Physics
A Thunderclap from a Clear Sky: The Sonic Boom
A sonic boom is the loud sound made when the shock waves created by an object moving faster than sound reach the ground. This article explains how sonic booms form, the small sonic
Physics
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35 articles found
Physics
The Secret Behind How Sunglasses Erase Glare: Polarization of Light
Polarization of light is the state in which light’s vibrations are lined up in one direction. This article covers how polarization works, including Malus’s law, the three ways ligh
Physics
Proof That the Earth Turns: The Foucault Pendulum
The Foucault Pendulum is a device that shows the Earth's rotation with your own eyes: a heavy bob on a very long wire whose plane of swing slowly turns relative to the ground. We l
Physics
Lifting a Car with a Small Force: Pascal’s Principle
Pascal’s principle states that pressure applied to a confined fluid at rest is transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid. We look at how it was formulated, how hydraulic device
Physics
Faster Flow, Lower Pressure: Bernoulli’s Principle
Bernoulli’s principle says that within a single flow, a fluid’s pressure drops where it speeds up and rises where it slows down. This piece covers how the principle came about, the
Physics
The Secret of Spinning Faster by Pulling In Your Arms: Conservation of Angular Momentum
Conservation of angular momentum means that when no outside force acts to change its rotation, the amount of rotation a spinning object has stays the same. This piece covers the co
Physics
When Light Cannot Escape: Total Internal Reflection
Total internal reflection happens when light traveling from a material with a higher refractive index toward a lower one hits the boundary beyond the critical angle and is reflecte
Physics
The Real Reason the Sky Is Blue: Rayleigh Scattering
Rayleigh scattering, worked out by Lord Rayleigh in 1871, is the scattering of light by particles much smaller than its wavelength, such as air molecules, and it is far stronger fo
Physics
The Secret of Floating Iron Ships: Archimedes' Principle
An object in a fluid is buoyed up by the weight of the fluid it displaces. This piece explains Archimedes’ principle, why buoyancy comes from pressure differences with depth, when
Physics
The Secret of Walking on Water: Surface Tension
Why can a full glass of water bulge above the rim without spilling, and how do water striders walk on ponds? This article explains how surface tension arises, why water's is unusua
Physics
The Secret Behind Curving Balls: The Magnus Effect
Why does a free kick bend and a curveball drop? This article covers Newton's tennis ball, Magnus's cylinder experiment, the pressure difference created by spin, its uses in sports
Physics
When a Small Force Becomes a Big Sway: Resonance
Why does a swing go higher and higher when you push it in rhythm? This article explains what resonance and natural frequency mean, how the swaying grows, its uses in musical instru