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10,300
Book Review of Quantum Field Theory by Lewis H. Ryder
physics.pop-ph
Book Review of Quantum Field Theory by Lewis H. Ryder. An observation on Ryder's derivation of Dirac equation is made. The review ends as, "A rare combination of a thorough understanding and appreciation of the essential logical structure of quantum field theory and deep pedagogic skills have intermingled to create a m...
physics
10,301
Aging Random Walks
physics.pop-ph
Aging refers to the property of two-time correlation functions to decay very slowly on (at least) two time scales. This phenomenon has gained recent attention due to experimental observations of the history dependent relaxation behavior in amorphous materials (``Glasses'') which pose a challenge to theorist. Aging sign...
physics
10,302
Quantum-Classical System: Simple Harmonic Oscillator
physics.pop-ph
Problems concerning with application of quantum rules on classical phenomena have been widely studied, for which lifted up the idea about quantization and uncertainty principle. Energy quantization on classical example of simple harmonic oscillator has been reviewed in this paper.
physics
10,303
Book Review: The Quantum Theory of Fields, Vol. I and II by S. Weinberg
physics.pop-ph
Review of the two volume set "The Quantum Theory of Fields" by S. Weinberg is presented.
physics
10,304
A Simple Model for Predicting Sprint Race Times Accounting for Energy Loss on the Curve
physics.pop-ph
The mathematical model of J. Keller for predicting World Record race times, based on a simple differential equation of motion, predicted quite well the records of the day. One of its shortcoming is that it neglects to account for a sprinter's energy loss around a curve, a most important consideration particularly in th...
physics
10,305
And the Winner Is . . . Predicting the Outcome of the 150m Showdown
physics.pop-ph
Using the model framework for curve running as described in physics/9704022, the possible outcome of the 150m "One to One" showdown between sprinters Donovan Bailey and Michael Johnson are discussed (to be run 01 Jun 1997 at Skydome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada).
physics
10,306
What really are the best 100m performances?
physics.pop-ph
A quick and fun investigation into the effects of correcting for wind assistance/resistance and drag on 100m sprint performances. Considered are World 100m rankings, as well as Canadian rankings
physics
10,307
Testing the Sprint Curve Model using the 150m Bailey-Johnson Showdown
physics.pop-ph
Recently, a simple model was derived to account for a sprinter's energy loss around a curve, based on previous sprint models for linear races. This paper offers a quick test of the model's precision by comparing split times from Donovan Bailey's 150m ``Challenge of Champions'' race at Skydome on June 1st, 1997. The dis...
physics
10,308
What was the fastest 100m final?
physics.pop-ph
In a previous article (physics/9705004), the best 100m performances in track and field were determined by accounting for wind effects and atmospheric drag. In this report, I seek to ascertain what was the "fastest" 100m final through a statistical analysis of the competitors' times. Considered are the 100 finals from t...
physics
10,309
Another Dash into the Record Books (wind: -2.1 m/s)
physics.pop-ph
In the wake of numerous injuries and Donovan Bailey's media-stamped "sub-par" 100m victory of 10.03s at the 1997 Canadian Track and Field Championships, a medal hope at the 1997 World Championships seems grim for the Olympic Champion and World Record holder. However, when one considers that the 10.03s was run into a he...
physics
10,310
It's a Wrap! Reviewing the 1997 Outdoor Season
physics.pop-ph
The 100m world rankings of the 1997 outdoor track and field competition season are reviewed, subject to corrections for wind effects and atmospheric drag. The rankings and times are compared with those of 1996, and the improvements of each athlete over the course of a year are discussed. Additionally, the athletes' win...
physics
10,311
How Good Can We Get? Using mathematical models to predict the future of athletics
physics.pop-ph
Track and field world records have risen and fallen throughout the history of the sport. A recent rash of record-breaking performances has prompted the question: "How good can we get?". This article offers a review of several attempts to answer this question, based on mathematical modeling of key physiological processe...
physics
10,312
Integers and Fractions
physics.pop-ph
This article briefly reviews the quantum Hall effect and the contributions of the winners of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physics.
physics
10,313
Physics in a Mirror: The TRIUMF 221 MeV pp Parity Violation Experiment
physics.pop-ph
We measure the difference in the scattering probability when an experiment scattering longitudinally polarized 221 MeV protons from liquid hydrogen is replaced by its mirror image. The result depends on the interplay between the weak and strong interactions in the interesting region near the surface of the proton. The ...
physics
10,314
Night Thoughts of a Quantum Physicist
physics.pop-ph
The most dramatic developments in theoretical physics in the next millennium are likely to come when we make progress on so far unresolved foundational questions. In this essay I consider two of the deepest problems confronting us, the measurement problem in quantum theory and the problem of relating consciousness to t...
physics
10,315
Blind spot may reveal vacuum radiation
physics.pop-ph
This is a Physics World features paper on Chen-Tajima proposal to detect Unruh radiation by means of high-intensity lasers (PRL 83, 256 (1999)).
physics
10,316
9.84 vs. 9.84: The Battle of Bruny and Bailey
physics.pop-ph
At the recent 1999 World Athletics Championships in Sevilla, Spain, Canada's Bruny Surin matched Donovan Bailey's National and former World Record 100 m mark of 9.84 s. The unofficial times for each, as read from the photo-finish, were 9.833 s and 9.835 s respectively. Who, then, is the fastest Canadian of all time? A ...
physics
10,317
A realistic quasi-physical model of the 100 metre dash
physics.pop-ph
A quasi-physical model (having both physical and mathematical roots) of sprint performances is presented, accounting for the influence of drag modification via wind and altitude variations. The race time corrections for both men and women sprinters are discussed, and theoretical estimates for the associated drag areas ...
physics
10,318
The Legality of Wind and Altitude Assisted Performances in the Sprints
physics.pop-ph
Based on a mathematical simulation which reproduces accurate split and velocity profiles for the 100 and 200 metre sprints, the magnitudes of altitude and mixed wind/altitude-assisted performances as compared to their sea-level equivalents are presented. It is shown that altitude-assisted times for the 200 metre are si...
physics
10,319
The Dark Universe: The First Molecules
physics.pop-ph
The dark Universe corresponds to the period between the thermal decoupling matter-radiation and the formation of the first objects. During this epoq, molecules can appeared. In this talk, I will recall the nucleosynthesis processes, then the chemistry of the primordial Universe. I will discuss the influence of the prim...
physics
10,320
Short popular review of quantum electromagnetodynamics
physics.pop-ph
The aim of this note is to give a short and popular review of the ideas which led to my model of magnetic monopoles (hep-ph/9708394) and my prediction of the second kind of electromagnetic radiation. I will also point out the many and far-reaching consequences if these magnetic photon rays would be confirmed.
physics
10,321
The quantum mechanical foundations of philosophy
physics.pop-ph
Many of the most familiar features of our everyday environment, and some of our basic notions about it, stem from Relativistic Quantum Field Theory (RQFT). We argue in particular that the origin of common names, verbs, adjectives such as full and empty, the concepts of identity, similarity, Plato's Universals, natural ...
physics
10,322
Key observational tests of the modern cosmology
physics.pop-ph
Over the last decade, cosmological observations have attained a level of precision which allows for detailed comparison with theoretical predictions. In this paper, we briefly review some studies of the current and prospected constraints imposed by measurements of the cosmic microwave background radiation, of the mass ...
physics
10,323
Research News : Direct observation of neutrino oscillations at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory
physics.pop-ph
A brief description of the path-breaking evidence for the observation of neutrino oscillations at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory is presented and the experimental principles and theory thereof are briefly discussed.
physics
10,324
The basis of discontinuous motion
physics.pop-ph
We show that the instant motion of particle should be essentially discontinuous and random. This gives the logical basis of discontinuous motion. Since what quantum mechanics describes is the discontinuous motion of particles, this may also answer the question 'why the quantum?'.
physics
10,325
Science In Trauma
physics.pop-ph
Quantum theory has been proved as an outstanding mystery in modern science. The predictions of science have turned out to be probabilistic. The principle of determinism has failed. For systems like weather, earthquakes, rolling dices etc... and of course human behavior it has proved impossible, for science, to describe...
physics
10,326
Quantum Gravity Phenomenology
physics.pop-ph
I give a brief non-technical review of "Quantum Gravity Phenomenology" and in particular I describe some studies which should soon allow to establish valuable data-based constraints on the short-distance structure of spacetime.
physics
10,327
World Space Observatory/Ultraviolet (WSO/UV): Progress Report
physics.pop-ph
The World Space Observatory/Ultraviolet (WSO/UV) represents a new mission implementation model for large space missions for astrophysics. The process has been brought up to enable, fully scientific needs driven, a logic to be applied to the demands for large collection powers required to undertake space missions which ...
physics
10,328
Quantitative analysis of directional spontaneous emission spectra from light sources in photonic crystals
physics.pop-ph
We have performed angle-resolved measurements of spontaneous-emission spectra from laser dyes and quantum dots in opal and inverse opal photonic crystals. Pronounced directional dependencies of the emission spectra are observed: angular ranges of strongly reduced emission adjoin with angular ranges of enhanced emission...
physics
10,329
Einstein y la Geometria
physics.pop-ph
This is a semipopular introduction to the Special and General Theory of Relativity, with special emphasis on the geometrical aspects of both theories and their physical implications.
physics
10,330
Aesthetic complexity
physics.pop-ph
Aesthetics, among other criteria, can be statistically examined in terms of the complexity required for creating and decrypting a work of art. We propose three laws of aesthetic complexity. According to the first law of aesthetic complexity, too condensed encoding makes a decryption of a work of art impossible and is p...
physics
10,331
The Effects of Temperature, Pressure, and Humidity Variations on 100 Meter Sprint Performances
physics.pop-ph
It is well known that ``equivalent'' sprint race times run with different accompanying wind speeds or at different altitudes are anything but equivalent races. The drag force acting on a sprinter is a function of air density and the relative wind speed, where the former has traditionally been calculated using the race ...
physics
10,332
The Effects of Temperature, Humidity and Barometric Pressure on Short Sprint Race Times
physics.pop-ph
A numerical model of 100 m and 200 m world class sprinting performances is modified using standard hydrodynamic principles to include effects of air temperature, pressure, and humidity levels on aerodynamic drag. The magnitude of the effects are found to be dependent on wind speed. This implies that differing atmospher...
physics
10,333
The LHC, shining light on the Dark Side
physics.pop-ph
Starting in the summer of 2007, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will collide proton beams at center-of-mass energies of 14 TeV exceeding by a factor of ten what was previously achieved. It will be located in the 27km long underground tunnel, in which the Large Electron Positron collider (LEP) was working until the year...
physics
10,334
Cosmological Singularities
physics.pop-ph
In this expository article we describe the attempt of defining cosmological singularities and we discuss their meaning in classical and quantum cosmology.
physics
10,335
Gamow's bicycle: The Appearance of Bodies at Relativistic Speeds and Apparent Superluminal Velocities
physics.pop-ph
A human creates an image basing on the information delivered by photons that arrived at his retina simultaneously. Due to finite and constant velocity of light these photons left the moving body at different times, since not all points of the body are equidistant. In other words its image represents the body as it was ...
physics
10,336
Interdisciplinary Monte Carlo Simulations
physics.pop-ph
Biological, linguistic, sociological and economical applications of statistical physics are reviewed here. They have been made on a variety of computers over a dozen years, not only at the NIC computers. A longer description can be found in our new book, an emphasis on teaching in Eur.J.Phys. 26, S 79 and AIP Conf. Pro...
physics
10,337
Release angle for attaining maximum distance in the soccer throw-in
physics.pop-ph
We investigated the release angle that maximises the distance attained in a long soccer throw-in. One male soccer player performed maximum-effort throws using release angles of between 10 and 60 degrees, and the throws were analysed using 2-D video. The player's optimum release angle was calculated by substituting math...
physics
10,338
Do we really need the Anthropic Principle?
physics.pop-ph
Dalai Lama suggested a healthy dose of skepticism toward religious pronouncements
physics
10,339
Induced order and reentrant melting in classical two-dimensional binary clusters
physics.pop-ph
A binary system of classical charged particles interacting through a dipole repulsive potential and confined in a two-dimensional hardwall trap is studied by Brownian dynamics simulations. We found that the presence of small particles \emph{stabilizes} the angular order of the system as a consequence of radial fluctuat...
physics
10,340
Scattering of a Baseball by a Bat
physics.pop-ph
A ball can be hit faster if it is projected without spin but it can be hit farther if it is projected with backspin. Measurements are presented in this paper of the tradeoff between speed and spin for a baseball impacting a baseball bat. The results are inconsistent with a collision model in which the ball rolls off th...
physics
10,341
The Effect of Spin on the Flight of a Baseball
physics.pop-ph
New measurements are presented of the lift on a spinning baseball. The experiment utilizes a pitching machine to project the baseball horizontally; a high-speed motion capture system to measure the initial velocity and angular velocity and to track the trajectory over ~5 m of flight; and a ruler to measure the total di...
physics
10,342
Quantum mechanics from a universal action reservoir
physics.pop-ph
A heuristic derivation of quantum mechanics using information theory requires a foundational physical principle: the existence of a universal action reservoir, analogous to the energy reservoir of a canonical ensemble.
physics
10,343
Superstring theories
physics.pop-ph
We briefly review superstring theories, highlighting the important concepts, developments, and open problems of the subject.
physics
10,344
Friendly units for coldness
physics.pop-ph
Measures of temperature that center around human experience get lots of use. Of course thermal physics insights of the last century have shown that reciprocal temperature (1/kT) has applications that temperature addresses less well. In addition to taking on negative absolute values under population inversion (e.g. of m...
physics
10,345
Unification, the Big Bang, and the Cosmological Constant
physics.pop-ph
The two major goals in fundamental physics are: 1) Unification of all forces incorporating relativity and quantum theory, 2) Understanding the origin and evolution of the Universe as well as explaining the smallness of the cosmological constant. Several efforts have been made in the last few decades towards achieving...
physics
10,346
Predicting Baseball Home Run Records Using Exponential Frequency Distributions
physics.pop-ph
A new model, which uses the frequency of individuals' annual home run totals, is employed to predict future home run totals and records in Major League Baseball. Complete home run frequency data from 1903--2005 is analyzed, resulting in annual exponential distributions whose changes can be a used as a measure of progre...
physics
10,347
A novel dual-band balun based on the dual structure of composite right/left handed transmission line
physics.pop-ph
Utilizing the opposite phase shifting property of a standard Composite Right/Left Handed (CRLH) transmission line (TL) and a dual structure of CRLH (D-CRLH) TL, a dual-band balun is designed. The dual-band balun is formed by a 1x2 (3-dB) splitter with a D-CRLH phase-shifting line in the top branch and a CRLH phase-shif...
physics
10,348
String Theory and Einstein's Dream
physics.pop-ph
This article contains a short review of the current status of string theory.
physics
10,349
Albert Einstein: His Annus Mirabilis 1905
physics.pop-ph
Einstein in 1905, his year of miracles, wrote five papers which mark a watershed between classical physics and modern physics. They dealt with problem of reality of atoms, theory of special relativity which overthrew Newtonian conceptions of space and time, and his revolutionary light quantum hypothesis which together ...
physics
10,350
On the quality of the Olmec mirrors and its utilization
physics.pop-ph
Archaeological mirrors from the Olmec civilization were analyzed in the context of bibliography produced in the last two decades. Photographs of its images are showed as a proof of its good quality. Some suggestions are made on its probable utilization.
physics
10,351
Olmec mirrors: an example of archaeological American mirrors
physics.pop-ph
Archaeological mirrors from the Olmec civilization are described according to bibliographic references and to personal observations and photographs.
physics
10,352
Intelligent Life in Cosmology
physics.pop-ph
I shall present three arguments for the proposition that intelligent life is very rare in the universe. First, I shall summarize the consensus opinion of the founders of the Modern Synthesis (Simpson, Dobzhanski, and Mayr) that the evolution of intelligent life is exceedingly improbable. Second, I shall develop the Fer...
physics
10,353
The Truth About Ballistic Coefficients
physics.pop-ph
The ballistic coefficient of a bullet describes how it slows in flight due to air resistance. This article presents experimental determinations of ballistic coefficients showing that the majority of bullets tested have their previously published ballistic coefficients exaggerated from 5-25% by the bullet manufacturers....
physics
10,354
An Acoustic Method for Determining Ballistic Coefficients
physics.pop-ph
This paper presents a method for using a PC soundcard, microphone and a chronograph to determine bullet BC with an accuracy of 6%. This is useful when a second chronograph is unavailable or when the projectile accuracy is insufficient to use a far chronograph.
physics
10,355
Sending and Searching for Interstellar Messages
physics.pop-ph
There is a close interrelation between Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) and Messaging to Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI). For example, the answers to the questions "Where to search" and "Where to send" are equivalent, in that both require an identical selection from the same target star lists. Si...
physics
10,356
Physics in Carnacki's investigations
physics.pop-ph
In the stories of Carnacki, created by the English writer William H. Hodgson and written between 1910 and 1912, we find an interesting mixture of science and fantasy. In spite of the fact that Carnacki is a ghost finder, who investigates in an environment where supernatural is acting, we see the character using technol...
physics
10,357
Tunneling Anisotropic Magnetoresistance in Co/AlOx/Au Tunnel Junctions
physics.pop-ph
We observe spin-valve-like effects in nano-scaled thermally evaporated Co/AlOx/Au tunnel junctions. The tunneling magnetoresistance is anisotropic and depends on the relative orientation of the magnetization direction of the Co electrode with respect to the current direction. We attribute this effect to a two-step magn...
physics
10,358
Fourier optics for polymeric substrates and coating textures analysis
physics.pop-ph
Several devices for substrate texture detection based on diffractive optics, for paper, textiles and non-wovens have been proposed in the past for direct inspection during the production processes. In spite of the presence of devices totally based on image processing, the use of diffractive optics cannot be considered ...
physics
10,359
Plasma treatment advantages for textiles
physics.pop-ph
The textile industry is searching for innovative production techniques to improve the product quality, as well as society requires new finishing techniques working in environmental respect. Plasma surface treatments show distinct advantages, because they are able to modify the surface properties of inert materials, som...
physics
10,360
Paradoxical popups: Why are they hard to catch?
physics.pop-ph
Even professional baseball players occasionally find it difficult to gracefully approach seemingly routine pop-ups. This paper describes a set of towering pop-ups with trajectories that exhibit cusps and loops near the apex. For a normal fly ball, the horizontal velocity is continuously decreasing due to drag caused by...
physics
10,361
Recurrence plots of sunspots, solar flux and irradiance
physics.pop-ph
The paper shows the recurrence and cross recurrence plots of three time series, concerning data of the solar activity. The data are the sunspot number and the values of solar radio flux at 10.7 cm and of solar total irradiance, which are known as highly correlated. To compare the series, the radio flux and irradiance v...
physics
10,362
Putting the Warp into Warp Drive
physics.pop-ph
Over the last decade, there has been a respectable level of scientific interest regarding the concept of a warp drive. This is a hypothetical propulsion device that could theoretically circumvent the traditional limitations of special relativity which restricts spacecraft to sub-light velocities. Any breakthrough in th...
physics
10,363
Role of Compaction Ratio in the Mathematical Model of Progressive Collapse
physics.pop-ph
We derive a mathematical model of progressive collapse and examine role of compaction. Contrary to a previous result by Ba\v{z}ant and Verdure, J. Engr. Mech. ASCE 133 (2006) 308, we find that compaction slows down the avalanche by effectively increasing the resistive force. We compare currently available estimates of ...
physics
10,364
Some new reflections on Mr. Palomar
physics.pop-ph
The character Mr. Palomar, the alter-ego of the Italian author Italo Calvino, appeared for the first time in 1975 on the pages of the "Il Corriere della Sera", and then more or less regularly till its debut as a book in 1983. Through illuminating thoughts and reflections based on observations, for instance, of sea wave...
physics
10,365
Time turns the universal kaleidoscope
physics.pop-ph
This (withdrawn) creative essay intended to consider the appearance of time's arrow in a fully symmetric universe compatible with "pilot wave" or transactional interpretations (D. Bohm or J.G. Kramer, respectively). The (unstated) hypothesis was that, despite unitary time evolution, the inherent Hilbert transform opera...
physics
10,366
Acoustic methods for measuring bullet velocity
physics.pop-ph
This article describes two acoustic methods to measure bullet velocity with an accuracy of 1% or better. In one method, a microphone is placed within 0.1 m of the gun muzzle and a bullet is fired at a steel target 45 m away. The bullet's flight time is the recorded time between the muzzle blast and sound of hitting the...
physics
10,367
Book review of SUPERSTITION by Robert Park
physics.pop-ph
The 2008 book Superstition: Belief in the age of science, by Robert Park, published by Princeton University Press is briefly reviewed.
physics
10,368
Luce, Trasparenze e Cinema tra Arte e Scienza - Light, Transparency and Cinema between Art and Science
physics.pop-ph
From light and physical phenomena to cinema, an interdisciplinary percourse between art and science, from historical and critical references to the ultimate digital frontiers, including digital movies revolution, stereoscopy, holography, interfaces. ----- Dalla luce ed i fenomeni fisici al cinema, un percorso inter...
physics
10,369
Measuring thrust and predicting trajectory in model rocketry
physics.pop-ph
Methods are presented for measuring thrust using common force sensors and data acquisition to construct a dynamic force plate. A spreadsheet can be used to compute trajectory by integrating the equations of motion numerically. These techniques can be used in college physics courses, and have also been used with high sc...
physics
10,370
Hubble, Hubble's law and the expanding universe
physics.pop-ph
Hubble's name is associated closely with the idea of an expanding universe as he discovered the relation between the recession velocity and distances of galaxies. Hubble also did a lot of pioneering work on the distribution of galaxies in the universe. In this article we take a look at Hubble's law and discuss how it r...
physics
10,371
States of matter
physics.pop-ph
This is a written version of a popular science talk for school children given on India's National Science Day 2009 at Mumbai. I discuss what distinguishes solids, liquids and gases from each other. I discuss briefly granular matter that in some ways behave like solids, and in other ways like liquids.
physics
10,372
The Multiverse Hierarchy
physics.pop-ph
I survey physics theories involving parallel universes, arguing that they form a natural four-level hierarchy of multiverses allowing progressively greater diversity. Level I: A generic prediction of inflation is an infinite ergodic universe, which contains Hubble volumes realizing all initial conditions -- including a...
physics
10,373
Difference Principle and Black-hole Thermodynamics
physics.pop-ph
The heuristic principle that constructive dynamics may arise wherever there exists a difference, or gradient, is discussed. Consideration of black-hole entropy appears to provide a clue for setting a lower bound on any extensive measure of such collective system difference, or potential to give rise to constructive dyn...
physics
10,374
At the root of things
physics.pop-ph
Modern theories of fundamental interactions describe strong, electromagnetic and weak interactions as quantum field theories with certain kinds of embedded internal symmetries called `gauge symmetries'. This article introduces quantum field theories and gauge symmetries to the uninitiated.
physics
10,375
Why the Kirnberger Kernel Is So Small
physics.pop-ph
Defining the musical interval of the Kirnberger kernel, or Kirn-kern, to be one-twelfth the atom of Kirnberger, or the difference between a grad and a schisma, its natural logarithm, k = (161/12)\ln{2}-7\ln{3}-\ln{5}, is extremely small, k ~ 0.000000739401. Here an explanation of this coincidence is given by showing th...
physics
10,376
Communicating Science to the Media
physics.pop-ph
It's impossible to anticipate everything a reporter will ask you, but this media training will teach you how to prepare for interviews with print, television or radio journalists and increase your understanding of how to communicate effectively through the media.
physics
10,377
Nanotrend : studying nano-districts gives a new view on nanoscience
physics.pop-ph
The emergence of districts in nanotechnology represents a new pattern of scientific development. The factors affecting their growth are analysed to understand the drivers of economic development. By analyzing the top 200 nano-districts, Nanotrendchart sheds light on the clusterization process: academic production is se...
physics
10,378
The force, power and energy of the 100 meter sprint
physics.pop-ph
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Usain Bolt broke the world record for the 100 m sprint. Just one year later, at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin he broke it again. A few months after Beijing, Eriksen et al. studied Bolt's performance and predicted that Bolt could have run about one-tenth of a...
physics
10,379
Evolution and Earth's Entropy
physics.pop-ph
Entropy decreases on the Earth due to day/night temperature differences. This decrease exceeds the decrease in entropy on the Earth related to evolution by many orders of magnitude. Claims by creationists that science is somehow inconsistent with regard to evolution are thus show to be baseless.
physics
10,380
Pseudo-Degeneracy in Handbell Modes
physics.pop-ph
The vibrational modes of handbells exist in nearly-degenerate pairs which have been split by nonuniformities in the bell. The possibility of intentionally re-combining a pair into pseudo-degeneracy was explored by adding mass to various locations on a C4 handbell. Depending on the location and mass added to the bell, t...
physics
10,381
Numerical Solution of Differential Equations by the Parker-Sochacki Method
physics.pop-ph
A tutorial is presented which demonstrates the theory and usage of the Parker-Sochacki method of numerically solving systems of differential equations. Solutions are demonstrated for the case of projectile motion in air, and for the classical Newtonian N-body problem with mutual gravitational attraction.
physics
10,382
Quark Model and multiquark system
physics.pop-ph
The discovery of many particles, especially in the 50's, when the firsts accelerators appeared, caused the searching for a model that would describe in a simple form the whole of known particles. The Quark Model, based in the mathematical structures of group theory, provided in the beginning of the 60's a simplified de...
physics
10,383
Corked Bats, Juiced Balls, and Humidors: The Physics of Cheating in Baseball
physics.pop-ph
Three separate questions of relevance to Major League Baseball are investigated from a physics perspective. First, can a baseball be hit farther with a corked bat? Second, is there evidence that the baseball is more lively today than in earlier years? Third, can storing baseballs in a temperature- or humidity-controlle...
physics
10,384
Conicoid Mirrors
physics.pop-ph
The first order equation relating object and image location for a mirror of arbitrary conic-sectional shape is derived. It is also shown that the parabolic reflecting surface is the only one free of aberration and only in the limiting case of distant sources.
physics
10,385
Une Chaine de Mesure Permettant de Caracteriser la Performance en Voile
physics.pop-ph
This paper presents the experimental set-up and the analysis tools developed for the performance evaluation in sailing. The measurement system is composed of sensors for the position and attitude of the sail boat, sensors for the wind measurement and some tools for the coach.
physics
10,386
The effect of Mounted Ribs on the Radiation of a Soundboard
physics.pop-ph
The grand piano is one of the most important instruments in western music. Its functioning and details are investigated and understood to a reasonable level, however, differences between manufacturers exist which are hard to explain. To add a new piece of understanding, we decided to investigate the effect of ribs moun...
physics
10,387
Relativistically speaking: Let's walk or run through the rain?
physics.pop-ph
We analyse under a simple approach the problem one must decide the best strategy to minimize the contact with rain when moving between two points through the rain. The available strategies: walk (low speed boost $<<$ $c$) or run (relativistic speed boost $\approx$ $c$).
physics
10,388
Fazendo 3D com uma camera so
physics.pop-ph
A simple system to make stereo photography or videos based in just two mirrors was made in 1989 and recently adapted to a digital camera setup.
physics
10,389
The heavy spring at work
physics.pop-ph
Springs are used in simple demonstrations for the students of Physics classes to illustrate the Hooke's Law and harmonic oscillations. The spring is usually considered as a light object that does not possess a mass. What happens if the spring is heavy, that is, if its mass is not negligible? This paper aims to discuss ...
physics
10,390
On the Paradox of Chilling Water: Crossover Temperature in the Mpemba Effect
physics.pop-ph
Unlike most of the research on the Mpemba effect which has focused on verifying the observation that warm water freezes faster than cold water, our work quantitatively investigates the rates at which hot and cold water cool and the point at which hot water reaches a lower temperature than cold water under a set of exte...
physics
10,391
High-speed measurement of rifle primer blast waves
physics.pop-ph
This article describes a method and results for direct high-speed measurements of rifle primer blast waves employing a high-speed pressure transducer located at the muzzle to record the blast pressure wave produced by primer ignition. Our key findings are: 1) Most of the primer models tested show 5-12% standard deviati...
physics
10,392
Why is the earth not burning ? The earth radiative energy balance
physics.pop-ph
The concept of energy balance is a key one in climate science. Yet, students may find it counterintuitive: while it is obvious that some energy comes in from the sun, the part coming out is more elusive. Asking them why the earth is not burning after billions of years of exposure to the sun, takes them to the question ...
physics
10,393
How does a drinking straw balance work?
physics.pop-ph
We examine working mechanism of a drinking straw balance. Unlike the usual horizontal level balances which rely on the pivotal rotation, a drinking straw balance shows rolling motion. Because of this rolling and relative position between the pin and the center line of a straw, a new equilibrium state is possible after ...
physics
10,394
Quantum Entanglement and Teleportation
physics.pop-ph
Even Einstein has to be wrong sometimes. However, when Einstein was wrong he created a 70 year debate about the strange behavior of quantum mechanics. His debate helped prove topics such as the indeterminacy of particle states, quantum entanglement, and a rather clever use of quantum entanglement known as quantum telep...
physics
10,395
On the maximum sufficient range of interstellar vessels
physics.pop-ph
This paper considers the likely maximum range of space vessels providing the basis of a mature interstellar transportation network. Using the principle of sufficiency, it is argued that this range will be less than three parsecs for the average interstellar vessel. This maximum range provides access from the Solar Syst...
physics
10,396
Would contact with extraterrestrials benefit or harm humanity? A scenario analysis
physics.pop-ph
While humanity has not yet observed any extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI), contact with ETI remains possible. Contact could occur through a broad range of scenarios that have varying consequences for humanity. However, many discussions of this question assume that contact will follow a particular scenario that derive...
physics
10,397
Fernando Sanford and the "Kirlian effect"
physics.pop-ph
In 1894 Fernando Sanford discussed in a paper published by the Physical Review an electric photography technique, which he developed starting from 1891. The images that he published in the paper are clearly showing some fringes about the objects he photographed. Several years after, the fringes appearing in the electri...
physics
10,398
Mystery of the Cosmological Constant
physics.pop-ph
The 2011 Nobel prize in physics has been awarded to S. Perlmutter, A. Riess and B. Schmidt for their path breaking discovery that the rate of expansion of the universe is increasing with time. The trio used Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) as standard candles to estimate their luminosity-distances. To appreciate some of the...
physics
10,399
Is Reality Digital or Analog?
physics.pop-ph
A report of a discussion with Isaac Newton.
physics