The Physics Trick That Makes These New Super Cars So Insanely Fast
With the extra downward force, the only way for the forces to add up to zero is if the normal force increases. This means the frictional force is greater, so …
forces
Unlock the Secret of a Gravity-Defying Parkour Stunt—With Physics!
We can break that diagonal motion down into horizontal and vertical portions; for now let’s just focus on the former. Say you start with a horizontal velocity (v1) of –1 …
Tuariki Delamere’s Somersault Could Have Launched a New Era in the Olympic Long Jump
However, since this force is applied at the feet, far from the center of mass (r > 0), it’s going to produce a torque. In this case, the torque would …
The Incredible Physics of Simone Biles’ Yurchenko Double Pike
A gymnast can actually perform both of these types of rotation at the same time—that’s what makes the sport so interesting to watch. In physics, we would call this type …
How to Run on the Moon
When the elevator is stopped, the two forces are equal and opposite, and the net force is zero. But if you’re accelerating upward, the net force must also be upward. …
The Quest to Map the Inside of the Proton
“How are matter and energy distributed?” asked Peter Schweitzer, a theoretical physicist at the University of Connecticut. “We don’t know.” Schweitzer has spent most of his career thinking about the …
Why Is Our Solar System Flat?
But the solar system contains more than two masses. In fact, it started as a big cloud of dust without any planets and without the sun, and every speck of …
Why the Polar Vortex Is Bad for Balloon Artists
It’s been crazy cold this week, even down where I live in Louisiana, thanks to an outbreak of a polar vortex. This frigid air is bad for all kinds of …
How to Measure the Impact From a Collision
Not only do I get the “shape” of the acceleration curve for the colliding cart, but I also get a maximum acceleration of –6.67 meters per second squared. With that …
Could a Cockroach Survive a Fall From Space?
There’s some cool stuff going on here. Notice that for the objects with air resistance, they all reach incredibly high velocities as they fall in the upper atmosphere where they …