Dot Physics – Page 19 – Esoteric news

June 16, 2016

This Is the Only Way to Solve the Three-Body Problem

What is the three body problem and how do you solve it? Really, the only way to solve this problem is with a numerical calculation. The post This Is the Only Way to Solve the Three-Body Problem appeared first on WIRED.

June 9, 2016

It’s Tougher to Be Bored Than Ever Before. And That’s No Good

Boredom isn't such a bad thing. Put down your phone and let yourself be bored. Here are some things your kids can do this summer. The post It’s Tougher to Be Bored Than Ever Before. And That’s No Good appeared first on WIRED.

June 6, 2016

Are Expensive Bicycle Wheels Worth the Money? Let’s Check the Physics

If you decrease the drag by just a little bit, you can get significant power savings on a bicycle. However, these savings are only worthwhile at high speeds. The post Are Expensive Bicycle Wheels Worth the Money? Let’s Check the Physics appeared first on WIRED.

June 2, 2016

The Physics Behind Captain America’s Ricocheting Shield

Captain America likes to throw his shield so that it bounces off multiple surfaces. How difficult would these kinds of throws be? The post The Physics Behind Captain America's Ricocheting Shield appeared first on WIRED.

May 27, 2016

How the Textbook Industry Tries to Hook Your Prof

Textbook reps often stop by to promote a particular book. Here are my thoughts on physics textbooks in general. The post How the Textbook Industry Tries to Hook Your Prof appeared first on WIRED.

May 24, 2016

We Swear There’s a Reason to Model This Ball Bouncing Off a Wall

When light reflects off a mirror, the incident angle is equal to the reflected angle. Is the same true for a ball bouncing off a wall? The post We Swear There's a Reason to Model This Ball Bouncing Off a Wall appeared first on WIRED.

May 20, 2016

A New Record for Physics Graduates

Seven people graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a degree in physics. This is a big deal. No, really. The post A New Record for Physics Graduates appeared first on WIRED.

May 17, 2016

The Independence Day: Resurgence Spaceship Has Its Own Gravity

In the trailer for Independence Day: Resurgence, the alien spacecraft seems to gravitationally lift some buildings. What kind of mass would it have to have to do this? The post The Independence Day: Resurgence Spaceship Has Its Own Gravity appeared first on WIRED.

May 16, 2016

Physics Says Hollywood Shrank the Angry Birds for Their Leading Roles

In a previous analysis of the Angry Birds game, I found the size of the birds to be quite large. How big are the birds in the Angry Birds Movie? The post Physics Says Hollywood Shrank the Angry Birds for Their Leading Roles appeared first on WIRED.

May 11, 2016

Go Ahead, Connect an Inductor and Capacitor and See What Happens

What happens when you connect a charged capacitor to an inductor? You get an oscillating circuit. Here's how it all works. The post Go Ahead, Connect an Inductor and Capacitor and See What Happens appeared first on WIRED.