Tangential velocity is the linear component of the speed of any object which is moving along a circular path. When an object moves in a circular…
As a golf ball travels through the air, wind resistance creates drag, which slows the ball down. The dimples on a golf ball reduce the drag…
Mechanical engineers use physics to ensure the machines, tools and engines they design will work as planned. Civil engineers use physics to establish that their bridges,…
The average life of an anti glare coating is two years, and after that, you have to change it with the new one. The anti glare coating starts to wear off under various conditions, including scratches from keys, using lousy quality cleaning solutions, and microfiber cloths. How does anti-reflective coating work physics? AR coating utilizes…
Wind farms have different impacts on the environment compared to conventional power plants, but similar concerns exist over both the noise produced by the turbine blades and the visual impacts on the landscape . What is the physics behind windmill? Turbines catch the wind’s energy with their propeller-like blades, which act much like an airplane…
The beats produced per second refers to the difference between the frequencies of the two tuning forks. Formula used: The frequency of the beats produced is given by, fbeat=f1−f2 where f1 and f2 are the frequencies of the two sound waves. How does a tuning fork work physics? A tuning fork serves as a useful…
R = m(g – g) = 0. Thus, the apparent weight of the man becomes zero. This is because both the man and the lift are moving downwards with same acceleration ‘g’ and so there are no forces of action and reaction between the person and the lift. How do you calculate the weight of…
It turns out that the curvature of the spaghetti is to blame. When you apply force to a piece of spaghetti, it bends — then it breaks. Now free from the force that caused it to bend, it begins to straighten out. But on the opposite end of the spaghetti, that tension is being released…
Calculate the tension in the rope using the following equation: T = M x A. Four example, if you are trying to find T in a basic pulley system with an attached mass of 9g accelerating upwards at 2m/s² then T = 9g x 2m/s² = 18gm/s² or 18N (newtons). How do you solve pulley…
The basic physics of running are pretty simple. A runner applies a force to the ground that is directed opposite the direction they are running. Then Newton’s third law kicks in, and the ground applies and equal and opposite reaction force on the running, causing their body to be propelled upward and forward. How is…
The magnitude of this force is equal to that which you exert on the trampoline when you land. Hooke’s law is stated in the following equation: F = -kx where F is force, k is the spring constant and x is the displacement of the spring. What are the physics of a trampoline? Trampolines get…
To launch a projectile, a trebuchet utilizes the transfer of gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy. A massive counterweight at one end of a lever falls because of gravity, causing the other end of the lever to rise and release a projectile from a sling. How do you calculate a trebuchet? The formula we then…
3. For each object and each direction, write down ΣF = (sum of forces) = ma. to solve the problem completely. What is the sum of 2 forces? When vectors represent forces, their sum is called the resultant. The resultant of two forces can be found using the methods for adding vectors when the vectors…
Formula for tension = centrifugal force = mv2/r. So the formula of tension will be = centripetal force – force of gravity = mv2/r – mg = m(v2/r-g) The formula of tension will be = centripetal force + force of gravity = mv2/r + mg = m(v2/r+g) How do you find the tension in a…
A bike wheel with more spokes is stronger than a bike wheel with fewer spokes. What’s more, different spokes offer differing levels of strength and durability. Spokes are the individual pieces that hold together a bicycle wheel to create the structure needed to support the weight of your bicycle and rider. What happens if spokes…
We can think of a tension in a given rope as T = (m × g) + (m × a), where “g” is the acceleration due to gravity of any objects the rope is supporting and “a” is any other acceleration on any objects the rope is supporting. How do you find the acceleration of…
Torque is a measure of the force that can cause an object to rotate about an axis. Just as force is what causes an object to accelerate in linear kinematics, torque is what causes an object to acquire angular acceleration. How do you solve torque problems in physics? What is the formula to solve torque?…
Why does a solid disc roll down an inclined plane faster than a ring? The solid disc beats the ring because it has a lower “resistance” to motion. All mass has the property of resisting a change in motion, or inertia. An object in motion wants to stay in motion, and an object at rest…
The grip opens and the cable continues to turn at full speed while the chair slows down. Skiers can then take their seats calmly and safely. Then the chair gradually accelerates to reach the same speed as the cable and once again attaches itself at the top. How does physics relate to skiing? Skiing works…
A pulley is just a grouping of one or more wheels over which is looped a rope (or sturdy chain, for heavier objects). Scientists call these “simple machines” because they allow humans to multiply the forces that allow us to lift a heavy weight. Using a pulley greatly multiplies the force of your physical efforts.…
At the top of the loop, the force of the car’s acceleration pushes the passenger off the seat toward the center of the loop, while inertia pushes the passenger back into the seat. Gravity and acceleration forces push the passenger in opposite directions with nearly equal force, creating a sensation of weightlessness. What are the…
How do you calculate satellite motion? As seen in the equation v = SQRT(G * Mcentral / R), the mass of the central body (earth) and the radius of the orbit affect orbital speed. The orbital radius is in turn dependent upon the height of the satellite above the earth. What is the orbital velocity…
Conservation of Energy Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another. The total amount of energy remains constant. How does a Rube Goldberg machine relate to physics? One of the reasons that Rube Goldberg devices are useful by physics and engineering educators is because they display…