Linear momentum ( p ) will be maximally conserved when two particles moving towards one another with a constant velocity ( v ) along a straight line collide: p1i + p2i = p’1f + p’2f Things become somewhat more complicated when some measurable entity is maximized or minimized when it passes through some other entityContinue reading “MATHEMATICS: The Unit Circle, Sine, Cosine, and Tangent Functions”
Author Archives: George Tafari
STATIC EQUILIBRIUM: Concurrent Force Systems
Q1: A 200 N force ( F ) is used to stabilize a system of pulleys within an industry’s weighing station. The system’s weighing receptacle is filled with a quantity of liquid that results in 150 N of force exerted in the vertical direction. If the pulley to the right is at a 20o angleContinue reading “STATIC EQUILIBRIUM: Concurrent Force Systems”
FLUIDS: Torricelli’s Theorem and the Conservation of Energy
The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but it does have the ability to change forms. Take for example an object of mass ( m ) that has been raised to some arbitrary height ( h ). The work ( W ) done on the object isContinue reading “FLUIDS: Torricelli’s Theorem and the Conservation of Energy”
SOLIDS: Strength
A linear relationship exists between the strain ( ϵ ) imposed upon a material type and the corresponding stress ( σ ) needed to cause such a deformation; well, up to a limit : The linear portion of the slope corresponds to magnitudes of strain that will cause a material to flex and snap backContinue reading “SOLIDS: Strength”
FLUIDS: Pascal’s Principle, Conservation of Mass, and Conservation of Energy
Like all other systems, fluids that travel within closed systems abide by all of the laws of physics. This claim can be validated via mathematical derivations that begin with Pascal’s principle. In short, Pascal’s principle states that a change in pressure within a fluid is equally distributed throughout a system provided that the fluid isContinue reading “FLUIDS: Pascal’s Principle, Conservation of Mass, and Conservation of Energy”
SOLIDS: Strain
We have seen how the spring constant ( k ) varies in proportion to the magnitude of force ( Fs ) acting within a springy system. Consider the two systems below, where three physically identical spring systems are used to create two systems, one on the left with the other to the right of theContinue reading “SOLIDS: Strain”
SOLIDS: Stress
In a previous question-and-answer sequence, the spring constant ( k ) for a car’s shock absorbers was determined. Interestingly enough, when the net force exerted by all four shock absorbers was determined, an entirely different spring constant of ( k’ ) was derived. Why would the fraction of the system’s net force ( ¼ FsContinue reading “SOLIDS: Stress”
SOLIDS: The Potential Energy of a Spring
An unbalanced force that influences the motion of an object will cause it to experience an acceleration ( a ). If such an object is opposed by some equal and opposite force ( F ), it will move with a constant velocity ( v ). Maintenance of this type of motion requires energy ( JContinue reading “SOLIDS: The Potential Energy of a Spring”
SOLIDS: Elasticity
When a force is applied to an object, it responds in a manner that is dependent upon its molecular composition. Some objects are easily ( and permanently ) deformed by forces applied to them. In other cases, an object will recoil and return to its original form after being temporarily deformed by a force. ObjectsContinue reading “SOLIDS: Elasticity”
SOLIDS: The Size of Atoms
Prior to advances in x-ray scattering technology, creativity and mathematics were the tools used to estimate the size of atoms. As it turns out, the accuracy of such estimates was best when information about solids was used in calculations. Since solids and liquids can only be compressed to a negligible extent, we are at libertyContinue reading “SOLIDS: The Size of Atoms”
RENAISSANCE PHYSICS 