torque – Esoteric news

February 1, 2017

Spill-Proof Cups Aren’t Magic. They’re Physics!

There is a popular mug that doesn't spill. Here's how it might work, along with an estimate of the maximum tipping force to knock it over. The post Spill-Proof Cups Aren't Magic. They're Physics! appeared first on WIRED.

September 9, 2016

Let’s Calculate the Mass of Netflix’s Luke Cage

In this image from the Luke Cage series, we see Luke lifting up some dude. From this we can calculate an estimate for the mass of Luke. The post Let’s Calculate the Mass of Netflix’s Luke Cage appeared first on WIRED.

August 29, 2016

How to Use Physics to Paddle Board Like a Pro

If you paddle on just one side of a stand up paddle board, the board will turn to the other side. If you use a different stroke and torque, it can go straight. The post How to Use Physics to Paddle Board Like a Pro appeared first on WIRED.

August 10, 2016

How Olympic Gymnasts Use Physics to Pull Off Those Crazy Twists

The twist is a rotational motion about an axis from head to feet. But how do you perform such a maneuver? Here are three ways. The post How Olympic Gymnasts Use Physics to Pull Off Those Crazy Twists appeared first on WIRED.

June 28, 2016

Jay Leno Can’t Do Flips in a Car and Not Expect Us to Do the Physics

In this video, Jay Leno rides with Bob Riggle in a high power car. The car pulls a wheelie and then ends up rolling. Here is the physics behind both of these events. The post Jay Leno Can’t Do Flips in a Car and Not Expect Us to Do the Physics appeared first on WIRED.

April 29, 2016

Don’t Put a Crane Outside a Physicist’s Window if You Don’t Want Some Math

With construction next door, I keep seeing physics examples. Here I calculate the torque and forces on a large crane. The post Don't Put a Crane Outside a Physicist's Window if You Don't Want Some Math appeared first on WIRED.

April 7, 2016

The Physics Behind Another Bogus Perpetual Motion Machine

I said I wouldn't look at these silly machines anymore, but I decided to do another one. Here is a popular video showing a perpetual motion machine and the reason it won't work. The post The Physics Behind Another Bogus Perpetual Motion Machine appeared first on WIRED.

September 4, 2015

The Physics of How That Star Wars BB-8 Toy Works

Sphero has a toy version of the BB-8 droid from Star Wars VII. How does it work? Magnets?

The post The Physics of How That Star Wars BB-8 Toy Works appeared first on WIRED.

September 2, 2015

Just How Far Can a Motorcycle Lean in a Turn?

In MotoGP races, you will often see motorcycles in a turn with extreme lean angles. Can we calculate the lean angle based on turning acceleration and coefficient of friction? Yes.

The post Just How Far Can a Motorcycle Lean in a Turn? appeared first on WIRED.

August 31, 2015

I Used Physics to Calculate How Much Yoda Weighs

In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke does a one-armed handstand with Yoda balanced on his foot. Using this, I can estimate the mass of Yoda.

The post I Used Physics to Calculate How Much Yoda Weighs appeared first on WIRED.