Sticky tape X-rays
Peeling sticky tape emits energy that extends into the X-ray regime, reports a study in Nature. The research provides evidence for a phenomenon that was first observed more than 50 years ago.nnIt is well known that unwinding sticky tape produces spar....
More details | Watch nowDark Matter, Dark Energy
Smoot's Nobel Prize was awarded for his analysis of that whisper from the Big Bang, the cosmic microwave background radiation. Today he hopes CERN's data will again transform our understanding of the universe. Young scientists Bilge Demirkoz and Benj....
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Awarded a Nobel Prize for using lasers to control and cool atoms, producing the Bose-Einstein condensation, Bill Phillips is eager to hear about new theories from young scientists like Hannah Venzl. An exciting dialogue develops between them on a boa....
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Fine tuning the frequencies of light gave John Hall a Nobel Prize, and helped transform the fields of precision measurement and information transmission. Iris Choi and Andrei Ghicov are young scientists excited by the ways physics can change our worl....
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David Gross's Nobel Prize was for work on the 'strong' force which acts between quarks inside the atom. Now he works on string theory, hoping to understand how all the forces of nature could be united. He believes the next steps may involve throwing ....
More details | Watch nowMomentum
p=mv. If external forces are zero, momentum is conserved. In collisions, energy may be conserved (elastic) or not (inelastic).
More details | Watch nowDiffraction and Fourier Transforms
Why can’t we see atoms?
John talks about diffraction and the limits it puts on our ability to image atoms. Can we make an electron-microscope without lenses?
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In finite objects, the total external force equals the total mass times the acceleration of a point called the centre of mass.
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Energy and power
The total work done on an object equals the increase in its kinetic energy. For conservative forces, we can define potential energy.
More details | Watch nowThe Physics of Angels and Demons
Professor Harrison Prosper of FSU Physics Department looks at the science behind the recently released movie 'Angels and Demons', starring Tom Hanks and based upon a Dan Brown novel. Prof. Prosper discusses topics such as antimatter, dark matter, dar....
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Carefully distinguish mass and weight. Hooke's law quantifies deformation. Contact forces have normal and frictional components.
More details | Watch nowThe Quantum World abserver by Electron Waves
Dr. Tonomura is a world renowned pioneer and authority in the field of electron holography, for which he has received many national and international recognitions. He is recognized for his contributions in the development of electron holography, the ....
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Light is reflected off a flexible shiny surface fixed to the end of a plastic tube. When one speaks into the tubes sound vibrations pass down the tube and make the surface vibrate. The reflected light is therefore sent off from the surface in a con....
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When two different types of conductors are pushed into a potato chemical reactions take place charging them up - we have a simple electrochemical cell. A potato, zinc screw and carbon rod produce about 1V. We experiment joining a few of these cells u....
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This is a simple yet effective demonstration of electricity generation. 500 turns of wire are wound onto a 35mm film can and the two ends are attached to an LED light. A strong magnet is placed in the can and the lid fixed back in place. The generato....
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When two different metals are placed in a salt solution (an electrolyte) the chemistry produces a voltage. This is called a cell. By wiring up a number of these cells we can make a battery and use it to power electrical circuits.
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Converting wind power into electricity seems like an ideal way of helping to solve our energy problems. However, the power generated by a windmill is dependent on the wind speed. If the wind drops to half its speed there is as little as an 1/8th of t....
More details | Watch nowParabolic Light Collectors
Parabolic surfaces can be used to concentrate energy for example to focus sunlight to heat things. Using an old World War II spot light mirror we demonstrate how easy it it is to concentrate enough energy to cause combustion. Finally, we show how to ....
More details | Watch nowTemperature and States of Matter
Temperature Scales
John Murrell explains scales and colour changes with temperature, boiling and melting,
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