of the most fun projects is to make a "Rube Goldberg" machine. [Do a Google search on this ...
specific heat capacity11/13/2009
  Q: if you wish to warm 100 kg of water by 18 degrees celsius for your bath, how much heat is required? ...
  A: The heat needed to change the temperature of a substance is given by: dQ=m*c*dt where dQ is the ...
observation11/12/2009
  Q: I've been reading about the quantum and I know if you observe (interact) with what you are ...
  A: A full discussion would be rather lengthy but the fact is that experiments have been run where the ...
electricity11/11/2009
  Q: explain why a battery of ten dry lechlanche cells each of emf 1.5volts cannot be used in place of a ...
  A: Electric power requires BOTH current and voltage. The current is the carrier of energy while the ...
What's the principle that correlates diameter of a tube and its inner liquid pressure value?11/10/2009
  Q: What is the name of the Principle that states that for a fixed flux of liquid through a tube, the ...
  A: What you are looking for it the "Law of Continuity". Since a typical fluid is matter, and since ...
Speed, time and and distance11/7/2009
  Q: can you please give me all the formulas for the 9th grade? and it should be about speed, time and ...
  A: First of all there is no such thing as "all the formulas for the 9th grade"! However, if you a ...
Speed11/6/2009
  Q: The passengers in a roller coaster car feel 40% heavier than their true weight as the car goes ...
  A: Because this roller coaster is moving in a circular path Newton's 2nd Law applies: SF=m*a where SF ...
Tension and angular velocity11/5/2009
  Q: A conical pendulum is formed by attaching a 420 g ball to a 1.0 m long string, then allowing the ...
  A: Because the mass of this pendulum is moving in a circular path it is accelerating and therefore its ...
Pulleys11/5/2009
  Q: This is a question I have often wondered as I do a lot of sailing. When sailing we use block and ...
  A: In principle it is only the number of pulleys that matters. However, that completely ignores the ...
Momentum11/4/2009
  Q: If two particles have equal kinetic energies, are their momenta necessarily equal? Sir Please ...
  A: Not at all! Kinetic energy is given by: KE=1/2*m*v^2 while momentum is given by: p=m*v Suppose that ...
physics11/2/2009
  Q: A figure skater during her finale can increase her rotation rate from an initial rate of 1.0 rev ...
  A: This is a problem of angular momentum conservation where: I1*w1=I2*w2 where I is the moment of ...
physics11/2/2009
  Q: A 6.0 m diameter merry-go-round is rotating freely with an angular velocity of 0.80 rad/s. Its total ...
  A: In an isolated system angular momentum will be conserved: I1*w1=I2*w2 where I is the moment of ...
Optics11/1/2009
  Q: Respected Sir I am Mukul Of grade 12 Why does the wavelength of light change but the frequency ...
  A: When two mediums meet they form an interface. When a wave traveling in one medium encounters a ...
theory11/1/2009
  Q: I just finished reading about Multiverse theory (altervative universes) and I don't understand if a ...
  A: Many experimental physicists would agree with your analysis. There doesn't seem to be any way, at ...
emf of a solenoid10/31/2009
  Q: Imagine that you want to wind a solenoid that would be able to keep a 10-ohm light bulb lighted for ...
  A: The EMF generated by a changing magnetic flux is given according to Faraday's Law: EMF=-N*dF/dt ...
physics10/31/2009
  Q: A 2.4 kg block slides down a 25° inclined plane with constant acceleration. The block starts from ...
  A: This is a straightforward kinematics problem with 6 unknowns and 2 equations. Any time you can ...
physics10/30/2009
  Q: upper layers of water in a deep well are cool but those in a pond are warm and the lower layers of ...
  A: First of all, the assumptions made in this question are not universal. As for the well, if it is ...
Physics10/29/2009
  Q: Sir, I want to know the procedure of how I can convert a Galvanometer into volmeter.
  A: To convert a Galvanometer into a Voltmeter you will have to place an appropriately valued resistor ...
physics10/28/2009
  Q: A mallet consists of a uniform cylindrical head of mass 3.00 kg and a diameter 0.0800 m mounted on a ...
  A: What you are looking for here is the center of mass of the mallet. To find the center of mass let's ...
can you please help me?? physics is my main struggle!10/28/2009
  Q: 1.Identify a sport and changing weather conditions that probably would cause an athlete to want to ...
  A: 1. Soccer? Think about it. It is not that hard. 2. Skiing? Try looking it up online [or maybe look ...
Mouse trap car10/27/2009
  Q: I have to build a mouse trap car for physics. I've seen simple structures on the internet, but I ...
  A: Making the car go faster isn't the answer! Since the energy contained within the mouse trap is ...
Physics:Conservation of energy10/26/2009
  Q: 1) AN older 925kg car without anti-lock brakes shows skid marks 15.3m long on wet pavement. the skid ...
  A: 1. Assuming that the coefficient of sliding friction between the tires of the car and a wet road is ...
How does sound travel10/26/2009
  Q: My question is how does sound travel through the air? Is it like a radio wave? And is sound inside a ...
  A: Sound and light are entirely different. Light can travel through a vacuum while sound REQUIRES a ...
Tension10/23/2009
  Q: A 20 kg loudspeaker is suspended 1.4 m below the ceiling by two 3.0 m long cables that angle outward ...
  A: This system is clearly at equilibrium since it is not accelerating. Therefore, opposite forces must ...
physics10/22/2009
  Q: The blades in a blender rotate at a rate of 7000 rpm. When the motor is turned off during operation, ...
  A: The key to solving a rotational problem like this is just to pretend that the problem is linear! In ...
physics10/22/2009
  Q: A grinding wheel 0.54 m in diameter rotates at 2300 rpm. (a) Calculate its angular velocity in ...
  A: To answer the first question use dimensional analysis [also called unit cancellation]: w=2300 ...
physics10/21/2009
  Q: A spring (80 ) has an equilibrium length of 1.00 . The spring is compressed to a length of 0.50 ...
  A: All of these problems can be solved using the idea of energy conservation. 1. In this first problem ...
physics10/20/2009
  Q: A skier coasts down a very smooth, 10-m-high slope. If the speed of the skier on the top of the ...
  A: These problems are all energy conservation problems! #1. The kinetic energy and gravitational energy ...
physics10/20/2009
  Q: 1.) A ditch 2.5 m wide crosses a trail bike path. An upward incline of 15o has been built up on the ...
  A: If you looked at the previous 2 question I answered you would see: "Almost all two dimensional ...
Physics motion10/19/2009
  Q: Divers in Acapulco dive from a cliff that is 64 m high. If the rocks below the cliff extend ...
  A: Almost all two dimensional kinematics can be done in the same way! Uniform acceleration involves six ...
Physics motion10/19/2009
  Q: An airplane traveling 1010 m above the ocean at 120 km/h is going to drop a box of supplies to ...
  A: This is very much like the last question you asked! "Almost all two dimensional kinematics can be ...
physics10/18/2009
  Q: Explain the difference between the everyday use of each term below and the way it is used in ...
  A: A) In everyday vernacular the word "acceleration" has come to mean "speed up". In physics, however, ...
First year University Physics10/17/2009
  Q: Mr. Kovalcin, I'm doing review for a test I have soon and one of the questions I have is pretty ...
  A: Unfortunately you are on the wrong path! Your attempted solution implies that energy will be ...
Physics - Calorimetry Lab10/16/2009
  Q: Mr. Kovalcin, I have a Physics lab in a little while and one of the introduction questions asks what ...
  A: Your answer seems to be on the right track. The point of the calorimeter is that in an isolated ...
Torque and Rotational Dynamics10/16/2009
  Q: A 1.8 kg, 40 cm diameter disk is spinning at 340 rpm. How much friction force must the brake apply ...
  A: There are two different ways to approach this problem: energy conservation or kinematics. In either ...
Sliding-Rolling Friction10/15/2009
  Q: If a ball is exhibiting non-pure rolling motion (i.e. sliding and spinning at the same time) in a ...
  A: Suppose that you have a bowling ball spinning clockwise when you gently release in onto a horizontal ...
Physics10/13/2009
  Q: Starting from rest, a 92-kg firefighter slides down a fire pole. The average frictional force ...
  A: This problem is a combination of Newton's 2nd Law problem and a kinematics problem. First applying ...
Physics10/12/2009
  Q: Kovalcin, I have a question that I am having a hard time figuring out. ---- An elevator whose mass ...
  A: In general there are only two equations needed to solve almost any one dimensional kinematics ...
Physics10/11/2009
  Q: Kovalcin, I have a question that I am having a hard time figuring out. ---- An elevator whose mass ...
  A: Your are correct in that Power = Force x Velocity, but your answer is much too low! You must have ...
PHYSICS10/11/2009
  Q: A HORIZONTAL FORCE=35NIS REQUIRED TO SLIDE A SWORD WEIGHING280KGF OVER A FLAT SURFACE CALCULATE ...
  A: Since the coefficient of friction mu is equal to the ratio if the force needed to overcome that ...
AP Physics10/10/2009
  Q: two forces are applied to a car in an effort to move it. f1=450N@10degrees f2=400N@30degrees. ...
  A: The most reliable way to add two vector quantities is to use the i & j component method. In this ...
Physics Question10/9/2009
  Q: A dockworker loading crates on a ship finds that a 20 kg crate, initially at rest on a horizontal ...
  A: The coefficient of friction is defined to be the ratio of the frictional force to the normal force ...
velocity and gravity10/9/2009
  Q: My son is in freshman physics in high school. I didn't take physics "way back" when I was in ...
  A: The easy way to look at this is to use energy conservation! Since the ball is thrown with the same ...
Earth's poles10/8/2009
  Q: I read in a magazine that the Earth's Magnetic poles "swtiches" polarities and have done so several ...
  A: As far as we know the Earth's magnetic field is caused by the fact that the Earth has an Iron-Nickel ...
circular motion10/8/2009
  Q: The centers of a 9.0 lead ball and a 60 lead ball are separated by 11 . What gravitational force ...
  A: Assume that the m1=21kg sphere is at the origin, the m2=12 kg sphere is on the x axis at L=19.0cm ...
heat flow through skin10/6/2009
  Q: I saw your answer to the problem of how much heat flows through the skin of a human with ...
  A: This is assuming that you have no hair covering, no clothes, minimal fat coverage, no surrounding ...
Physics10/6/2009
  Q: A Cessna 150 aircraft has a lift-off speed of approximately 125 km/h What minimum constant ...
  A: All kinematics problems involve 6 variables [do, df, Vo, Vf, a and t] and two equations: ...
conservation of energy10/5/2009
  Q: This may or may not be your type of question, but I don't know any other field to submit it to. ...
  A: The amount of energy needed to evaporate the water content of the clothes is the same in either ...
Phsyics10/4/2009
  Q: In the high jump, the kinetic energy of an athlete is transformed into gravitational potential ...
  A: As in the previous question energy must be conserved. In this case the initial kinetic energy must ...
Phsyics10/4/2009
  Q: Suppose the roller coaster in Fig. 6-41 (h1 = 34 m, h2 = 13 m, h3 = 20) passes point 1 with a speed ...
  A: Assuming that this roller coaster is heading downhill [since there is no diagram] the total kinetic ...
Block and ramp variables10/3/2009
  Q: A spring pushes a block up a ramp with a frictional surface. How high can the block go before it ...
  A: The total energy stored in the system at the beginning must all be accounted for so that the total ...
Physics10/2/2009
  Q: 3.) A 40kg mass is held on an inclined plane of 30 degrees above the horizontal. If the surface is ...
  A: If there is no friction, the force needed to hold the 40 kg mass in place will be the gravitational ...
physics10/1/2009
  Q: Suppose the rope is 50 meters long, and that a sideways force of 300 N is required to displace the ...
  A: Since force is a vector quantity the force components must be directly proportional to the distances ...
please help9/30/2009
  Q: ,i was wondering if u could help me with this, i need the general equation of motion. a robot is ...
  A: Assuming that the wall is vertical, the downward gravitational force Fg on the robot needs to be ...
rate of acceleration9/29/2009
  Q: Question on rate of acceration concerning an combustion engine. displacement of 10 cm Piston moves ...
  A: Assuming that this piston's motion is simple harmonic: a=A*w^2 The maximum acceleration a will be ...
physics stumper i need help9/28/2009
  Q: Two billiard balls having the same mass and speed roll toward each other. What is their combined ...
  A: Their combined momentum after will be exactly the same as their combined momentum before [if you ...
physics9/24/2009
  Q: A commuter train was traveling into the train station. It failed to stop on time and crashed into ...
  A: The passengers would NOT fly backwards! Remember that the train is moving forward and so are the ...
physics9/23/2009
  Q: my question is: If two snowcats tow a housing unit to a new location, the sum of the forces FA and ...
  A: The components of the two forces perpendicular to L must be equal: Fa*sin(50)=Fb*sin(30) solve for ...
physics9/23/2009
  Q: what's the connection between speed, friction, and radius of the curve when turning?
  A: Assuming that the curve is flat [that is, the road bed is horizontal]. The force needed keep ...
Physics9/22/2009
  Q: A ball is dropped into a lake 5 meters above water. It enters the water and sinks to the bottom with ...
  A: Aside from the fact that this would never happen! First calculate the velocity of the ball after it ...
Pumping with Compressed Air9/21/2009
  Q: James, I am trying to work out why an air displacement pump delivering to a 50 metre head through 2 ...
  A: Several things! First, the inertia of the water down not matter unless you are accelerating the ...
General Physics9/21/2009
  Q: Respected sir I am a student of grade 12 Capacitive reactance is inversely proportional to the ...
  A: As charge flows onto the plates of a capacitor the potential difference across the capacitor builds ...
Electromagnetics9/20/2009
  Q: Respected Sir I am student of class 12, Is there any condition or an example in which emf is induced ...
  A: Sure! Just because an EMF exists no way implies that a current exists. Current will only flow if it ...
Questions related to diodes, relativity and radiation9/19/2009
  Q: Given below are some questions which I have attempted and all I want to know now is whether they are ...
  A: 8. The red light will have to have more photons since each photon of red contains less energy. E=h*f ...
Relative Motion Problem9/19/2009
  Q: The bad guys come roaring onto a highway at 150 km/h headed for the Mexican border 395 km away. The ...
  A: This is a kinematics question with two objects and, therefore, two data sets. The key to the problem ...
Projectile Motion9/18/2009
  Q: In a flat region, a projectile is fired in such a way that it's horizontal range is equal to three ...
  A: To solve a 2 dimensional projectile problem you need to break the problem into two parts; one ...
physics9/18/2009
  Q: A skier is gliding along at 4.5 m/s on horizontal, frictionless snow. He suddenly starts down a 10° ...
  A: There are actually two distinctly different ways to solve this problem: through kinematics and ...
Physics-experiment9/17/2009
  Q: Describes the steps you would take in an idealized experiment to determine the unknown mass (m) of a ...
  A: I don't want to give you all the answers - you will have to fill in the blanks. The general idea ...
physics9/15/2009
  Q: The potential difference between the plates of a capacitor is 185 V. Midway between the plates, a ...
  A: Tough problem! Realize that both the electron and the proton are going to fall through the same ...
physics9/14/2009
  Q: A 4kg block stretches a spring by 16cm form its unstretched position the block is removed and a 5kg ...
  A: According to Hooke's Law the amount a spring stretches is proportional to the magnitude of the force ...
quantum9/12/2009
  Q: First I want to apologize for the length of this question bu I'm confused! I'm reading a book, it ...
  A: If I could answer that question I would be up for a Nobel Prize! I am not kidding. All work done in ...
multimeter9/12/2009
  Q: I bought a multimeter that measures either voltage or current. I have never seen this. I have only ...
  A: My first concern when you talk about household wiring is that you MUST not do anything until you ...
Pumping with Compressed Air9/11/2009
  Q: James, I am trying to work out why an air displacement pump delivering to a 50 metre head through 2 ...
  A: I did the calculation and got that you need 55psi to lift the water to 40 meters. ...
quantum9/10/2009
  Q: First I want to apologize for the length of this question bu I'm confused! I'm reading a book, it ...
  A: You are correct: it would be more correct to say that there is an equal probability that the ...
physics9/10/2009
  Q: what voltage is required to store 6.45x10^-5 C of charge on the plates of a 5.60-uF capacitor?
  A: The capacitance of a capacitor is defined to be equal to the ratio of the charge stored on the ...
physics9/8/2009
  Q: Could you help me how to give a mathematical explanation on the basis of the Conservation of Angular ...
  A: If you multiply the moment of inertia of a rotating object by its angular velocity the resulting ...
dualityof light9/8/2009
  Q: why cant light behave like a wave and a particle atthe same time?
  A: That is not really the point. It is not that light CAN'T behave as a wave and as a particle at the ...
Electricity9/2/2009
  Q: Is neutral wire becoming hot,during the positive alternation?or is hot wire return path in this ...
  A: The fact that current reverses direction in an AC circuit does not matter. Current going either way ...
velocity/ acceleration9/2/2009
  Q: A stone is dropped from the top of a building 20m hight. A second stone is dropped from 15m of the ...
  A: To answer this question you need to find the time for each stone to drop to the ground and then ...
atoms9/1/2009
  Q: I was wondering, if atoms have electromagnetic energy does this mean that they all have ...
  A: When one says that atoms have "electromagnetic energy" what is really meant is that the system ...
windmills8/31/2009
  Q: I am trying to make a windmill. Please look at my sketch. Can you think of an answer to my two ...
  A: You would need something that permitted air to pass one direction but not the opposite. If you go to ...
archimedes principle and principle of floatation8/29/2009
  Q: how can i differentiate between Archemedes principle and principle of floatation? why the buoyant ...
  A: Both situations make use of Newton's 1st Law! For a floating object the gravitational force downward ...
physics8/26/2009
  Q: How can I design an experiment to measure the center of gravity of doughnut, if I know its center is ...
  A: To find the center of mass suspend the donut from any pivot point with a weighted string hanging ...
atoms8/26/2009
  Q: I hope this isn't a question that will prove too general or complicated to answer to a person who ...
  A: The atom, i a sense, doesn't look like much. Effectively the nucleus is surrounded by very rapidly ...
microwave damage to water8/25/2009
  Q: <my health food friends tell me that you should not eat microwave food because it destroys all of ...
  A: Sorry, but it is just nonsense! Any damage to the nutrients in the food will be due to the fact that ...
time8/25/2009
  Q: I saw a special on the science channel that indicated that it was possible to go back in time either ...
  A: Since all fundamental particles of a particular type are indistinguishable from one another [all ...
Quantum physics8/24/2009
  Q: My Question is this:- When matter is created as I understand it, its anti particle is also created ...
  A: When energy is used to generate particles, the resulting particles occur in pairs. The vast majority ...
time8/24/2009
  Q: I saw a special on the science channel that indicated that it was possible to go back in time either ...
  A: There are many things to comment on here! First of all, don't confuse speculation with reality. ...
gravity? kenetic energy?8/20/2009
  Q: Playing the piano (keyboard): A fast arpeggio on keyboard, high notes to low ( e.g. with right ...
  A: I can only surmise that there must be a component of the gravitational force acting in the direction ...
Angular momentum & Earth's axial tilt.8/20/2009
  Q: I'm having trouble establishing the veracity of the claim that the moon somehow stabilizes the angle ...
  A: I think the best answer to this question can be illustrated from a high wire act where the person ...
Buoyancy8/19/2009
  Q: I'm trying to understand the relative effect of buoyancy, volume, and depth. If I tied a balloon ...
  A: Your first statement is correct assuming that the balloon is completely submerged and that the ...
thermal Physics8/18/2009
  Q: I have spent time trying to understand and answer the following question. Would you be so kind to ...
  A: Given a solar insolation of 342W/m^2 and an area of 50 m^2 this lake is receiving: ...
Newton's Cradle8/18/2009
  Q: James, thanks for taking the time to read my question. I'm not a student, just fascinated in the ...
  A: Theoretically it should not matter, but in practice the difference would be significant. The problem ...
physics8/17/2009
  Q: sir can you please tell me what is gravitational acceleration all about
  A: The gravitational effect of mass is to warp the shape of space in the vicinity of the mass causing ...
Breaking light speed8/14/2009
  Q: James, thanks for taking the time to read my question. I'm not a student, just fascinated in the ...
  A: You cam come up with ant situation you can imagine but that will not change the fact that NO ONE has ...
Galvanometer to Voltmeter8/13/2009
  Q: for the experiment of using a galvanometer as a voltmeter what kind of graphs can i make? and what ...
  A: To make a galvanometer into a voltmeter you need to connect a relatively high ersistane in series ...
transverse waves8/11/2009
  Q: in transverse waves is the speed of a particle different from speed of the wave propagation, or how ...
  A: The speed of a wave through a medium [the propagation velocity] and the speed of the particles are ...
optics8/9/2009
  Q: what is the difference between a convex lens and concave lens?
  A: A convex lens will be thicker at the center than at the edges and it will be able to form and ...
impact of an object on a 3/4" of plywood8/8/2009
  Q: Given an object falling from a height of 190' (57.912 m) with a weight of 10 pounds (4.54kg) what ...
  A: The kinetic energy KE of the falling mass as it reaches the plywood will be equal to the ...
restitution8/6/2009
  Q: how can we calculate height of a ball it it bounces two or three times
  A: Two factors need to be taken into account here: energy conservation and coefficient of restitution. ...
electrostatics8/2/2009
  Q: what do you mean by electric potential of a rod is 5v? what is potential difference?
  A: Potential difference is a measure of how much work must be done per unit charge to move that charge ...
..please help me and my group..8/1/2009
  Q: ..hello i just wanted to ask if you have some idea for a fourth year high school investigatory ...
  A: There are many projects that you could do! Let me list a few! 1. Build a "Rube Goldberg" machine. ...
MECHANICS8/1/2009
  Q: A UNIFORM ROD,AB OF LENGTH 4a IS ELEVATED AT THE 'A' END. THE 'B' END IS 30DEGREES TO THE ...
  A: I am making the assumption that point A is on the left and is the center of rotation of the system. ...
engineering and technology7/31/2009
  Q: What is meant by engineering and technology?
  A: From a practical point of view "Engineering & Technology" refers to the carefully planned use of ...
physics7/26/2009
  Q: Two pellets, each with a charge of 1microcoulomb are located 3cm apart. Show that the electric force ...
  A: The electrostatic force between two charged bodies is given by: Fe=k*q1*q2/r^2 where k=9.0 x 10^9 ...
Law of Conservation of Momentum7/25/2009
  Q: Today we had a practical lesson involving two gliders moving on an airtrack. The first glider was ...
  A: Depending upon how you measured the velocities, there is a lot of error in the typical apparatus ...
Law of Conservation of Momentum7/24/2009
  Q: Today we had a practical lesson involving two gliders moving on an airtrack. The first glider was ...
  A: The fact is that this experiment is relatively difficult to perform successfully because of friction ...
physics7/24/2009
  Q: what is the energy of an electron accelerated through a potential difference of 100 volts
  A: Accelerating an electron through a potential difference of 100 volts produces an energy of 100 ...
theory of relavity7/23/2009
  Q: This qustion is regarding relativity of time. suppose i have 2 bodies: A and B. Body A is earth.? ...
  A: Sorry, there is no way to determine the mass of object B based on the given information. However, ...
Physics7/22/2009
  Q: Where should the birthday candle of height 5 cm be placed in front of a convex lens of focal length ...
  A: The position of the object do, the position of the image di and the focal length of a mirror or lens ...
Gravity and the Coriolis effect7/20/2009
  Q: I was wondering if gravity could be created by spinning a ring around a large diameter round ...
  A: Spinning space stations do not really create "gravity"! What they actually do is to generate an ...
inclined plane friction7/19/2009
  Q: I am doing an EEI. My experiment was to roll golf balls down an inclined plane in order to test ...
  A: This problem is, fundamentally, a Newton's 2nd Law problem. As such, the first step is to make a ...
Derivation Bimettalic Strip7/19/2009
  Q: How did Dr. Lewin derive the value d= 4 mm in the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr0yMWdWie0 ...
  A: Assume that the bimetallic strip curves into a uniform circular section subtending and angle Q. The ...
Einstein's photoelectric equation7/17/2009
  Q: Explain why the graph of photoelectric effect experiment always has the same gradient whatever metal ...
  A: According to the photo-electric equation the kinetic energy of the released electrons is given by: ...
physics6/23/2009
  Q: Starting from rest, a ball of mass 2 kg experiences a constant force of 2 N. What is the final ...
  A: One way top solve this problem would be! 1. Use Newton's 2nd Law to solve for the acceleration: ...
Prism6/23/2009
  Q: Could you please tell me what is the name of the starting point from where beam is converted into ...
  A: A beam of light isn't "converted" into different colors, rather, the prism takes the various colors ...
Electricity6/20/2009
  Q: Is neutral wire becoming hot,during the positive alternation?or is hot wire return path in this ...
  A: That is not really the issue. Current always flow in the neutral wire. What is special about the ...
Physics6/19/2009
  Q: An electric furnace runs nine hours a day to heat a house during January (31 days). The heating ...
  A: A kilowatt hour is a measure of energy and is equal to the product of the rate of energy use in ...
physics6/19/2009
  Q: Block 1 (2 kg) rests on the surface of a table as shown in the figure. The coefficient of kinetic ...
  A: The block weighs Fw=2*9.8=19.6N. Since the coefficient of friction is 0.5, the frictional force will ...
physcs6/18/2009
  Q: Block 1 (m1 = 1.5 kg) is on the surface of a table as shown in the figure. The rope attached to the ...
  A: First break the applied force Fa into horizontal and vertical components. I this case the components ...
physics6/17/2009
  Q: The force F = (80, 40) N acts on a mass of 10 kg. At time t = 0 s, the mass has a velocity v0 = ...
  A: 1) To find the direction of the initial velocity calculate the direction using the tangent function: ...
Physics6/16/2009
  Q: A woman finds the front windshield of her car covered with ice at -12.0°C. The ice has a thickness ...
  A: The heat of fusion for ice is 334 joules per gram while the specific heat of ice is 1.87 joules per ...
Physics6/15/2009
  Q: A person who is 1.5 m tall throws a ball with a speed of 9.8 m/s at an angle of 70 degrees above the ...
  A: All two dimensional kinematics problems can be solved in the same way! There are 6 possible ...
Projectile Movement6/14/2009
  Q: A stone is thrown downward with a speed of 1 m/s from a height of 14 m. (acceleration due to ...
  A: All one dimensional kinematics problems can be solved in the same way! There are 6 possible ...
Electricity-Capacitance6/13/2009
  Q: Explain why it is that some items of electronic equipment have the warning message 'Danger: Even ...
  A: Unless the capacitors within the electronic device have been purposely discharged, they can store ...
Electrical Fields/Electric Charges6/13/2009
  Q: Given:There is an atom with a charge of +1 micro coulomb placed 1 centimeter from an atom with a ...
  A: First of all, these CANNOT be atoms! A 1 microCoulomb charge contains ...
Physics Problem6/12/2009
  Q: A 1200 kg racing car accelerates from rest at a constant rate and covers a distance of 450 m in 10 ...
  A: All one dimensional kinematics problems can be solved in the same way! First identify as many of the ...
inductance6/11/2009
  Q: Could you explain the following sentance. The inductance can be minimized by winding the insulated ...
  A: The inductance of a coil is determined by the rate of change of magnetic flux within the coil. When ...
gravity vs. drag6/10/2009
  Q: If you drop two balls of I dentical size and shape, but A is made of wood (light) and one is made of ...
  A: Newton's 2nd Law: SF=m*a where SF is the sum of the forces, m is the mass and a is the acceleration. ...
atomic6/10/2009
  Q: Are the electron neutron and proton breakable ? what remains if any of them is broken ?
  A: Protons and neutrons are composite particles! Each particle contains 3 quarks. Each proton is made ...
gravity vs. drag6/9/2009
  Q: If you drop two balls of I dentical size and shape, but A is made of wood (light) and one is made of ...
  A: No! The rate of acceleration of each ball is determined by the NET force acting on the ball. Since ...
Physics6/5/2009
  Q: Light reflected from the surface of a liquid is found to be completely polarised when the angle of ...
  A: 1. According to Brewster's Law, maximum polarization occurs when the tangent angle of incidence is ...
how does a convex mirror work?6/4/2009
  Q: when a convex mirror is installed to be a security mirror or such, i know that they're better than ...
  A: A convex mirror works by redirecting light that strikes it such that light coming from a wide ...
Law of Conservation of Energy6/3/2009
  Q: We did an experiment in class today involving rolling a ball down a slope. I calculated the change ...
  A: The ball didn't gain any extra energy. It is just that the initial gravitational energy will be ...
Wheatstone Bridges6/2/2009
  Q: How do Wheaststone Bridges work, and how can they be used to calculate the resistance of unknown ...
  A: In a Wheatstone Bridge circuit, the resistor in the bridge is replaces by a galvanometer. Why, you ...
alpha6/1/2009
  Q: Alpha particles perpendicular undeflected through magnetic and electric fields that are ...
  A: If the alpha particle moves through crossed electric and magnetic fields and passes through the ...
About electric field5/31/2009
  Q: What are the differences between electric and magnetic fields? thanks a lot
  A: They are VERY different. An electric field E is an area of space where any particle with a charge q ...
a falling object5/30/2009
  Q: James well when an object is falling vertically downward having 'g' as an acceleration, and then ...
  A: When you lift an object upward you have to do work on it. This work increases the gravitational ...
radius of an arc5/29/2009
  Q: X^+2 and Y^+ ions, whoes masses are 8.35 x 10^-27 kg and 3.34 x 10^-27 kg respectively, traveling at ...
  A: For a particle moving in a circular path in a uniform magnetic field Newton's 2nd Law predicts: ...
Ionization5/29/2009
  Q: if a hydrogen atom is in level 2 and is hit by a 332 nm photon how do you show that the electron ...
  A: Solve this problem by using energy conservation! The energy of the incoming photon of light E=h*c/l ...
a question of time dilation in special relativity from a (currently) layperson's perspective5/28/2009
  Q: On a purely logical level, ideally with only any basic math that may be necessary, not having ...
  A: The problem here, is that both the observer on the Earth and the observer on board the rocket will ...
throw5/27/2009
  Q: When rain (with constant velocity), if you want walk from one place to another place how can you go ...
  A: This is an answer that I just did yesterday! I propose breaking this up into two parts: one ...
Running in the Rain?5/26/2009
  Q: When rain (with constant velocity), if you want walk from one place to another place how can you go ...
  A: I propose breaking this up into two parts: one horizontal and one vertical. I made the following ...
Millikan5/24/2009
  Q: In 1912, Robert Millikan noticed that charged plates would clear condensed water vapour (fog) from a ...
  A: This problem is essentially a Newton's 1st Law problem, the electrostatic force upward caused by the ...
Millikans oil drop5/24/2009
  Q: A student performs Millikan oil drop experiment in which latex sphere with a mass of 5.00 x 10 to ...
  A: This problem is essentially a Newton's 1st Law problem, the electrostatic force upward caused by the ...
radius5/22/2009
  Q: A proton enters a magnetic field at a right angle to the field. An alpha particle enters the same ...
  A: For a charged particle moving perpendicularly to the magnetic field the resulting magnetic force ...
Physics5/21/2009
  Q: I just got this questions and I don't even know how to start it It will be awesome and really ...
  A: Use energy and momentum conservation! The initial kinetic and gravitational energy of the S10 pickup ...
Balmer Series5/21/2009
  Q: The regions of the electromagnetic spectrum into which the lines of Balmer Series of hydrogen are ...
  A: The Balmer spectrum of Hydrogen corresponds to electrons moving from n=3,4,5 and 6 down to level n=2 ...
How a PN-junction diode works?5/18/2009
  Q: It would be most helpful if you could explain to me how a PN junction diode really works. I already ...
  A: The key to this question is the degree of doping done to the semiconductors. Actually, the number of ...
minimum angular velocity5/17/2009
  Q: if a 6 sided mirror and a fixed mirror are 45.0km apart. What minimum angular velocity in (RPS) that ...
  A: If the fixed mirror is 45km away, the round trip for lint would be 90km. Since the speed of light is ...
question about anti-matter and the movies5/17/2009
  Q: In the new Tom Hanks movie they "created" anti-matter into glass vials, suspended between two ...
  A: First of all, antimatter is NOT negative. Most antimatter just has a charge opposite that of the ...
movement5/15/2009
  Q: A motor car is 500kg and it accelerates from a velocity of 18m/s to 50m/s in 5 seconds. How do I ...
  A: All problems of this type can be solved in the same way. There are six kinematics variables and two ...
mass of balloon5/14/2009
  Q: What is the average mass of a standard water balloon?
  A: I don't think that there is a "standard" water balloon. However, water weighs about 8 pounds per ...
Terminal velocity5/14/2009
  Q: I have a student who argues that the impact from a person falling from a three story building would ...
  A: The force acting on the falling person when they strike the ground would be given by Newton's 2nd ...
Inductance of wire5/13/2009
  Q: I believe for a straight piece of wire the inductance is roughly 1nH a millimetre (I guess it ...
  A: I think that you will find the information you require regarding a long straight wire at ...
Newton's 3rd Law5/13/2009
  Q: Say a mosquito hits a bullet train. The law states that for every action there is an equal and ...
  A: Just because the force on the mosquito is equal to the force on the train does NOT mean that the ...
When do two objects officially touch?5/12/2009
  Q: This was probably asked a million times before, but I'd like to know the following: When is ...
  A: This question is virtually impossible to answer. But there are limits to how small of a length we ...
Motion and conservation of energy5/12/2009
  Q: Mr. Kovalcin, This is the data for a roller coaster. Instead of a cart though, it is a ball of mass ...
  A: In the first case energy seems to be conserved within experimental error in all cases. In the second ...
Maximum frequency5/11/2009
  Q: cathode rays strike a metal target travelling at 8.50 x 10^6 m/s. what is the maximum frequency of ...
  A: This is called the "inverse photoelectric effect". The kinetic energy of the incoming electrons ...
Musical Acoustics5/11/2009
  Q: If the velocity of transverse waves on a certain string of length L=0.3 m is v(subscript t)=240 m/s, ...
  A: If a string is attached at each end, the smallest part of a standing wave that can resonate on that ...
Photons5/10/2009
  Q: The power in a laser beam is equal to the energy of each photon times the number of photons per ...
  A: The energy of a light wave is given by: U=h*f=h*c/L where U is the the energy content of the wave, f ...
voltage, electron5/10/2009
  Q: An electron is accelerated from rest through a potential difference. If this electron has a ...
  A: According to the deBroglie relationship: h/L=p where h is Planck's constant, L is the wavelength ...
radius5/9/2009
  Q: Given the wavelenght of an electron 2.08 x 10^-9 m, calculate the radius of the deflection arc that ...
  A: If you know the wavelength of the electron, you can determine the speed of the electron using the ...
Einstein Nobel Prize5/7/2009
  Q: I know Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his work on the photoelectric effect. Why did he ...
  A: The tradition of the Nobel Prize is that a person can only receive the prize once in a particular ...
Electromagnetic theory5/5/2009
  Q: Two parallel rails are connected together at one end by a resistanceof R = 20.0 W as shown in the ...
  A: According to Faraday's Law the EMF generated in the closed conducting path is given by: EMF=-Df/Dt ...
mass5/4/2009
  Q: i wanna ask how we can calculate mass of objects in space which no gravity exists!!? would u please ...
  A: One way to do this is to use an "inertial" balance, which consists of a container vibrating on the ...
release velocity5/2/2009
  Q: This is a question from my uil calculator contest. I could not figure out the steps to the ...
  A: This is a typical 2 dimensional kinematics problem. There are 6 possible variables: Do - the initial ...
physics5/1/2009
  Q: i am not extremely that good in physics so i deemed it useful to keep practicing. i came across a ...
  A: Making the following assumptions! Distance to water from bridge - h Length of unstretched bungee ...
natural frequency5/1/2009
  Q: How does the sound of a string vibrating at its natural frequency compare to its sound at other ...
  A: A string vibrating at a particular fundamental frequency will also resonate at any integer multiple ...
WAVE-PARTICLE DUALITY4/30/2009
  Q: Q:The DeBroglie wavelength of a particle is given by lambda=h/mv. Two properties of the particle ...
  A: The group action explanation doesn't sound right to me. On the other hand, the wavelength of a ...
tire speed4/30/2009
  Q: My friends and I were arguing the other day if the center of a car tire going 50 mph, the same as ...
  A: Actually, no! If the car is moving down the highway at 50mph, the top edge of the tire will be ...
capacitance4/29/2009
  Q: I need help with the following: A parallel capacitor has a capacitance of 10mF and is charged with a ...
  A: The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is given by: C=eo*K*A/d where eo=8.85 x 10^-12 ...
Physics4/29/2009
  Q: Does an electron always experience a force in an electric field but not always in a magnetic field?
  A: The electric force on a charged particle in an electric field is given by: Fe=E*q. The magnetic ...
Light Bulb that never burns out4/27/2009
  Q: Looking at this webpage: http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen99/gen99654.htm It seems to say ...
  A: An ordinary light bulb filament "burns out" not because of oxygen but because of the gradual ...
energy4/24/2009
  Q: Your help is very much appreciated. 1- A novice skier, starting from rest, slides down a ...
  A: 1. Using energy conservation the skier begins with gravitational energy and ends with kinetic: ...
Heat flow through skin4/23/2009
  Q: A person has a core (inner) body temperature of 36degrees C, and the air temperature is 20degrees ...
  A: That rate at which heat flows through a surface DQ/Dt is given by: DQ/Dt=sigma*A*DT/d where sigma ...
Baseball hits a person in dugout?4/21/2009
  Q: If a person in the dugout is hit in the face or head area, by a foul ball (hard hit line drive), ...
  A: Of course! Here are the results of a recent 2007 study: "BASEBALL - HIGH SCHOOL A 14 year-old high ...
Equation for baseball height and distance4/18/2009
  Q: A boy hits a baseball and it travels for 440 feet before it lands. When he hits the ball it is ...
  A: All 2 dimensional freefall problems can be solved in the same way! Because this is a two dimensional ...
optics4/17/2009
  Q: why are convex mirrors used as driving mirrors?
  A: A convex mirror gives a greater range of view than a plane mirror. There is one problem, however. ...
Speed of Light4/17/2009
  Q: If a car is traveling 20 miles per hour and turns on its headlights, will the light be traveling the ...
  A: I know this may not make much sense, but the speed of the light emitted by the moving car will be ...
trouble with simple harmonic motion4/15/2009
  Q: I have this right or wrong question that i know the answer to but not the way to solve it can you ...
  A: You are assuming that the spring CONSTANT is changing! In general, the spring constant is determined ...
Light bulb efficiency vs filament temperature4/14/2009
  Q: Could you tell me why a hotter filament is more efficient than a cooler one? (why you get more ...
  A: The rate at which light is radiated from a hot object is given by: DQ/DT=sigma*emissivity*A*T^4 ...
Physics: Ideal Gases4/14/2009
  Q: Kovalcin, My lab TA suggested that we try to answer the following multiple step question as ...
  A: All of these questions use the ideal gas law: P*V=n*R*T 1. If you add heat to a gas the temperature ...
trouble with simple harmonic motion4/13/2009
  Q: I have this right or wrong question that i know the answer to but not the way to solve it can you ...
  A: I think that you already have the answer! The period of a mass oscillating on the end of a spring is ...
An ascending air bubble4/13/2009
  Q: An air bubble ascends from the bottom of a lake 12.3m deep. The temperature at the bottom of the ...
  A: To solve all problems of this type use the universal gas law: P*V=n*R*T where P is the absolute ...
Magnitude4/12/2009
  Q: Two ropes are attached to a 40 kg object, which rests on a horizontal surface. The first rope ...
  A: The resultant of two forces acting perpendicularly to one another can be found using the Pythagorean ...
Work Engery Theorem4/12/2009
  Q: Eric pulls a 15 kg box across a horizontal, frictionless floor by a rope starting from rest. The ...
  A: According to the Work-Energy Theorem, the change in the energy of a system is equal to the net work ...
Physics-Light4/11/2009
  Q: When the outer electrons that buzz about the atomic nucleus encounter electromagnetic waves, what ...
  A: Several different results can occur! 1. If the incoming EM wave has too little energy [more about ...
Hydrogen gas baloon4/11/2009
  Q: You place 87 moles of hydrogen gas in a balloon of volume 2.4m3, and find the pressure to be 1.5 ...
  A: 1. Use the Universal gas law to determine the temperature of the gas. 2. Use the temperature of the ...
friction4/7/2009
  Q: A 182 g block is launched by compressing a spring of constant k=200 N/m a distance of 15 cm. The ...
  A: This problem is, of course, an energy conservation problem. Initially, all of the energy in this ...
Potential energy4/6/2009
  Q: A 120g arrow is shot vertically from a bow whose effective spring constant is 400 N/m, if the bow is ...
  A: Use energy conservation! The elastic energy EPE at the beginning will be equal to the gravitational ...
Urgent. need help!!4/4/2009
  Q: The electric field inside a hollow conductor is zero. I cant prove this statement. How can i prove ...
  A: There are two different ways to approach this! 1. According to Gauss' Law, the strength of the ...
Kinetic energy of a mass-on-a-spring oscillator4/3/2009
  Q: The position of a mass-on-a-spring oscillator is given by y = A sin(23 t) where the value of t is ...
  A: For any simple harmonic oscillator the displacement from equilibrium is given by A=Ao*sin(w*t) ...
physics/power4/2/2009
  Q: A given load is to be raised through a vertical distance of 10 meters in 30 seconds by using a force ...
  A: Power is defined to be the work done divided by the time over which the work is done. Since work is ...
magnetism4/2/2009
  Q: A hollow copper cylender carrying current why B=0(magnetic density) inside? do u think that outside ...
  A: I suspect that my answer will still not be satisfactory and for good reason! Magnetism is, in ...
magnetism4/1/2009
  Q: can you explain the answer to question 21 to me on this page ...
  A: According to Faraday's Law any change in the magnetic flux within a closed conducting path will ...
magnetism4/1/2009
  Q: When two parallel conducting wires repel each other, the currents in the wires are A. in opposite ...
  A: Assume that the two wires are running vertically from the top of the page towards the bottom of the ...
Waves3/31/2009
  Q: Sonar: Suppose you are fishing using your handy dandy new sonar. The sonar display tells you there ...
  A: Since the speed of sound is significantly faster in water [~1435m/s] than in air [~346m/s], the time ...
Waves3/31/2009
  Q: If you are very far away from an object when it is hit, you often see the collision before you hear ...
  A: The speed of light in air is about 186,000 MILES per second, while the speed of sound in air is ...
Screw Jack Calculation3/30/2009
  Q: I am 46 and have to figure this out. If a screw jack has a pitch of 3mm, a double start thread, a ...
  A: I think that this question is missing an important piece of information, the diameter or radius of ...
magnetism3/30/2009
  Q: A hollow copper cylender carrying current why B=0(magnetic density) inside? do u think that outside ...
  A: The magnetic field within the hollow tube will be zero, but outside the tube the magnetic field ...
calculating speed ( magnetic field)3/27/2009
  Q: The conducting rod in the diagram is 54 cm long, and is moved at a constant speed perpendicular to ...
  A: According to Faraday's Law the EMF [the increase in potential difference] generated by a changing ...
electroscope3/26/2009
  Q: 27. A positively charged rod is held near the sphere of a neutral electroscope. a. What happens to ...
  A: When you move the positive rod near to the sphere at the top of the electroscope, the rod will ...
Magnetics question on calculating energy gained3/24/2009
  Q: Can anyone help me with question 17 on this page http://www.studyphysics.ca/30/phys30_jan02_de.pdf ...
  A: Potential difference V is equal to work done per charge: V=W/q Therefore, the work done on a charged ...
Magnetic field help3/23/2009
  Q: An electron particle is accelerated by a potential difference of 2.33 x 10^3 V as it travels ...
  A: When a charged particle is accelerated by a potential difference V, the energy U gained by the ...
physics3/23/2009
  Q: Three blocks are pulled by a force of 16.5 newtons along a frictionless surface, the boxes are ...
  A: According to Newton's 2nd Law, the sum of the forces acting on a system is equal to the product of ...
centripetal force3/22/2009
  Q: I have trouble to understand: the DEF of centripetal force?
  A: Consider a car moving forward at a constant speed. If you apply a force in the direction of the ...
Magnetics3/21/2009
  Q: I having problems on questions 20 and 21 on this practice exam site: ...
  A: 20) Assume for a moment that you have two wires, parallel to one another and pointing into the page. ...
Conservation of Linear Momentum ... Please Help!!3/21/2009
  Q: I really do need help with this question . I think my hardest part is identifying the different ...
  A: Let me start be defining some variables! m1=55kg mass of the girl m2=80kg mass of the boy m3=0.050kg ...
electric force3/20/2009
  Q: Two charged objects of identical size and mass are brought together in brief contact. If the one ...
  A: When you touch the identical balls together, the charges on the two balls interact and neutralize ...
Coefficient of friction3/20/2009
  Q: can you help. the question is, A child drags a 3kg(29.4N) boogie board across the sand by means of a ...
  A: Since the sled is being pulled at a constant speed, the system is at equilibrium and opposite forces ...
gravitational and gravitational fiels3/19/2009
  Q: please PLEASE help me... a satellite is designed to orbit earth at an altitude above its surface ...
  A: Do you mean 4.5m/s^2? Your question as stated has no real answer. If you do mean a gravitational ...
electric potential3/16/2009
  Q: A Coulomb explosion occurs when a high-energy complex ion is brought to rest in a collision with a ...
  A: The energy of the Helium ion is: E=3.0Mev=3.0x10^6eV*1.6*10^-19J/eV=4.8x10^(-13)J Potential ...
Coulomb explosion3/15/2009
  Q: A Coulomb explosion occurs when a high-energy complex ion is brought to rest in a collision with a ...
  A: 1. Electrostatic potential difference is equal to work done per charge: V=W/q. The work done on the ...
Wind3/15/2009
  Q: Modern Sail boats are able to "move" against the wind in a monouvere called tacking.This is only ...
  A: Because of the Earth's rotation the prevailing winds are id different direction depending on the ...
mechanics problems3/14/2009
  Q: A box, initially at rest, is pulled up an incline by a force F = 50 N parallel to it. The incline ...
  A: First make a freebody diagram labeling all of the forces acting on the cart as it is pulled up the ...
Electricity3/14/2009
  Q: Can you please help me with Numerical response 8 and multiply choice question 14-16 on this site: ...
  A: 8) To find the number of excess electrons divide the charge of the oil drop by the charge of a ...
light3/13/2009
  Q: could you help me with this? when astronomers observe a supernova explosion in a distant galaxy, ...
  A: Of course! If the different colors [frequencies] of light traveled at the different speeds they ...
Algebra Physics3/13/2009
  Q: A father pulls his 25-kg daughter on a 5-kg sled across a snowy field. If the father pulls on the ...
  A: First make a freebody diagram. In this case there should be 3 forces: a normal force of the ground ...
Magnetic Fields3/12/2009
  Q: A particle undergoes uniform circular motion of radius 12.5 micronmeters in a uniform magnetic ...
  A: Because this is a charged particle moving in a circular path this is a Newton's 2nd law problem ...
Fan with louver3/11/2009
  Q: I have a freezing unit with 4 fans. The fans are 35" in diameter. I believe the rotation of the ...
  A: Depends on what you are trying to achieve! If you are looking for maximum air flow leave the louvers ...
Physics3/10/2009
  Q: My Question is attached. I tried to solved by finding tension force and then find the theata, but i ...
  A: a. The angles will be the same! If you make a force diagram for either ball you will get a vertical ...
Physics problem3/10/2009
  Q: A tank that is 62 meters away is approaching you at a speed of 6 m/s. Your cannon currently is set ...
  A: To solve this problem you will need to calculate the position of both the tank and the projectile ...
physics3/8/2009
  Q: A wheel's uniform angular acceleration is constant. Initially its angular velocity is zero. During ...
  A: The thing to be aware of when doing rotational motion is that the relationships among the variables ...
Thermodynamics3/6/2009
  Q: I taught AP B Physics for 30 years and am now retired but still tutoring. This question was asked by ...
  A: Seems pretty pathetic! Is it possible that the overall efficiency of electrical power delivery is ...
help plz3/6/2009
  Q: I’ve some questions Can u help me with them please? Q1. One car travels due east at 40Km/h, and ...
  A: Q1. No! Since velocity is a vector both direction and magnitude matter. For example, suppose that ...
Orbital Physics problems3/4/2009
  Q: recently my physics class has been working on problems concerning the periods of planets and other ...
  A: If an asteroid is orbiting the sun, it is moving in a circular path and is, therefore, following ...
motion3/3/2009
  Q: i've several Qs can u help me plz!! Q1. A horse canters away from its trainer in a straight line, ...
  A: Q1. The issue here is the difference between "speed" and "velocity". Speed is "distance" divided by ...
mechanics3/3/2009
  Q: A beam AB 5m long is supported at A & B carries two point load W1 and W2 of 3N & 5N which are 1m ...
  A: I am making the following assumptions: Force A is upwards at the left end Force B is upwards at the ...
Oscillations3/2/2009
  Q: A solid sphere of radius r is placed at the bottom of a spherical bowl of radius R.When pushed ...
  A: Good point! If you apply this, the restoring force F becomes: F=m*g*x/R-Ff While the frictional ...
physics problem3/2/2009
  Q: A 1500 kg car can accelerate from rest to 72 km/hr in 8.0 sec. What is the net force acting on the ...
  A: This problem can most easily solved by making use of the "impulse" equation - a variation on ...
Physics3/1/2009
  Q: As shown below, two blocks on an inclined plane are connected to each other by a light string ...
  A: The freebody diagram for this system should include the following forces: m1: Fg1*sin(Q) [the ...
Oscillations2/27/2009
  Q: A solid sphere of radius r is placed at the bottom of a spherical bowl of radius R.When pushed ...
  A: Tough question that I have never come upon before! Here is my analysis. As the ball is displaced ...
physics2/26/2009
  Q: an object with a mass of 10kg slids upwards on a slippery vertical wall. a force of 60 N acts at an ...
  A: I assume from the wording of the problem that the vertical surface is frictionless. I am likewise ...
Momentum2/26/2009
  Q: Two particles of mass m1 = 1.4 kg and m2 = 2.3 kg are traveling with velocities v1 = 4.7 m/s, and ...
  A: Since momentum is a vector quantity you will need to find the momentum of each object separately and ...
Physics homework help2/25/2009
  Q: Please help to show me how to do this problem. Two blocks, one of mass 5.0 kg and the other of ...
  A: This is a Newton's 2nd Law program where the sum of the external forces SF acting on the system will ...
problem2/23/2009
  Q: a hockey ball of mass 200g travelling at 10m/s is struck by a hockey stick so as to return it along ...
  A: Momentum is equal to the product of mass and velocity and is a vector quantity. The incoming ...
Conservative Energy forces2/21/2009
  Q: 1) A woman carries a large bucket of water to the top of a 40m tower at a constant upward speed. The ...
  A: 1) Seems to me that is this first problem you should be able to determine the work done by the ...
physics2/20/2009
  Q: A sailboat is moving at a constant velocity of 8 km/h eastward.Describe two opposing forces acting ...
  A: In order for the boat to move forward at a constant speed the force of the wind acting on the boat ...
Work Done2/20/2009
  Q: A crate of mass 28 kg is pushed up a ramp by a person, at a 30 degree angle. Assume the coefficient ...
  A: Work done is equal to the force required to move the object times the distance the object is moved. ...
magnetism2/19/2009
  Q: Why are nickle and iron magnetic?
  A: All materials fall into three different categories with respect to magnetism: ferromagnetic, ...
auto accident-How fast?2/19/2009
  Q: How fast does a 1993 acura weighing approximately 2560 lbs have to be going to hit a back wheel on ...
  A: I am sure that this is not a complete analysis, but here is at least a partial solution. First ...
charges in particles2/17/2009
  Q: what is actually the meaning of charges? a proton has positive charge and an electron has a negative ...
  A: I can't really say WHY particles have charge, only that they do. NO ONE really knows why! Charge is ...
Batteries2/16/2009
  Q: I was just wondering, when 3 identical cells are connected in series across a filament, in which ...
  A: If three identical cells are connected in series with a light bulb they should all discharge at the ...
specific gravity2/15/2009
  Q: I am studying for my Marine engine driver grade 2 (MED 2)certificate and I am stuck on a few ...
  A: Specific gravity just refers to how the density of something compares with the density of water ...
Weight vs Engery2/14/2009
  Q: If you have a large box full of Canaries(birds) on their perch and place this on a scale and weight ...
  A: The weight of the box will be the same whether the birds are flying or not! The only way that the ...
Circular Motion2/13/2009
  Q: A car is travelling with a constant speed of 27 m/s. The car is equipped with 205/65 R15 tires that ...
  A: The interesting thing about this problem is that the centripetal acceleration of the stone lodged in ...
Circular Motion2/12/2009
  Q: In recent years, a number of nearby stars have been found to possess planets. Suppose, the orbital ...
  A: This is a Newton's 2nd Law problem, the sum of the forces acting on an object is equal to the mass ...
Inertia2/11/2009
  Q: If a car travels in a circular path at constant speed, is the motion of the car Inertial Frame of ...
  A: In order for a frame of reference to be "inertial" there can be NO accelerations! Since a car ...
Hammer Rotation Puzzler.???2/11/2009
  Q: .. Below is a link that shows a blond Russian lady Hammer thrower (ther are about 4 other ...
  A: I think, from looking at the video, that your observations are due primarily to the positioning of ...
simple math2/10/2009
  Q: I need to know the impact force of a 1 Kg dropped 1m please, I am struggling , would appreciate help ...
  A: The impact force of the dropped mass depends on how long it takes to stop the mass when it contacts ...
charged particles2/10/2009
  Q: How do caheged particles lose their charge? Is it possible to place charged particles in a container ...
  A: Innately charged particles do not lose their charge! Electrons and protons cannot lose there charges ...
physics NYC - waves2/9/2009
  Q: The pendulum of a pendulum clock consists of a 0.99m long rod with a bob of mass 0.40kg. the ...
  A: The basic approach of this problem will be to use energy conservation. As the pendulum swings ...
newton's2nd law2/8/2009
  Q: Standing on an stationary elevetor,there is no net force as the normal reaction=my weight.The cables ...
  A: Both you and the elevator are being accelerated separately by the same planet! When in freefall you ...
Spaghetti2/6/2009
  Q: today i decided to make myself some spaghetti i boiled some water in a pot with about 10 inch ...
  A: Fluid convection! As the flame below the pot heats the water in the center of the pot, the water ...
Newton's 2nd Law2/4/2009
  Q: Recently I was tobogganing with my little brother. After racing to the bottom of the hill (which I ...
  A: Forgetting about rolling for a moment, when you toboggan down the hill, the mass, in general, will ...
Third Law2/2/2009
  Q: I cannot lift myself up by pulling on my own hair but I can pull myself up a rope tied to the ...
  A: When you pull up on your hair, your hair pulls down on your hand! When you pull down on a rope ...
Harmonics2/2/2009
  Q: A two end open pipe organ's 5th harmonic produces a frequency of 3 beats per second with a tuning ...
  A: If there is a beat frequency of 3Hz, the resonant frequency of the organ pipe must either be 3Hz ...
Correspondence Physics2/1/2009
  Q: Sir, I am sure you are watching the Superbowl this afternoon, but this far away member of the ...
  A: In my experience physics almost always needs a teacher - even for the best of students. Physics can ...
physics1/29/2009
  Q: A 1.60-m-tall girl throws a football at an angle of 41.0 degrees from the horizontal and at an ...
  A: All two dimensional kinematics problems are solved in the same way! In kinematics there are six ...
Banked Curves1/29/2009
  Q: Is there still friction -static or kinetic- present even when the highway is banked at an angle at ...
  A: If the curve is banked so that no friction is required, then there will be no friction! How could it ...
Physics - Balanced Forces - Resolving Resultant Forces1/27/2009
  Q: 1) A point object of weight 6.2N is acted on by a horizontal forced of 3.8N. Calculate the resultant ...
  A: Since these two vectors are perpendicular you can find the resultant by using the Pythagorean ...
physics1/26/2009
  Q: A 1500 kg car traveling at 90 km/h east collides with a 1000 kg car traveling at 60 km/h south. The ...
  A: The generic solution for any momentum conservation problem is given by: m1*v1+m2*v2=m1*v3+m2*v4. In ...
Physics problem .. please step by step1/26/2009
  Q: A toy rocket, of mass 0.12 g, achieves a velocity of 40 m/s after 3.0 s when fired straight up. What ...
  A: First, let me say that I am assuming that the mass of the rocket is 0.12kg or 120 grams, not 0.12 ...
physics/collisions1/25/2009
  Q: two identical vehicles are zooming at each other at equal but opposite speeds and they crash head ...
  A: Since these two vehicles have the same mass and opposite velocities, the final velocity of each ...
should we spend time in the sun1/24/2009
  Q: hi i am writing to see if you can should we spend time in the sun i am doing it at school and i am ...
  A: There are two very different aspects to this question! On one hand the ultraviolet light given off ...
Does surface area effect friction when mass stays the same?1/23/2009
  Q: Does surface area effect friction when mass stays the same? Say for hard plastic wheels on hard wood ...
  A: Contrary to your intuition, surface area does not directly affect the frictional force between two ...
Pulley1/22/2009
  Q: Consider two masses m1 and m2 connected by a thin string in opposite ends on a pulley. Assume the ...
  A: This problem is a Newton's 2nd problem: SF=m*a where SF is the sum of the external forces acting on ...
freeze point for water under pressure1/21/2009
  Q: Is there a chart showing at what temperature water will freeze under pressure? For example, at zero ...
  A: If you go to http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/water/phase.html you will find a graph plotting the melting point ...
Thermodynamics1/20/2009
  Q: How will you explain that the efficiency of a heat engine cannot be 100% in terms of heat absorbed ...
  A: In order for a heat engine to work you need two reservoirs at different temperatures. Consider, for ...
an improvised hot air ballon1/19/2009
  Q: why does the hot air ballon flew when you just use candle and plastic? What area in physics does it ...
  A: Hot air balloons work because the density of hot air is much less than the density of cooler air! ...
for physics1/18/2009
  Q: What was wrong with Newton's corpuscular theory of light?
  A: Perhaps not as much as you might think! Throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries a lot of effort ...
Overall wieght calculation1/17/2009
  Q: If a motorcycle is travelling at 40mph and weighs 214kgs and collides into an object without and ...
  A: The answer to this question is determined by two factors: how long did the collision take and what ...
Elasticity1/17/2009
  Q: Why Rubber does not obey Hook's Law though it possesses elasticity?
  A: Whether or not a substance/object obeys Hooke's Law depends on what the object is made from and its ...
Electric field within wire1/16/2009
  Q: If I have a wire and use a battery to apply a potential difference between the two ends, do I get an ...
  A: Absolutely! Why would the electrons move through the wire in the absence of a force. After all, the ...
global warming1/10/2009
  Q: In your expert opinion, what effect does melting ice cover (in Greenland, Arctic,Antarctic, etc.) ...
  A: I a not really an expert in this field, however, there are a number of things that a physicist can ...
Physics1/7/2009
  Q: A hockey player is standing on his skates on a frozen pond when an opposing player, moving with a ...
  A: This is a kinematics problem that requires you to set up two data tables: one for the first skater, ...
A tough one (of 2)1/5/2009
  Q: I see you "have a particular interest in modern physics topics." That's good, because another expert ...
  A: I think the problem here is that you are assuming a mass density of the universe that is MUCH higher ...
non-ferrous metal1/4/2009
  Q: James, I have a twenty-five foot tall Aluminum light pole in my Pennsylvania yard. It was a former ...
  A: Your flagpole is a "simple harmonic oscillator" with a relatively high "quality value"! What does ...
Physics1/2/2009
  Q: A 4.3 g bullet leaves the muzzle of a rifle with a speed of 338 m/s. What force (assumed constant) ...
  A: First treat the problem as a kinematics problem to determine the acceleration of the bullet. There ...
Creation of energy1/1/2009
  Q: If energy cannot be created, why in a hot air generator prototype which uses a friction-adiabatic ...
  A: I am not exactly familiar with what you are referring to, but when you compress a gas adiabatically ...
magnetism12/30/2008
  Q: I would like to convert the strength of magnets that are measured in pounds (the kind you buy in the ...
  A: You cannot get from one to the other in any simple way. However, the magnetic field strength of such ...
Water and Gravity12/30/2008
  Q: I'm trying to figure out what the effect of higher gravity/lower gravity would be on water. For ...
  A: If gravity was 2x Earth gravity: Surface temperature would remain the same, however, that surface ...
how does terminal velocity vary with the shape of object12/29/2008
  Q: I wanted to ask if terminal velocity will vary if I use objects of different sizes. Example-which ...
  A: Shape matters a great deal and is not easy to model. However, if the shape remains the same but the ...
internal resistance of battery12/28/2008
  Q: What factors are affected inside a battery that leads to a change in internal resistance when the ...
  A: I think that you and I are using the word "capacity" very differently. It is my understanding that ...
Mechanics12/27/2008
  Q: This question was on my final for mechanics. A 5 kg block rests on a frictionless hill angled at a ...
  A: As I understand your question this is a system at equilibrium. If so, the force of gravity on the 15 ...
internal resistance of battery12/26/2008
  Q: What factors are affected inside a battery that leads to a change in internal resistance when the ...
  A: As the temperature of a battery is increased the rate of the chemical reaction increases which in ...
internal resistance of battery12/26/2008
  Q: What factors are affected inside a battery that leads to a change in internal resistance when the ...
  A: Batteries work because there is a chemical reaction within the battery that does work on charge ...
Electricity12/25/2008
  Q: Sir will you pls explain me how a resistance box works?
  A: I can't speak for all resistance boxes, but the ones that I use in my classroom have carbon ...
Blu-Ray laser12/24/2008
  Q: Why are blu-ray lasers higher power than ordinary CD/DVD player lasers? Is this because the ...
  A: It is not a matter of more energy! Rather it is a matter of wavelength! Blue light has a smaller ...
electromagnetism12/21/2008
  Q: Can you tell me please, why a neon tube traversed by an electric current doesn't attract ...
  A: The current in a neon tube is AC rather than DC. This means that the average field near the neon ...
ladder problem.12/19/2008
  Q: I'm trying to calculate how high a 490N person can climb up a ladder before it starts to slide out ...
  A: This problem requires the application of Newton's 1st Law with application of the two conditions ...
Dark Matter12/18/2008
  Q: What is dark matter and what has the most recent research into the subject revealed about its ...
  A: Dark matter is matter that does not radiate detectable radiation and as a result is seemingly ...
kinetic energy12/18/2008
  Q: what is the diffrence between kinetic energy and work and how is that there is a kinetic energy for ...
  A: Work occurs when a force is applied and as a result motion occurs - the force being applied must be ...
electric potential12/17/2008
  Q: what is meant by electric potential and what is the negative work
  A: Electric potential is a lot like gravitational potential. If work is done to lift a box onto a ...
how does color affect heating by absorption of light12/15/2008
  Q: i am in the 8th grade and i am doing a science fair project on the above subject and didn't know if ...
  A: Generally speaking, the darker the color, the more light energy that is absorbed and converted into ...
Coulomb's Law12/14/2008
  Q: "Hi, I'm having alot of trouble understanding the basics of Coulomb's law. For one thing I can't get ...
  A: The electrostatic force between two charged particles is given by F=k*q1*q2/R^2. This means that the ...
Force distance traveled in air question12/13/2008
  Q: This is a 9/11 towers physics question. I am trying to remember my physics and was wondering if you ...
  A: From an energy conservation point of view this is entirely possible. Let me give you an example! ...
Torque Calculation12/11/2008
  Q: How do I calculate the torque required to turn a shaft? I know torque = Force x radius but I do not ...
  A: You will need to find out how much force is needed to rotate the drum first. The torque required ...
physics investigatory project12/8/2008
  Q: what is the easiest physics investigatory project to be done? our teacher have told us that we ...
  A: Where can I begin? There is literally an infinite number of choices since physics is about ...
motion12/7/2008
  Q: Kovalcin,here is my physics problem: An airplane with a speed of 200 mi/h is heading 30.0 degrees ...
  A: You are correct that the problem is a vector addition problem. Because the velocity of the airplane ...
Paperweight/Fluids12/4/2008
  Q: James, I have this problem that I really don't know how to do. I tried this 2 -3 times but I like ...
  A: When immersed in a liquid the decrease in apparent weight is equal to the weight of the displaced ...
area of flow of electron in a conductor12/3/2008
  Q: From where the electrons flow in a conductor ?from conductor's suface or under its surface ?
  A: The electrons flow throughout the interior of the conductor. That is why the resistance of a wire is ...
PHYSICS 11 QUESTION12/2/2008
  Q: what is the maximum acceleration a car can undergo on level ground if the static coefficient of ...
  A: The only force available to accelerate a car on a horizontal surface is the force of friction. ...
kinetic energy..12/2/2008
  Q: i was wondering if u can help me with these questions 1) In pool, when the cue ball hits another ...
  A: When one pool ball strikes another energy is not eh only thing to consider. More importantly is the ...
Electrolysis cleaning12/1/2008
  Q: How/why does the electrolysis process clean corrosion off of things?
  A: In electrolysis some of the metal is dissolved by the flow of current. As this metal is dissolved it ...
conductors11/30/2008
  Q: if there is a charge placed (not exactly in center), of a hollow spherical conductor, then how will ...
  A: Any Gaussian surface surrounding the charge within the hollow spherical shell will predict an ...
PHYSICS11/29/2008
  Q: We know 2+2 is 4, but can physics present a working model as to how a cell upon cenception becomes ...
  A: The most recent estimate is that the total mass-energy of the universe is very close to zero - and ...
conductors11/28/2008
  Q: if there is a charge placed (not exactly in center), of a hollow spherical conductor, then how will ...
  A: No matter where the charge is placed within the conducting sphere the electric field lines outside ...
PHYSICS11/26/2008
  Q: We know 2+2 is 4, but can physics present a working model as to how a cell upon cenception becomes ...
  A: There is no implication at all that when a cell divides that something comes from nothing. You are ...
Egg drop-11/26/2008
  Q: We have been asked to build a vehicle that would safely carry an egg from a height of fifty feet. ...
  A: The goal in this kind of activity is to make the time of the actual collision take the longest ...
buoyancy11/25/2008
  Q: Does a sunken ship sitting on the ocean floor have a buoyant force on it? I'm certain this relates ...
  A: The buoyant force on a submerged object is equal to the weight of the displaced liquid. For example ...
Help on inclined planes11/23/2008
  Q: I need some help in a physics lab report that I am writing. In our lab, we wanted to calculate the ...
  A: The coefficient of friction mu would equal the tangent of the angle of the incline a ONLY if the ...
Help on inclined planes11/22/2008
  Q: I need some help in a physics lab report that I am writing. In our lab, we wanted to calculate the ...
  A: You actually already seem to be on the right track. If a mass is to pushed up an inclined plane at a ...
Flu11/21/2008
  Q: Mr. James I have doubt on this question. Ive been trying this fro quite some time, but i dont know ...
  A: The weight of an object is equal to the mass m of the object times the gravitational force constant ...
Physics-Pressure etc.11/21/2008
  Q: Hey Sir, Hope your doing alright. I have a question I need help on. I request you to please take a ...
  A: Assuming that the flat side of the brick is facing down, first calculate the area of the brick in ...
Magnet Powered rotation11/18/2008
  Q: Referring to the previous question, you said "No such motor is possible" could you tell me what is ...
  A: What is impossible is the construction of a motor [magnetic or otherwise] that is capable of ...
Magnetic Motors11/17/2008
  Q: I have a question - do magnetic motors - ie magnet powered motors or devices violate the laws of ...
  A: I watched the video and am sorry to say that it is wishful thinking only! No such motor is possible. ...
Magnetic Motors11/17/2008
  Q: I have a question - do magnetic motors - ie magnet powered motors or devices violate the laws of ...
  A: I am still a bit confused by your question because ALL electric motors are "magnet motors"! I ...
Optics11/16/2008
  Q: Sir, I'd like to know why objects light in colour radiate the light falling on them while dark ...
  A: Whether or not a surface absorbs or reflects light depends on the nature of the electron orbitals in ...
Magnetic Motors11/16/2008
  Q: I have a question - do magnetic motors - ie magnet powered motors or devices violate the laws of ...
  A: Of course not! If they did they wouldn't work. The "Laws of Physics" are NOT optional! What is it ...
Water dipole11/15/2008
  Q: Why is water a polar molecule / dipole with the hydrogen atoms in one end of the water molecule? I ...
  A: What you are ignoring is that atoms are held together not by just an electrostatic force between the ...
Physics11/14/2008
  Q: A proton (m = 1.67 x 10-27 kg) traveling at 300 with respect to a 5.2 mT magnetic field lines ...
  A: The magnetic force on a moving charged particle is given by: Fm=q*VxB where q is the charge of the ...
force11/13/2008
  Q: Where do forces come from? And can a body, in and of itself, possess a force as it possesses other ...
  A: There are actually very few forces in nature: the electromagnetic [or electroweak] force - the force ...
Effects of taking x-ray twice in a month or week11/12/2008
  Q: What are the effects of taking x-ray twice in a month or week? What if after doing so, I experience ...
  A: Unless this is a very special situation, the dose received from each xray is VERY low compared to ...
Sound Phenomena and the Doppler Effect11/10/2008
  Q: This is the last question for a couple of weeks, I promise =O] Bats emit sounds of frequencies ...
  A: The frequency heard from a moving source and by a moving observer is given by: ...
Linear Momentum and Collisions11/9/2008
  Q: A projectile that is fired from a gun has an initial velocity of 90.0km/h at an angle of 60.0 ...
  A: One of the alternative interpretations of momentum conservation is that in an isolated system the ...
Momentum11/9/2008
  Q: A pendulum consists of a mass M hanging at the bottom end of a massless rod of length l, which has a ...
  A: This problem has 2 parts. In the first part momentum conservation is used to determine the velocity ...
Angle of Third Class Lever11/8/2008
  Q: A 1200 cm long third class lever is placed so that one end is on a flat surface (ie. the floor) and ...
  A: I believe that you are ignoring the force exerted by the fulcrum acting on the lever arm. This will ...
formula for lift11/7/2008
  Q: I have done a hot air balloon experiment and now I'm trying to find it's lift. i have got: Lift = CL ...
  A: I do not see that you actually have the lift! The lift of a balloon would be equal to the difference ...
Angle of Third Class Lever11/5/2008
  Q: A 1200 cm long third class lever is placed so that one end is on a flat surface (ie. the floor) and ...
  A: This problem is a torque problem. From a practical point of view this means that for a system to be ...
Physics - Energy/Momentum11/4/2008
  Q: A 2 kg block is compressed by a spring of force constant 300 N/m by 4.5 cm. If the block-spring ...
  A: The first part of this problem can be solved using the concept of energy conservation - the total ...
Physics - Energy/Momentum11/4/2008
  Q: A 600g basketball is moving 10m/s when it hits a blackboard at 90degrees. The ball bounces off at a ...
  A: This problem uses the "impulse" equation, which is a form of Newton's 2nd Law written in terms of ...
Physics11/2/2008
  Q: A daredevil decides to jump a canyon of width 10 meters. To do so she drives a motorcycle up an ...
  A: All two dimensional kinematics problems can be solved using the exact same procedure; identify the ...
kinematic formulas11/2/2008
  Q: my teacher gave me these to formulas Vf=Vi+at and deltaX(DX)=Vit+.5at^2 i am supposed to use ...
  A: Start with the two kinematics equations: Df=1/2*a*t^2+Vo*t+Do and Vf=a*t+Vo Solve the velocity ...
projectiles/10/31/2008
  Q: how fast must a projectile moving horizontally travel so that the curve it follows matches the curve ...
  A: Turns out that there is a surprisingly easy way to solve this problem! If the projectile is to ...
braking or turning?10/30/2008
  Q: a car is approaching a wall at V m/s velocity, is it better to turn the car keeping the velocity ...
  A: The real question is "What acceleration will be required to avoid hitting the wall?". So let's solve ...
hints to solve this problem10/29/2008
  Q: I'm stuck with this question so if possible I need some hints to start solving it: A light string ...
  A: The tension in a string causing an object to move in a circular path is given by: Fc=m*v^2/R. In ...
braking or turning?10/29/2008
  Q: a car is approaching a wall at V m/s velocity, is it better to turn the car keeping the velocity ...
  A: I don't think the problem can be answered the way you have asked it. It all depends on whether or ...
Question10/28/2008
  Q: how r ya... i having trouble with this problem. if you would please take a look at it and explain , ...
  A: The momentum of the blood will have to be equal in magnitude to the momentum of the body: ...
Need HElp!10/28/2008
  Q: Hey Sir, I need your help real quick on this problem. I hope you can help, I tried this problem a ...
  A: In a closed system the total momentum remains constant. In this case, since there are two objects, ...
Physics of sound10/27/2008
  Q: I'm so stuck. I just don't know where to start please help :0 What are the first four resonant ...
  A: The smallest part of a sound wave that will resonate within a tube either open at both ends [an ...
physics10/27/2008
  Q: An airplane starts from rest and accelerates at a constant 3.10 m/s2 for 31.0 s before leaving the ...
  A: All one dimensional problems of this type can be solved in the exact same way. All kinematics ...
Momentum10/24/2008
  Q: Hey Mr. James, I tried this problem a couple of times. I did the momentum formula and stuff, and ...
  A: This problem involves center of mass. As long as there are no unbalanced external forces acting on a ...
Earth and ocean10/23/2008
  Q: We know that when a tank is filled with water ,the level of the water (waterlevel)is a plane(surface ...
  A: I have attached a diagram that I hope will help. Each arc has the same length, but notice that for ...
Tension10/21/2008
  Q: I was just wondering if you could explain the concept of tension to me. Is it correct that if you ...
  A: The stretch of the rope should not matter except in the sense that the rope may, if fact, have some ...
Pendulum force10/19/2008
  Q: I am a junior high school student and I need to have a formula that will tell me the tangential ...
  A: The force exerted by the bob during a collision will depend on how long the collision takes to ...
Magnet Car10/19/2008
  Q: So I asked this question to another Expert, and he couldn't seem to answer. I asked whether or not a ...
  A: This won't work because there is NO unbalanced acting on the car in this situation. Sure, the magnet ...
physics (i think it is)10/18/2008
  Q: How can you make liquid nitrogen and how come it jumps up and down?
  A: Liquid nitrogen is made by using a process very similar to that which is used in an air-conditioner ...
Pendulum force10/17/2008
  Q: I am a junior high school student and I need to have a formula that will tell me the tangential ...
  A: I assume that you don't really mean the "tangential" force at the bottom of the swing because that ...
Calculation Help10/17/2008
  Q: I have been asked a question which is outside my knowledge, I dont know if you can assist... There ...
  A: I am making the following assumptions: that there is NO significant frictional force between the ...
How much friction force must the brake apply to the rim to bring the disk to a halt in 3.0 s?10/16/2008
  Q: The 2.2 kg, 40 cm diameter disk in the figure below is spinning at 380 rpm. How much friction force ...
  A: This problem is a combination of two distinct different problem types: kinematics and Newton's 2nd ...
Mechanical advantage10/16/2008
  Q: Kovalcin, I would like to know whether Mechanical advantage could be used to generate power.Whether ...
  A: Not at all! Simple machines do NOT create energy! All they do is to convert one type of energy into ...
superconductivity10/15/2008
  Q: i was just wondering if you knew how to get a superconductor higher off a magnetic track? Would ...
  A: Even in the case of magnetic levitation trains the train only floats a centimeter or so above the ...
bouyancy as a force10/14/2008
  Q: i have a float a hollow cube 100mm x 30mm x 100mm deep i am using this float to close off an airway ...
  A: A floating object will follow Newton's 1st Law; if a system is at equilibrium opposite forces must ...
Physics, Kinematics Review10/13/2008
  Q: I am having difficulty truly understanding how to solve relative motion problems? The professor ...
  A: a. To head directly across the stream she must aim the boat upstream so that the component of the ...
Forces of Friction10/12/2008
  Q: I would like to know how to solve this problem. A block accelerates 3.1 m/s^2 down a plane inclined ...
  A: Unfortunately, there is not enough information given to solve this problem as stated. Since the ...
Coefficient of restitution10/12/2008
  Q: If you drop a ball on the ground and calculate the coefficient of restitution as the square root of ...
  A: The component of the ball's velocity parallel to the surface will not cause the ball to collide with ...
black body radiation10/11/2008
  Q: suppose there is a black body in a room at T temperature and the temperature of the room is T and ...
  A: Assuming that the surrounding room's temperature remains constant, then your analysis is correct. ...
physics-- projectiles and 2d motion10/10/2008
  Q: A ball is thrown from the top of a building upwards at an angle of 46 degrees to the horizontal and ...
  A: All 2 dimensional kinematics problems can be solved in the same way. First of all, any kinematics ...
Coefficient of restitution10/9/2008
  Q: If you drop a ball on the ground and calculate the coefficient of restitution as the square root of ...
  A: The coefficient of restitution should only depend on the component of the velocity perpendicular to ...
Hazards of 400 nm lasers?10/8/2008
  Q: What hazards -- other than thermal burns -- does a 400-nanometer-wavelength continuous [i.e. ...
  A: By definition a class 4 laser burns skin! The fact that the light is near to ultraviolet does not ...
Weight and Force I think10/8/2008
  Q: i read this question that Eric A Cornells (Nobel Prize Physics 2001) father teased him with when ...
  A: I believe that your initial analysis is correct. In order for the bees to remain air born their ...
Physics/mechanics10/7/2008
  Q: Alright so we've started mechanics and I'm having trouble with alot of the practise questions we've ...
  A: This problem requires the use to two separate ideas, Newton's 2nd Law, as you have already noted, ...
Electric Field and Application10/7/2008
  Q: What is the importance/relevance to know the electric field distribution of a electrical apparatus? ...
  A: Not quite sure about the context of your question, but if the electric field in an electronic device ...
Helium balloons10/5/2008
  Q: Just curious about the Helium balloons in free air. I saw in 'Nat Geo - What would happen if ?'some ...
  A: Keep in mind that the Helium balloon is is LIGHTER than air and so, behaves like an ice cube ...
voltage across inductor10/4/2008
  Q: we performed an experiment on how inductor behaves in R-L series circuit.......... the peak to peak ...
  A: Since I do not know the exact circuit you are using I can't really answer you question fully. ...
Boiling of water10/4/2008
  Q: My question is about the changes that water undergoes as it boils. I understand that as water is ...
  A: The high speed of the molecules is such that the electrostatic bond between adjacent molecules is ...
simple circular acceleration physics10/3/2008
  Q: So, I have a problem, here it is The rotor (the figure below) is an amusement park ride where people ...
  A: When you stand along the wall in the Rotor while rotating there are 3 forces acting on you: Fg down ...
Projectile Motion10/3/2008
  Q: A car needs to jump a river 110 meters wide off of a ramp, if the ramp is raised 5 degrees and the ...
  A: All problems of this type are solved in the same way! All freefall problems involve 6 different ...
Projectile Motion10/1/2008
  Q: A ball is thrown from a point 1.0 m above the ground. The initial velocity is 19.6 m/s at an angle ...
  A: All 2 dimensional kinematics problems can be solved in the same way. First of all, any kinematics ...
physics9/30/2008
  Q: a force of 80 newtons is exerted on an object on a frictionless surface for a distance of 4 meters. ...
  A: This problem requires a combination of Newton's 2nd Law [to determine the acceleration] and ...
Newton's Laws of Motion9/29/2008
  Q: I would like to seek your guidance on the following problem with respect to the concept of inertial ...
  A: The speed of the lift [elevator in the US] will make NO difference as long as it is constant! ALL ...
Newton's Third Law9/29/2008
  Q: I would lke to make sure that i finally understand newtons third law. If I am pushing on a marble ...
  A: What you are describing is not Newton's 3rd Law! The 3rd Law says nothing about other forces acting ...
electricity9/28/2008
  Q: sir i want to ask that is transformer an inductor? if it is an inductor so wh does not it blocks ac ...
  A: An inductor is typically made up from a solenoid, a coil whose length is greater than its diameter. ...
physics problem9/27/2008
  Q: When you lift a bowling ball with a force of 82 N, the ball accelerates upward with an acceleration ...
  A: To answer this question apply Newton's 2nd Law twice! According to Newton's 2nd Law, the sum of the ...
Your reply on the charged Rod Question9/27/2008
  Q: Hey, someone asked the following question and you kindly answered in detail, yet, i couldnt ...
  A: The linear charge density is, as you have noted, equal to the charge divided by the length. But in ...
ELECTRIC CIRCUITS9/26/2008
  Q: SIR , WE DEFINR ELECTRIC CURRENT AS THE " RATE OF FLOW OF ELECTRONS " . MY QUESTION IS THAT ...
  A: The flow of electric current actually falls into to different types: drift velocity and propagation ...
Friction9/24/2008
  Q: When a block rests on a truck that is moving with uniform velocity, the block also moves with the ...
  A: The underlying assumptions of this problem are not correct as stated. If a truck is moving down the ...
Magnetism9/23/2008
  Q: 1) How do you determine whether the magnetic force will go into or out of page? What does it mean ...
  A: The thing that is special about magnetic fields is that the force exerted on a charged particle ...
gravitation9/21/2008
  Q: why is the gravitational potential enrergy of a body on mass m the surface of earth in the ...
  A: Since we expect that "universal gravitation" will be applicable everywhere in the universe we have ...
LHC9/20/2008
  Q: I have read on the CERN website that black holes produced in the LHC could settle in the earths core ...
  A: I don't know where you read this about mini black holes, but this is not, to the best of my ...
with concept of physics9/20/2008
  Q: Is the torque changed when a partner on a seesaw stands or hangs from herend instead of sitting? ...
  A: How you sit or stand on the see-saw does NOT affect the torque exerted. What does matter is WHERE ...
Relative sizes of nutrino and quark9/19/2008
  Q: According to current theory, which is larger: a neutrino or a quark? Many thanks, Steve
  A: "Size" may not be the right word, however, quite clearly the total mass-energy of a quark is MUCH ...
momentum9/17/2008
  Q: Which should be the best on knocking the bear down- a lead bullet or a rubber bullet with the same ...
  A: Because the density of the lead bullet is greater than the rubber bullet, its cross section will be ...
small electromagnets9/14/2008
  Q: I have a question about electromagnets I was wondering if you could help me with. How small can an ...
  A: They can be any size you want. The only real limit is how small of a coil can you turn. Small is ...
gravitation9/13/2008
  Q: sir few questions on gravitation 1) the gravitational force is inversly proportional to the ditance ...
  A: 1. Your analysis is correct. 2. It does! But the distance moved by the earth is infinitesimally ...
Falling Objects (neglected air resistance)9/13/2008
  Q: I am a High School student taking a Physics course. I am stuck in the following question and would ...
  A: All one dimensional kinematics questions can be solved in the same way. There are 6 possible ...
Visible Neutrino Collisons9/11/2008
  Q: I am aware that neutrinos can be detected when there is a collison with a regular particle, and a ...
  A: What is possible and what is likely are very different! The likelihood that you would be looking in ...
Holograms9/11/2008
  Q: I had an interest in the technology of making holograms of very large areas (outdoors in ...
  A: I am certainly no expert in all phases of holography, but I do know the basic process. In a typical ...
Particle accelerators9/10/2008
  Q: In light of recent global news, my question is:- The particle accelerator being used in France to ...
  A: The accelerator at Cern has been upgraded with new superconducting magnets and many other parts ...
friction9/9/2008
  Q: sir we were doing this practical in physics of finding the coeeficient of static friction using an ...
  A: Theoretically, the angle at which the object slides down the incline depends ONLY of the angle of ...
Physics9/9/2008
  Q: Suppose 0.6 cubic meter of oil is spilled into the ocean. Find the area of the resulting slick, ...
  A: Treat the oil slick as if it were a pancake where the volume of the pancake would be equal to the ...
Physics: thermodynamics9/8/2008
  Q: I'm having to do a project on thermodynamics and I was wanting to know; is there thermodynamics on a ...
  A: I wouldn't use a roller coaster as an example of the application of thermodynamics. Sure there is ...
Mechanics: Motion9/6/2008
  Q: I had trouble figuring this question out...The answer is supposed to be 5kg but I keep getting 7 kg ...
  A: Intuitively! If the body is accelerating upward with an acceleration of 4m/s^2 the effective ...
electrons slow down9/3/2008
  Q: Apparently the motion of an electron around an atom nucleus resembles an endless motion. In other ...
  A: I know this won't be very helpful, but our model of electrons asserts that electrons, like all ...
alternating current in houses9/2/2008
  Q: If the electricity current delivered to our houses is an alternating current it should reverse its ...
  A: The "hot" wire in a circuit is the source of the force [EMF] that pushes and then pulls the ...
Physics9/2/2008
  Q: How do i calculate the gravitational force between the earth and the moon. F= G m1m1/d2
  A: As you have already noted, the force between two masses, m1 & m2, is given by: Fg=G*m1*m2/r^2 where ...
balance and torque8/21/2008
  Q: i want to ask 1) when we sit on bicycle or a two wheeler which is not parked on its stand, and our ...
  A: 1. When a bicycle is moving, the wheels are rotating. Rotating wheels have a physics quantity known ...
physics8/21/2008
  Q: A girl is playing tennis against a wall. She hits hte tennis ball from a height of 0.5m above the ...
  A: All 2 dimensional kinematics problems of this type can be solved in the exact same way. First of ...
Quick high school physics question8/20/2008
  Q: I just have a quick question from my high school AP Physics class. I know it is an easy problem and ...
  A: Your difficulty here is caused by the fact that you are asking the wrong question! The real question ...
gravitation8/18/2008
  Q: 8 m/s^2) if the earth starts rotating faster around it's axis and if it stop rotating?sir please ...
  A: The acceleration of gravity at the Earth's surface will, in general, be unaffected by the rotational ...
help8/15/2008
  Q: a bullet is fired from a rifle, emerging from the muzzle at 340 meters per seconds. it strikes a ...
  A: I would use kinematics to solve this problem. Since the bullet has lost 10% of its velocity, its ...
Maxwell Equations changed E and B fields8/11/2008
  Q: Based on what I've read about Electromagnetic waves is that a changing Magnetic (B) field causes a ...
  A: The magnetic field is determined NOT by the magnitude of the electric field, but by the RATE OF ...
bicycle sprockets8/10/2008
  Q: Last year I bought a new 17 speed bicycle and have made good use of it. Some of the roads and ...
  A: Sorry, but things will not work out the way you envision. The purpose of either the sprocket system ...
Momentum and collision question8/9/2008
  Q: I hope you can help me find the proper simple equation that can help my students find the following ...
  A: Let me try to answer this question using a different set of numbers. Let's assume that the ...
physic -- friction8/8/2008
  Q: What is the direction of friction acting on a ball rolling in clockwise direction? ANSWER: In ...
  A: If the ball is rolling towards the right on a level, horizontal surface, the frictional force on the ...
Relativity8/8/2008
  Q: So a rocket is traveling at a constant speed of from above half to the actual speed of light. From ...
  A: Not at all! For a moment let's assume that the two rockets are heading in opposite directions at ...
physic -- friction8/7/2008
  Q: What is the direction of friction acting on a ball rolling in clockwise direction?
  A: In general the frictional force will tend to act opposite to the direction of motion of the ball as ...
centre of mass8/5/2008
  Q: sir can you please explain me what is meant by centre of mass and how is it different from centre of ...
  A: The center of mass is that one point on an object where a single force can be applied to that object ...
please help me to answer this problem8/4/2008
  Q: 23.0) a closed system containing a gas undergoes a reversible compression process in which the ...
  A: In a constant pressure problem the work done is equal to the pressure times the change in volume: ...
please help me to answer this problem.8/3/2008
  Q: 18.0) a 1600-kg car is stopped at5 a traffic light proceeding in direction up a 15 degree hill. The ...
  A: Average power is equal to the work done divided by the time required to do the work. In this case ...
please help me to answer this problem.8/3/2008
  Q: 17.0) if a car produces 21 kW when moving with a velocity of 60 km/hr. determine a) the resisting ...
  A: Power is equal to the product of force and velocity: P=F*v That means that in this case the ...
Negative VelocitY?7/13/2008
  Q: To whom it may concern, Some time after I graduated high school I was at work and bored so I ...
  A: There is a perfect video on you tube that addresses this question exactly at ...
angular momentun7/10/2008
  Q: I think I understand the conservation of angular momentum but need clarification on a particular ...
  A: The only issue here is whether the torque causing the orbiting planet to change its angular velocity ...
Potential Energy7/5/2008
  Q: A student lifts a 10N box one meter above the floor, walks 10m with the box and then sets it down ...
  A: The answer is zero! Gravitational potential energy depends on only 3 things: the acceleration of ...
Physics-Matching7/3/2008
  Q: 1.motion 2.chemical 3.rate of doing work 4.unit for power 5.unit for work A.joule B.watt C.potential ...
  A: 1. Effort is the force put into the machine. Given in this problem. 2. The IMA is equal to the ratio ...
Physics True or False7/2/2008
  Q: 1.Teflon,soap,and graphite are all lubricants. 2.tires are designed to increase rolling friction and ...
  A: 1. True - All three substances are designed to reduce the frictin between two surfaces. 2. False - A ...
Physics True or False7/1/2008
  Q: 1. Wind has the ability to do work 2.if you push hard against a wall, you are doing work 3. THe ...
  A: In order for work to occur in the physics sense two conditions MUST be met: a force must be applied ...
electricity6/30/2008
  Q: sir, recently i came across the thevenins theorem and nortons theorem i cdnt understand what is a ...
  A: A constant current source means exactly what it says - the current output will remain constant no ...
step down and step up pulley6/30/2008
  Q: I have a motor that turns at 1700rpm and I need a pulley to increase the rpm to around 10000. the ...
  A: The angular velocity will be inversely proportional to the radii of the 2 pulleys. The linear ...
Projectile Motion6/27/2008
  Q: I am stumped by this seemingly simple physics problem. I have looked around a lot on the web, but it ...
  A: Actually, this problem and virtually ALL two dimensional problems of this type can be solved in the ...
sound and pitch?6/25/2008
  Q: .. I have a couple of problems that I need help solving and was hoping you can help me. 1. how do ...
  A: 1. For an open tube, resonance will occur when the length tube is any integer multiple of 1/2 ...
pressure of a knife6/23/2008
  Q: I read that a knife cuts with a 1000 pounds/square inch. I'm not sure what that means since the edge ...
  A: Suppose that you took a pin whose time was a circle with a diameter of 1/100 of an inch. In this ...
physic - cooling6/22/2008
  Q: If I were to place a tube between the water supply to the swamp cooler and the swamp cooler, having ...
  A: It would be cooler and this is the reason for using ground source water for cooling when practical. ...
RC Circuits6/16/2008
  Q: what are the equations to find the voltage across a resistor and capacitor of a RC Circuit in ...
  A: The current through [not across] circuit elements in series will be constant because, of course, ...
RC Circuits6/16/2008
  Q: what are the equations to find the voltage across a resistor and capacitor of a RC Circuit in ...
  A: Assuming that you start with an uncharged capacitor and you close a switch in series with the ...
PHYSICS: RC Circuits6/15/2008
  Q: what are the equations to find the voltage and capacitance of a RC Circuit in series? The circuit ...
  A: You will need to connect the capacitor in parallel with a resistor and led connected in series. The ...
Physics6/14/2008
  Q: Kovalcin, I am wondering about the behaviour or fluids such as water of fuel in the back of ...
  A: If the truck is freely accelerating down a hill not much would happen at all - I would expect the ...
electrical6/12/2008
  Q: A 100 W, 200V bulb is connected to 100 V supply. what will be the wattage?
  A: Since this bulb is rated at 100 watts at 200 volts and since power equals voltage squared divided by ...
Magnet only pushes in one direction6/10/2008
  Q: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb8wwkdtz0M Can you explain this ?
  A: It is difficult to tell exactly what is going on, but let me make several points. 1. There is no way ...
about electric field6/9/2008
  Q: show that of a charged particle in a transverse uniform electric field is parabolic
  A: If a charged particle moved horizontally through a vertically oriented electric field the resulting ...
kinetic energy6/9/2008
  Q: I am shown a graph as described: left - Force (N) bottom - Displacement (m) The graph starts at 0 ...
  A: The kinetic energy gained by the object will be equal to the work done. [This is called the ...
units6/8/2008
  Q: Sir few very basic questions related to units in meausrement as we hav been introduced to units in ...
  A: One of the key issues of the metric system is to provide units that can easily be determined by any ...
Electricity6/6/2008
  Q: Please trace the flow of electrons from the stepdown transformer at the pole outside my house to the ...
  A: First of all, electrons do NOT flow from the pole into your house and back to the pole at all! All ...
Ask Heat Transfer Question6/6/2008
  Q: I have 3000L hot water with temperature 90 Celcius in a tank with cap. 4000L. I put 50 mm thick ...
  A: Sorry, I hit the wrong button. As stated I can't figure out what the question is. Please check your ...
magnetism6/4/2008
  Q: A DC current flows in a stright wire,a magnetic field is generated aroung its axis according to the ...
  A: A DC current would NOT produce an electric field! An AC current WOULD generate an electric field! ...
Newton/Einstein in relation to space travel6/4/2008
  Q: James A fine bottle of whiskey depends upon your answer.:) My friend and I were debating gravity ...
  A: As far as I know Relativity Theory is not necessary to predict common trajectories for satellites ...
I need help Physics is killin me6/3/2008
  Q: Here is a questions I need help with: Tarzan, mass 85kg, swings from a tree on the end of a 20m ...
  A: This is a problem involving the conservation of energy. In a closed system [a system in which there ...
electrostatics?6/2/2008
  Q: a girl with long(50cm) hair touches the van de graaf generator at a science museum and her hair ...
  A: I am having a little bit of difficulty picturing exactly what is happening. If I really do ...
Net force6/1/2008
  Q: I need a little help understanding a homework problem: a car is driving down the road at a constant ...
  A: For a car going down the highway at a constant velocity, the UNBALANCED force acting on the car must ...
LEDs and electricity.5/31/2008
  Q: i have a question about electricity and LEDs. I wish to know if there is anything similar to the ...
  A: One important factor that should be taken into consideration when using an LED; they must always be ...
physics: force5/30/2008
  Q: I have done this problem up to a certain point but am confused as to how to finish it. Cathy takes ...
  A: May I suggest that you look at the problem somewhat differently? In order to accelerate the cake ...
Changing shadow sizes - 3rd grade5/27/2008
  Q: In a third grade activity students are to make a shadow on the wall using an object (tongue ...
  A: It should not matter whether you move the light or the tongue depressor. What will matter, however, ...
pressure5/27/2008
  Q: Why do we call pressure a scalar quantity when we know that pressure is force per unit area and ...
  A: In order for a quantity to be a vector quantity there must be a unique direction for that quantity ...
physics-waves5/24/2008
  Q: the waves from a radio station van reach a home receiver by two paths. one is a straightline path ...
  A: In order for the direct wave and the reflected wave to produce destructive interference at the ...
Help!5/22/2008
  Q: How long will it take a rock dropped from 2.0 above the surface of Mars to reach the ground?
  A: Do you mean 2 METERS above the ground? If so this is like any other freefall problem except that the ...
electromagnets5/20/2008
  Q: I am looking to build a pretty strong electromagnet. A: how do I go about it, B: how strong can an ...
  A: The strength of any electromagnet that you make will be determined by two factors: the design of the ...
Electronics: Resistors5/20/2008
  Q: Kovalcin, I want the equivalent resistor of the following. Please tell me that with explanation. ...
  A: As I understand this circuit it is essentially: two 1 ohm resistors in parallel in series with an ...
why should we spend time in the sun?5/15/2008
  Q: why should we spend time in the sun?
  A: The most important reason for spending time in the sun is probably the generation of vitamin D by ...
hooke's law5/13/2008
  Q: A 5000 kg truck drives over a pothole in the road that causes the truck to push down on all four ...
  A: The required concept here is, as the problem states, energy conservation. In this case the change in ...
force5/12/2008
  Q: helo sir i hav some doubt related to reaciton force. suppose i hold a chalk on my hand out ...
  A: Your problem here is the meaning of "reaction force". The reaction force to the stone's weight is ...
Can we jump further from west to east? It is not so simple a qustion5/11/2008
  Q: We knew from our high school teachers that we may jump for the same distance whether we jump from ...
  A: Much [but not all] of what you say it true, but what you are ignoring is that this effect you are ...
conservation of momentum5/10/2008
  Q: As most know if a rotating object (a skater for instance) maintains it's mass but decreases its ...
  A: For a rotating object, such as a spinning ice skater, the product of the "moment of inertia" and the ...
tennis5/9/2008
  Q: do you have any info about what physics has to do with tennis ANSWER: Physics topics related to ...
  A: When you strike a tennis ball the path followed by the tennis ball as it moves through the air is ...
tennis5/8/2008
  Q: do you have any info about what physics has to do with tennis
  A: Physics topics related to tennis: momentum conservation, impulse, Newton's 2nd Law, 2 dimensional ...
frequency/current5/7/2008
  Q: A circular coil of diameter 8 cm and consisting of 1000 turns is rotated in a 0.2 Tesla magnetic ...
  A: When the normal to the plane of the coil is parallel to the magnetic field [in other words, when ...
Orbits5/6/2008
  Q: In Newton's time, the distance between the earth and the moon was known to be about 60 times the ...
  A: The orbit of a satellite can be predicted from Newton's 2nd Law. For a satellite orbiting the earth ...
intereference of electromagnetic waves5/6/2008
  Q: do em waves of same or different frequencies interfere with each other? if not then i would like to ...
  A: The answer to the question is that interference is a transient effect! What does that mean? It means ...
Sound5/5/2008
  Q: A rifle is fired in a valley with parallel vertical walls. The echo from one wall is heard 2.0 s ...
  A: Since the echo from one wall was after 2 seconds, the distance to this first wall must be ...
Electrostats5/4/2008
  Q: what is the difference between electrostatic potential and potential difference?
  A: Generally, "electrostatic potential" refers to the electrostatic potential at a point relative to ...
The metre5/2/2008
  Q: I understand that the metre is defined as the length of the path travelled by light in a vacuum ...
  A: We sometimes have to live with legacy decisions! Sure, we could define the speed of light as you ...
Oscillatory motion5/2/2008
  Q: A man is found dead hanging at abouth the 7th story level from a bungee chord tied at the top of the ...
  A: If the assumption here is that the jumper was expecting to commit suicide by colliding with the ...
frequency/velocity or a Ion5/1/2008
  Q: An unknown ion is accelerated through a potential difference of 10,000 volts and then enters into a ...
  A: The effect of a uniform magnetic field will be to cause the charged particle to move in a circular ...
Physics4/30/2008
  Q: How much tension must a rope withstand if it is used to accelerate a 960-kg car horizontally along a ...
  A: If the elevator is accelerating upward the cable must be able to BOTH support the weight of the ...
Symmetrical arguments supporting validity of clock-paradox in SR4/30/2008
  Q: Suppose we have 2 identical, synchronized clocks (C1 and C2))accelerating away from each other, ...
  A: From what I understand about the Special Theory of Relativity, the problem here is that your thought ...
egg vehicle4/29/2008
  Q: My physics class has been assigned a project where we must create a vehicle that will transport an ...
  A: Attach the end of the stretched spring to a string which is, in turn, wrapped around the axle of the ...
Oscillatory motion4/28/2008
  Q: What would be the natural oscillation period of a 30 kg child on a swing whose seat is 3.2 m below ...
  A: A child sitting on a swing is, for all practical purposes, a simple pendulum. The period T of a ...
physics4/27/2008
  Q: if a Coulumb of electrons is passing through a load, how does the resistance in the load affect the ...
  A: The resistance of a load is determined by the degree of interaction between the moving charges and ...
Physics Q's4/27/2008
  Q: with? 1.) Give Neils Bohr's explanation for the existence of Hydrogen spectral lines? 2.) The speed ...
  A: 1. Bohr looked at orbiting electrons as being like planets orbiting the sun. This model did not ...
mecanics4/26/2008
  Q: In which of the following unit acceleration expressed ?
  A: Acceleration is defined to be the rate of change of velocity and is calculated by dividing the ...
projectile motion4/25/2008
  Q: Ive been having trouble with this question. Three shells are fired that will simultaneously land ...
  A: All 2 dimensional problems of this type can be solved in the same way: break the problem into 2 ...
should we spend time in thesun?4/24/2008
  Q: could you please answer these questions beacsue im really stuck in my school work! Should we spend ...
  A: There are a number of points on both side! Con 1. Causes skin cancer! This become all too common ...
bowling ball dropped on an egg experiment4/21/2008
  Q: How can I prepare a raw egg to survive having a bowling ball dropped on it? The egg has to be ...
  A: How about using spray can insulating foam [polyurethane - available at Home Depot]? It will harden ...
unifrom motion4/20/2008
  Q: "Rotor" is a ride found in the amusement parks that consist of a hollow cylindrical room( about 8 ft ...
  A: This is a Newton's 2nd Law problem; the sum of the forces in the direction of the acceleration must ...
physics4/19/2008
  Q: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wheatstonebridge.svg Using the link provided for the diagram. ...
  A: Using the loop rule 3 times where I1 is the current through R1, I2 is the current through R2, Ib is ...
Egg drop4/18/2008
  Q: James, i have a question regarding the physics of an egg drop. I am not sure about the 2nd law but I ...
  A: The third law just says that the force exerted on the egg by the ground when it strikes the ground ...
Physics4/18/2008
  Q: What does a negative displacement mean? What does a negative velocity mean?
  A: The answer to both of these questions is arbitrary! You get to decide although in some cases we ...
length vs. period4/17/2008
  Q: I did a lab in my classroom about the length of the pendulum affect its period. the length and the ...
  A: The problem here is that you need to square the period T^2 not the length if you want to straighten ...
Water Pressure Loss Due to Pipe Size Reduction4/15/2008
  Q: Mr. Kovalcin, I'm a little rusty on my physics and I'm not sure how to puzzle this out and show a ...
  A: The answer here is quite simple! It was a terrible idea to change the 1.25" line to a 0.75" line. ...
Potential/kinetic energy4/15/2008
  Q: We're learning about potential and kinetic energy in 3rd grade. I understand that an apple on a ...
  A: The problem here has to do with the reference point being used. It is frequently quite convenient to ...
Potential/kinetic energy4/14/2008
  Q: We're learning about potential and kinetic energy in 3rd grade. I understand that an apple on a ...
  A: After the apple falls it has lost its potential energy and converted into another form. Just as the ...
Energy4/14/2008
  Q: Kovalcin, I have been doing some reading on energy, and I have found an interesting point: If ...
  A: It is possible for two generators producing two identical sinusoidal signals that are EXACTLY 1/2 ...
Physics4/4/2008
  Q: By what factor should the length of a simple pendulum be changed in order to triple the period of ...
  A: The period of a simple pendulum is given by: T=2*pi*sqrt[l/g] where T is the period of the pendulum, ...
Waves4/4/2008
  Q: 1. The intensity of a sound source is 67 dB's when 4 meters from the source. What is the intensity ...
  A: 1. The intensity of a sound is inversely proportional to the distance from the sound source ...
Physical S.4/2/2008
  Q: 10 grams of iron has a temperature of 190 Fahrenheit. 100 grams of water has a temperature of 60 ...
  A: Because of energy conservation, the heat energy gained by the water must be equal to the heat energy ...
Sound and Electromagnetism4/1/2008
  Q: How does sound relate to electromagnetism, if at all? Would 20Hz of sound be in any way equivalent ...
  A: No relationship at all with the exception that both phenomena are waves. That said, they are very ...
force3/31/2008
  Q: sir A rocket is moving with constant speed in space by burning fuel and ejecting out burnt gases ...
  A: The momentum of the rocket plus its fuel will be constant. If you eject fuel out the rear of the ...
Rotational motion3/31/2008
  Q: What is the formula for calculating the acceleration and velocity of the rolling body down an ...
  A: The easiest way to determine the acceleration and corresponding velocities of an object rolling down ...
electromagnetics and electrostatics3/30/2008
  Q: iv got a probelm i need help solving regarding the above subject,your help would be much ...
  A: The electrostatic force between two charges is given by: Fe=k*q1*q2/r^2 where k is the electrostatic ...
Light's gravity and black hole mass3/30/2008
  Q: Two questions: [1] I've read that photons exert a (tiny) gravitational effect. (I don't refer here ...
  A: 1] According to Special Relativity mass and energy are just different aspects of the same thing ...
Hall Probe Physics Question3/25/2008
  Q: A Hall probe is constructed from a semi-conducting material of thickness 0.4 millimeters. When 5 ...
  A: A Hall Effect probe works because an external magnetic field acts on the moving charged particles ...
magnetic field question3/25/2008
  Q: 4. An electron is forced to undergo uniform circular motion with a radius of 5 cm and a period of ...
  A: The magnetic force acting on a moving charged particle is always directed perpendicularly to the ...
Ice Crystals3/24/2008
  Q: This is mywhy is in the middle of ice, white ? (have you noticed ?) I guess the reason must be ...
  A: To make truly clear ice requires extreme pressure. Interestingly, it is this transparency under ...
pleeeeaaaaaaaaaaaasssseeee help!3/24/2008
  Q: 20.Balance scales measure a mass of 90 kg for a person and an apparent mass of 3.7 kg when submerged ...
  A: The mass of water is approximately [approximately because this depends on temperature to a small ...
physics heat/wavelengths3/23/2008
  Q: 1. All matter contains both positively and negatively charged particles. Why do most things have no ...
  A: 1. Since opposite charges attract, in most cases positives and negatives cancel out on average. ...
question3/22/2008
  Q: can you answer this question : "A bus is moving downhill at a slope of 5 degree on a rainy day. At ...
  A: Virtually all kinematics problems can be solved in the same way! There are 6 variables relevant to ...
Newton's laws3/20/2008
  Q: If one looks at the planet Venus through even a small telescope, one sees that sometimes it looks ...
  A: The only time that Venus will look full to us is when it is on the opposite side of the sun. Why? ...
Acceleration3/19/2008
  Q: I am currently studying an undergraduate sports mechanics course in which we're still trying to ...
  A: Virtually all kinematics problems can be solved in the same way! There are 6 variables relevant to ...
Newton's Law3/18/2008
  Q: Two friends push on a 2200 kg car. The car is initially at rest, but after pushing on it for about ...
  A: According to Newton's 2nd Law the sum of the forces acting on an object is equal to the product of ...
addition to the plasma ball question3/18/2008
  Q: How is a plasma ball related to well-known plasma sources...like the plasma in the sun, in plasma ...
  A: A plasma ball consists of a low pressure gas [the type of gas determines the color of the glow], two ...
Time - given acceleration and distance3/16/2008
  Q: I have been examining a text book example question for hours on end, and though the answer is given ...
  A: Believe it or not ALL kinematics problems can be solved in exactly the same way! There are only 6 ...
Physics Q's3/14/2008
  Q: help. 1.) A car traveling 20 mph can stop in about 40 ft. If the same car travels twice as fast, ...
  A: 1. If the car travels twice as fast it will contain 4x as much kinetic energy [KE=1/2*m*v^2] and so ...
Fluid mechanics3/13/2008
  Q: I'm confused about some concepts about fluid motion. Putting a nozzle on a hose will increase its ...
  A: There are two relevant issues here, both of which you have hinted at. First, the law of continuity ...
Syphons3/13/2008
  Q: Can you tell me please: In a syphon setup, why does the opening of the outlet pipe HAVE to be lower ...
  A: Actually, the weight of the liquid on the output side must be LESS than the weight of the liquid on ...
Simple Harmonic Motion3/12/2008
  Q: How do you prove shock absorbers (springs) is SHM
  A: I am not quite sure what you mean by "prove" in this context. It is true that the suspension system ...
physics3/10/2008
  Q: 33. A 500 kg car is traveling at 20 m/s. It applies the brakes doing to dodge a squirrel doing ...
  A: The easiest way to solve this problem is to use energy conservation. The initial energy of the car ...
Lightning3/9/2008
  Q: Is there any instrument for measuring the temperature of lightning? if so what is the material used ...
  A: I don't know if such a device actually exists, but in principle such a device is quite ...
Heat3/7/2008
  Q: A 3 kg rock is initially at rest at the top of a cliff. Assuming that the rock falls into the sea at ...
  A: Using energy conservation, the gravitational potential energy of this falling rock will be equal to ...
Heat3/7/2008
  Q: A hot-water heater is operated by solar power. If the solar collector has an area of 6 m^2 and the ...
  A: Just look at the units! Dividing 550J by 3300J/s becomes J/[J/s] = J*s/J = s Seconds, the unit for ...
Heat3/5/2008
  Q: A hot-water heater is operated by solar power. If the solar collector has an area of 6 m^2 and the ...
  A: The heat needed to raise the temperature of one cubic meter of water from 21oC to 61oC is given by Q ...
Momentum and Collisions3/5/2008
  Q: An 85 Kg astronaut is working on the engines of a spaceship that is drifting through space with a ...
  A: Using momentum conservation, the momentum of the wrench will be equal to the momentum of the ...
temperature3/4/2008
  Q: An average residential swimming pool might contain 15,000 gal. About how much energy would it take ...
  A: The heat needed to raise the temperature is given by Q=m*c*DT where Q is the heat added, m is the ...
physics and wheels3/3/2008
  Q: I am helping my 5th grader w/ a science fair project and am having trouble finding research that ...
  A: In the absence of some special consideration I do not believe that it should really matter very much ...
Applying Newton's Laws of Motion3/2/2008
  Q: a 4000 kg truck is parked on a 15 degree slope. how big is the friction force on the truck?
  A: Since the truck is NOT accelerating this must be a Newton's 1st Law problem. All problems of this ...
Newton scooter3/2/2008
  Q: I need to make a newton scooter only using newtons 3rd law that will carry a cup of water and move 2 ...
  A: That would be entirely up to you! Use your imagination? You could get one of those cheap battery ...
Newton scooter3/1/2008
  Q: I need to make a newton scooter only using newtons 3rd law that will carry a cup of water and move 2 ...
  A: In order to make this a "Newton's 3rd Law" scooter you will have to throw or eject something ...
statics2/28/2008
  Q: a rod of wheight 5 N and length 2M is supported by three chords A,B and C it in turn supports a ...
  A: I could be wrong, but based on the problem as stated I believe that there are too many variables and ...
Physics2/26/2008
  Q: How can we relate Vectors with scalars eg:in the relation V = (integral of)E vector * ds Vector ...
  A: There are two different types of fields: scalar fields and vector fields. A field is an area of ...
ac dynamo2/25/2008
  Q: sir how is steady emf obtained from a fluctuating emf in an ac dynamo?
  A: A feedback mechanism controls to output of the generator. This can be done in a number of different ...
miscellanoues2/23/2008
  Q: sir i wanted to ask few questions thought it is not of your subject expertise but i think you would ...
  A: 1. A spring balance will typically not be sensitive enough to weigh such a valuable substance - more ...
electric current2/22/2008
  Q: James, my question is that what are the the few points that differ emf from pd(potential difference)
  A: Potential difference is a measure of the difference in potential energy that a positive charge will ...
electricity production2/21/2008
  Q: Give me a technique of production of electricity at no cost in detailed knowledge.
  A: There is just no way to produce electricity at no cost in any useful amount! If such a thing was ...
general physics2/21/2008
  Q: A small ball rolls around a horizontal circle at height y inside a frictionless hemispherical bowl ...
  A: The ball in this problem is moving in a circular path and is, therefore, accelerating centripetally. ...
physics -circular motion2/18/2008
  Q: A 1500. kg car takes a 50.0 m radius unbanked curve at 15.0 m/s. What is the size of the friction ...
  A: Since this car is accelerating [centripetally in this case] Newton's 2nd Law applies. The 1st step ...
The Work-Energy Theorem and Kinetic Energy2/17/2008
  Q: An extreme skier, starting from rest, coasts down a mountain that makes an angle 25.0° with the ...
  A: The easiest way to solve this problem would be to use energy conservation. The skier starts at the ...
What exactly are "flames"?2/16/2008
  Q: What exactly are "flames"? From what I've read about, it's where atoms are rearranging, with a net ...
  A: Energy release in the situations you have described is the result of a decrease in electrostatic ...
blocking of magnetic field2/14/2008
  Q: "fello sir", Is there existance of plate of any material which can block the magnetic ...
  A: The only material I know of that can completely block the passage of a magnetic field is a ...
Physics2/13/2008
  Q: 1. Why does an iron core increase the magnetic induction of a coil of wire? 2. Why is a generator ...
  A: 1. Microscopic "magnetic domains" within the iron core [like tiny little atomic level magnets] ...
cathodes2/11/2008
  Q: okay, let me see if i understand a cathode correctly. a cathode is an electrode. the way that this ...
  A: A cathode is a negatively charged object that is a source of electron flow [typically through a gas ...
space motion2/10/2008
  Q: An astrounat repairing a communications satellite in deep space floats at rest with respect to the ...
  A: Using momentum conservation! Assuming that the astronaut is 22m from the air lock, is facing away ...
Physics projectile motion2/8/2008
  Q: In a test of a new missile defense system, a missile is fired on a trajectory that would directly ...
  A: This is a center of mass problem [which of necessity ignores innumerable real world effects] where ...
MAGNATIC2/7/2008
  Q: SIR WHY A MAGNATIC ATTRECT A PIECE OF IRON?
  A: Ferro magnetic materials [such as iron, nickel, etc] have microscopic particles within them where ...
mickelson morleys experiment2/6/2008
  Q: my question is about mickelson morleys experiment. i want to know if they find out from their ...
  A: It it true that for hundreds of year this topic was the center of much debate, but when Young ...
Physics2/6/2008
  Q: 1. In what sense are all magnets electromagnets? 2. All atoms have moving electric charges. Why, ...
  A: 1. All magnetism is the result of moving charged particles, usually this means electrons. In a ...
magnetic physics2/5/2008
  Q: At New York City, the earth's magnetic field has a vertical component of 5.2 10-5 T that points ...
  A: The magnetic force on a current carrying wire is given by Fm=I*LXB where X is the cross product of L ...
physics2/3/2008
  Q: A 1kg ball is hung at the end of a rod 1m long. The system balances at a point on the rod 0.25m ...
  A: The center of mass of any system can be found by multiplying the mass of each piece of the system by ...
kinematic equations2/2/2008
  Q: i wanted to know how the kinematic equations were derived. Vf = Vi + at Vf^2 = Vi^2 + ...
  A: In my classes students develop these equations in the laboratory. What my students do is take a ...
Angular motion2/1/2008
  Q: when you make a flip turn in the water, how can you calculated the angular acceleration of the ...
  A: Angular acceleration will be equal to the change in angular velocity divided by the time required ...
Drag Force1/31/2008
  Q: I know that the drag forces in water are complicated. I found this equation about buoyancy force and ...
  A: I wouldn't think so. That doesn't make any sense to me. Forces are vector quantities and direction ...
Physics problem1/30/2008
  Q: A balloon is rising vertically upward with a velocity of 5.6 m/sec releases as an object from the ...
  A: All kinematics problems of this type can be solved in the exact same way. First, identify each of ...
physic of swimming1/30/2008
  Q: i have read your answer about the basic physic of swimming.i know those are basic stuff of physic.I ...
  A: Whether or not something floats is based on Newton's 1st Law; if a system is at equilibrium opposite ...
Physics1/29/2008
  Q: 1. One example of a water system is a garden hose that waters a garden. Another is the cooling ...
  A: 1. An electric circuit is more analogous to the cooling system in a car. The same electrons cycle ...
help!!!1/28/2008
  Q: A rock is tied to the end of a 35cm long string and whirled around in a circlee that describesa ...
  A: This is a Newton's 2nd Law problem - all of which are solved in the same way! 1) The first step in ...
Bouyancy1/26/2008
  Q: I am trying to build a floatation device and need to know how many cubic inches of air does it take ...
  A: 100 pounds of water has a mass of 100lb/2.2pounds/kg=45.4kg. 1kg of water occupies a volume of 1 ...
Electricity1/26/2008
  Q: I do not have 220 coming into my house. However, I do have 110 from each hot feed to my house going ...
  A: You must have measured incorrectly. One hot line will be +110 Volts above ground while the other hot ...
Physics1/21/2008
  Q: Consider these two scenarios: A) A non-operating helicopter is placed on a pedestal which is 10 ...
  A: The fundamental difference here is that in the 2nd case your helicopter IS doing work! In order for ...
Hydraulics Homework1/20/2008
  Q: There is a pump that has a force of 10N the Area of the pump is 1cm2 (First area). The pressure is ...
  A: I agree with your answer! This is a Newton's 1st Law problem - in which case opposite forces [in ...
force1/20/2008
  Q: sir sir i hav one doubt in force 1) when ever force is applied on a body it accelerates. If a body ...
  A: The velocity of an object will remain constant if the the UNBALANCED force acting on the object is ...
science1/19/2008
  Q: I am in the 8th grade and have to do a science project. I have to do a project on physical science. ...
  A: Why not make a "Rube Goldberg" machine? [Think about the game "Mousetrap"]. Rube Goldberg was a ...
Compass Needle Polarity1/17/2008
  Q: In Gr. 10 Science we have been studying magnetism recently, and the following question has been ...
  A: The confusing point here is that the "North Pole" of the Earth is actually the "South Pole" of a ...
Sonic boom1/17/2008
  Q: I have seen videos of Jet aircrafts leaving sonic boom when they cross the sound barrier. i.e., when ...
  A: Actually, the sonic boom is NOT a result of the jet crossing the sound barrier. Any object MOVING ...
Physics1/16/2008
  Q: 1. Why do you not hear the sound of distant fireworks until after you see them? 2. Why would it be ...
  A: 1. Light travels MUCH faster [186,000 miles per second] than sound [346 meters per second]. 2. Sound ...
Physics1/16/2008
  Q: How is Orbit achieved?
  A: Any rocket sitting on the surface of the Earth has insufficient energy to orbit the Earth. To do so ...
Hamster powered night light1/15/2008
  Q: I am doing a science project on making a hamster powered night light, and I am in 8th grade. We are ...
  A: May I suggest that you attach a small DC motor [available at radio shack] to the rotating shaft of ...
Physics Question1/15/2008
  Q: there is a hot air ballon whos forces at 5,120N upward, 4,050N downward, 1,520N left, and 950N. ...
  A: Add these 4 forces together and make their sum equal to the mass of the balloon times the rate of ...
Naked Egg Drop Expeirement1/14/2008
  Q: i am creating an egg drop, only instead of protecting the egg when its dropped i have to drop an ...
  A: You want to makes your structure so that it slowly collapses as the egg collides. You want it ...
Sound waves & Electronics1/13/2008
  Q: if I have a specific sound wave how am I able to reproduce that sound using electronic components ...
  A: There are specific ic chips designed to reproduce sound and there are many sites where amateurs ...
force1/12/2008
  Q: sir i hav some questions regarding force Now i have learnt that force always cause acceleration or ...
  A: You are confusing the application of a single force with the application of several. In order for a ...
electric force1/8/2008
  Q: 1.The force of repulsion that two like charges exert on each other is 3.8 N. What will the force be ...
  A: The equation relating the electrostatic force between charged particles is given by: Fe=k*q1*q2/r^2 ...
optics1/7/2008
  Q: sir can you explain me why does sun appear oval and bigger in size during sun set and sun rise. I ...
  A: The light leaving the sun has to travel through the atmosphere to reach your eyes. When you look at ...
standing waves1/6/2008
  Q: Concerning standing waves on a fixed length of string with a set frequency. By adjusting the tension ...
  A: Between the two adjacent resonances there are waves visible on the string, but there is no ...
physics1/5/2008
  Q: how is physics involved in swimming ? Do you know where i can get more information on this subject ?
  A: Physics items involved in swimming! 1. Newton's 1st Law - Buoyancy - You float because the buoyant ...
please help1/4/2008
  Q: I would greatly appreciate any help you may provide to me regarding the following question. I have ...
  A: 1. Your first solution is just fine - I get 31.9m. 2. For the second problem I get 329m, which may ...
protons in the universe ... sort of1/3/2008
  Q: well sorry this is a tad long-winded - but basically i'm questionning some figures which i've ...
  A: Tough question, but let me try it this way. Assume: The number of protons per gram of matter = ...
please help1/3/2008
  Q: I would greatly appreciate any help you may provide to me regarding the following question. I have ...
  A: The first part of this problems requires the use of momentum conservation. The initial momentum of ...
physics project1/2/2008
  Q: I can't remember the name of this, and I've found that it's very hard to explain and look up. I ...
  A: You are talking about a "Rube Goldberg" machine. If you do a google search you will find MANY hits. ...
water pressure12/31/2007
  Q: If a pressure sensor is placed underwater at a given depth, say… ten feet, and a twenty foot wave ...
  A: At any depth beyond the "wave base" the effects of wave amplitude should be unfelt. Wave base is the ...
Center of gravity12/30/2007
  Q: How to loacte center of gravity (CG) of buildings, heavy machines? Is there any practical way to ...
  A: To find the 3 dimensional center of a machine perform 3 separate calculations: x [front to back], y ...
Is neutron-neutron fusion easier to facilitate than proton-proton fusion?12/27/2007
  Q: Neutron-neutron fusion is an example of nuclear fusion because neutrons are nucleons. Is it possible ...
  A: Being easier isn't the only or even primary question. What is really important is whether or not the ...
Basic a/c current question12/25/2007
  Q: I understand a 3 poles a/c outlet ( Northamerican standard ) has one outlet for the ground ( this is ...
  A: First of all, in AC electricity the voltage is NOT constant. In fact, the voltage of a 120 Volt AC ...
relative motion12/23/2007
  Q: when i hear or come across this term relative motion i really don't understand fully what it means. ...
  A: In freefall up it traditionally taken to be positive. When the ball was released in the elevator its ...
sub atomic particles12/23/2007
  Q: will sub atomic particles actions change because they are being watched vs. not being watched
  A: That is a tough question! Quantum theory does, in fact, imply that the mere act of observing an ...
physis12/20/2007
  Q: i dnt understand the altwood machine and forces...can u help?
  A: The Atwood's Machine is a device consisting of a singly pulley attached to a fixed support, a string ...
calorimetry12/19/2007
  Q: A hot, just-minted coper coin is placed in 101 g of water to cool. The water temperature changes ...
  A: When the coin is added to the water, the heat lost by the copper coin must be exactly equal to the ...
Vectors12/11/2007
  Q: I am trying to study for my physics exam coming up, and I have seemed to have forgotten everything i ...
  A: The problem is that your time is incorrect! When you solved the displacement equation for the time ...
Sound12/11/2007
  Q: If energy can never be created or lost, just transformed from one state to another; can you get a ...
  A: Technically what you say is true! If a collision between two objects occurs on the earth, some of ...
EMP12/7/2007
  Q: Is there anything that is not nuclear, or otherwise harmful that can give off an electromagnetic ...
  A: "Never Say Never!" I think that such a hand held device is very unlikely! The way that EMP works is ...
EMP12/6/2007
  Q: Is there anything that is not nuclear, or otherwise harmful that can give off an electromagnetic ...
  A: The EMP is caused by the intensity of the explosion and is not specifically related to the fact that ...
Newton's Cradle12/5/2007
  Q: When you place a finger in between the middle of the Newton's cradle, somehting strange happens. ...
  A: Your finger changes the system completely by introducing an external force into the system. Momentum ...
Physics12/5/2007
  Q: Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question. 1. A car ...
  A: 1. ALL of these! More force is needed if the car is going faster. More force is needed to stop the ...
Problem Sheet11/29/2007
  Q: I have got few problems and looking for answers to them. Can you please help me in this regard. ...
  A: 1. Moving your arms forwards will cause your torso to move in the opposite direction, hopefully ...
Centripetal Force11/29/2007
  Q: I've been stuck with this problem for a long time. Can you help me? A 1100 kg car negotiates a ...
  A: First of all, the coefficient of kinetic friction is ONLY relevant if one surface is "sliding" past ...
radioactivity11/28/2007
  Q: What is "radioactive equilibrium" And also, during beta plus decay, how is energy used to turn a ...
  A: Radioactive equilibrium occurs when a radionuclide is being generated as quickly as it is decaying. ...
Magnetism11/25/2007
  Q: Would it be possible to create a solid state (no moving parts) electricity generator with a ...
  A: The ONLY way to generate an electric current from a magnetic field is to have a changing magnetic ...
fluids11/21/2007
  Q: The cross-sectional area of the faucet is 1.8x10^-4m^2, and the speed of the water is 0.85 m/s as ...
  A: According to the "law of continuity" the product of the fluid flow rate and the cross section area ...
My physics research paper on projectile motion11/19/2007
  Q: how does air resistance tie into projectile motions with initial velocity, gravity
  A: This is an incredibly complex question! Gravity isn't an issue, but speed, shape, surface texture, ...
Why are magnetic field lines always depicted as pointing from north to south?11/18/2007
  Q: Southern magnetic energy is emitted from the side of a magnet taking in the lines of force. Northern ...
  A: First of all, the magnetic field is a defined quantity. A magnetic field is an area of space where a ...
DIFFRACTION of Light11/17/2007
  Q: For diffraction of light through a single slit, Width of secondary maximum fringes = (Distance of ...
  A: 1. I don't think that the initial statement is correct. The equation predicting the location of the ...
physics11/16/2007
  Q: I read that if you lift a backpack you are doing work..but once on your back and when you walk no ...
  A: I don't agree with the second part. Walking the backpack forward does indeed require work. Now it ...
,electricity,11/14/2007
  Q: sir if a point charge is realesed in a non uniform electric field with field lines in same direction ...
  A: If the electric field is uniform [meaning that the electric field lines are parallel and equally ...
nuclear physics,equilibrium11/13/2007
  Q: sir can you please tyell me the pracctical application of special theory of relativity? also tell if ...
  A: Incredibly, the Special Theory or Relativity has led to or can explain many different phenomena! 1. ...
Physics B - Centripetal Force Question #211/12/2007
  Q: I'm having a hard time with this question. ...
  A: First of all, your force diagram is essentially correct. What you need to recognize is that the ...
Fluids11/12/2007
  Q: Two identical containers are open at the top and are connected at the bottom via a tube of ...
  A: To make this problem easier, let's assume that the density of mercury is 13 times the density of ...
Physics B - Centripetal Force Question11/11/2007
  Q: I'm having some trouble understanding centripetal force. I know that the force is always towards the ...
  A: Let me begin by explaining centripetal acceleration in an entirely different way. Acceleration is ...
Spring11/10/2007
  Q: A spring, with a spring constant of 50 N/m is initially compressed by 3cm. How much work is required ...
  A: Your are, of course, interested in the positive answer since you are looking for the additional work ...
Spring11/9/2007
  Q: A spring, with a spring constant of 50 N/m is initially compressed by 3cm. How much work is required ...
  A: The energy stored in a spring is given be U=1/2*k*Dx^2 where U is the energy, k is the spring ...
rotation of earth11/8/2007
  Q: why do storms or high speed winds move forward spirally?
  A: Sorry, I accidentally hit reject. Here is my answer! According to Newton's 1st Law, "An object in ...
physics11/8/2007
  Q: 1.Introduction One important elementary example of motion is that of free fall, which is the ...
  A: 1. This first question can be answered by using the data given above to plot a graph of Displacement ...
physics11/7/2007
  Q: I can lift a bag off the floor,a weightlifter can lift more than his body weight.Why can he not lift ...
  A: The difference is that in the case of the cage there is an EXTERNAL force being exerted on the ...
Quantum physics/mechanics vs old school mechanistic physics11/6/2007
  Q: I'm doing some research for a speculative fiction novel based around the 19th century concept of the ...
  A: The problem with this sort of speculation is the you have stated an "if ... then" statement where ...
Boiling water11/3/2007
  Q: What affect does elevation have on waters bioling point and would the type material a pot is made of ...
  A: Water [or any other liquid for that matter] boils when the vapor pressure of the liquid exceeds the ...
Bike riding and wind resistance11/2/2007
  Q: I have a question. If I ride 15 mph in an upright position (about a 12 o'clock position), how much ...
  A: I don't really know the magnitudes for the forces involved because they depend on so many different ...
physics11/1/2007
  Q: A 250 gram baseball traveling with a velocity of 40m/s is hit by a bat and leaves at 60 m/s in the ...
  A: To solve this problem make use of the "Impulse" equation: F*Dt=m*Dv where F is force, Dt is the time ...
kinetic friction10/31/2007
  Q: A car is turning on a curve whose radius of curvature is 23.1 meters. If the car is traveling a 13 ...
  A: This problem is fundamentally a Newton's second Law problem where the sum of the forces acting on an ...
centipetal force at the TOP of a string10/29/2007
  Q: A girl swings a ball in a vertical circle at the end of a string. Is the force applied by the ...
  A: The only difference in the roller coaster problem is that the force causing the coaster to move in a ...
AP Physics B10/28/2007
  Q: 1. A push broom of mass m is pushed across a rough horizontal floor by a force of magnitude T ...
  A: 1. First make a force diagram. In this case: Force Normal - up, Force of Gravity - down, Force of ...
Optical Fibres10/27/2007
  Q: My question is about the time it takes for: a) a ray of light travelling down the central axis of a ...
  A: Given that the critical angle is 71.5degrees. Form a right triangle where one angle is 71.5 degrees, ...
1st law of thermodynamics10/27/2007
  Q: I have been doing some mind games inspired by teaching basic physics to the kids.. and have a ...
  A: Actually, the energy has NOT been lost! The total energy released through E=mc^2 at sea level would ...
earth science10/25/2007
  Q: what are the physics of an egg drop project such as pertaining to gravity an kinetic energy in those ...
  A: When an egg [or any other object for that matter] is dropped from a height h, the egge begins with ...
Newton's 3rd Law10/25/2007
  Q: A squirrel with an arm full of nuts is sliding across an icy flat roof close to the edge. He ...
  A: The squirrel throws the nuts off the roof. Because of the 3rd Law every action is accompanied by a ...
testing electromagnets in liquids10/24/2007
  Q: I am doing a science project on electromagnets and my teacher wants me to test the electromagnet in ...
  A: In my opinion, most of these liquids would have very little effect on the magnetic field. Why? ...
voltage10/20/2007
  Q: I would like to buy a small, brush motor with no more than 1.5 volts present at the electrodes. ...
  A: The "nominal voltage" is the voltage across the motor while under normal operating conditions. The ...
Circuits10/17/2007
  Q: I don't understand how diameter affects current. Very confused! Please help, here is theA ...
  A: Think of the wire as if it were a pipe. If you double the diameter of a pipe you will quadruple the ...
physics10/17/2007
  Q: Flywheels are large, massive wheels used to store energy. They can be spun up slowly, then the ...
  A: The key to solving rotational problems is to pretend that the problem is linear, but replace each of ...
Physics10/16/2007
  Q: What is elastic potential energy? Show one sample calculation of the elastic potential energy ...
  A: Elastic potential energy is a measure of a system' ability to perform work [apply a force through a ...
Projectile Motion10/15/2007
  Q: A shell is fired from the ground with an initial speed of 1.70*10^3 m/s at an initial angle of 55 ...
  A: I really just answered a similar question which I have posted below. Subject: Projectile motionA ...
physics-acceleration equations10/1