Blame Feynman

Posted on July 7, 2009 by swansont

Built on Facts: Failures of Cuteness in Physics

There’s a unit of cross-sectional area used in nuclear physics equal to a trillionth of a trillionth of a square centimeter. It’s roughly the cross-section of a heavy atomic nucleus, and it’s used to discuss interactions with incoming particles. You could say in some ways it’s a measure of how easy it is to hit a nucleus with a projectile like a neutron. A big nucleus is as easy to hit as the broad side of a barn. And the unit is called the barn, for exactly that reason. I have no evidence, but I blame Feynman anyway.

Inventing Money

Posted on July 7, 2009 by swansont

Invent, Invent, Invent

Innovation — science and engineering — is the key to a sustainable economy.

Lately, there has been way too much talk about minting dollars and too little about minting our next Thomas Edison, Bob Noyce, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Vint Cerf, Jerry Yang, Marc Andreessen, Sergey Brin, Bill Joy and Larry Page. Adding to that list is the only stimulus that matters. Otherwise, we’re just Russia with a printing press.

Sunny Side Up

Posted on July 7, 2009 by swansont

If at first you don’t succeed … Fry, fry again

The Oatman sidewalk egg fry. Cook your eggs, using the sun.

The egg fry began at high noon, with temperatures coming in at 105 degrees at the start of the event, slightly cooler than organizers and contestants would have liked. The spectators, though, were appreciative.

Perhaps the most innovative – and certainly most effective – method of frying eggs on Saturday was that of Eric Schmidt and Xinaxiao Chou from Cibola, Ariz. Using a Frensel lens to intensify the heat, Schmidt was able to cook a perfect – and edible – sunny-side up egg in about 60 seconds.

(Some strange physics commentary, though, about sequestering Carbon.)

via

(note to self: bring Fresnel lens on vacation …)

Don't Be Such a Negative Nelly

Posted on July 6, 2009 by swansont

Skulls in the Stars: Some musings on negative refraction

[I]s a negative refractive index necessary to have negative refraction? In fact, the answer is a resounding “no”, as apparently many researchers were aware even when Pendry’s first paper came out.

I Didn't Check with Houston

Posted on July 6, 2009 by swansont

But I was ‘go’ for launch. A couple of antacid tablets in a pill bottle with a snap-cap. A shelf glued to the inside lets the tablets stay dry until you tip it over. Launch happens after ~15-30 seconds. Not really an indoor toy, but …

Not Part of the Solution

Posted on July 6, 2009 by swansont

Aqueous

Things in water.

Check out Smoke, too

One Up on the Alpha Betas

Posted on July 5, 2009 by swansont

Unlike the outcome in Revenge of the Nerds, my fireball did not result in the destruction of my residence.

(The source is a spray bottle containing rubbing alcohol, rather than me spitting grain alcohol)

Yes, it's Rocket Science

Posted on July 4, 2009 by swansont

Basics of space flight: orbital mechanics

Orbital mechanics, also called flight mechanics, is the study of the motions of artificial satellites and space vehicles moving under the influence of forces such as gravity, atmospheric drag, thrust, etc. Orbital mechanics is a modern offshoot of celestial mechanics which is the study of the motions of natural celestial bodies such as the moon and planets. The root of orbital mechanics can be traced back to the 17th century when mathematician Isaac Newton (1642-1727) put forward his laws of motion and formulated his law of universal gravitation. The engineering applications of orbital mechanics include ascent trajectories, reentry and landing, rendezvous computations, and lunar and interplanetary trajectories.