Science universe: Physics articles

Big universe poster “The biggest animal is the blue whale.” Every kindergarten student proudly stores away this nugget of trivia, ready to pull it out at just the right moment so Grandma and Grandpa will ooh and ah and buy the precocious little cherub an ice cream cone. However, you aren’t in Kindergarten any more, and you know that the blue whale doesn’t quite make the top of the All Things Gargantuan list. In fact it barely makes the list at all. But how does the blue whale compare to, say, a crab nebula or to the Triangulum Galaxy? This poster will put into perspective all things size-related, from the hydrogen atom up to the observable universe. Relative size matters. If the blue whale were really all that big, he’d be sporting a milk mustache from his laps across the Milky Way. Thinking to look at relative sizes reveals facts we might not otherwise consider. For example, the cost of gas today would be $13.50 per gallon if its cost had kept up with the cost of health care. I...

This is going to be a long article. You can save your time by Save as pdf: Facts about magnetism   Brief history about magnets   As early as 600 B.C. the Greeks knew that a certain form of iron ore, now known as magnetite or lodestone , had the property of attracting small pieces of iron. Later, during the Middle Ages, crude navigational compasses were made by attaching pieces of lodestone to wooden splints floating on bowls of water . These splints always come rest pointing in a N-S direction, and were the forerunners of the modern aircraft and ship compasses. The word lodestone is derived from an old English word meaning way , and refers to the directional property of the stone. Chemically, it consists of iron oxide having the formula Fe3O4. The word magnetism is derived from Magnesia , the place where magnetic iron ore was first discovered . Magnetic poles If a piece of lodestone is dipped into iron filings it is noticed that the filings cling in tufts, usually...

Stable, Unstable and Neutral Equilibrium      A student playing with a pencil soon learns that it is scarcely possible to make it balance on its point. On the other hand, it is comparatively easy to make the pencil stand upright on a flat end.   In order to understand the difference between these two cases let us consider a wooden cone placed on a horizontal table. 1- unstable equilibrium   A cone cannot be made to stand on its tip. Theoretically, this feat might be possible if the cone could be placed with its center of gravity exactly in a vertical line through through the tip. What are the forces involved here?   The cone would then be in equilibrium under the action of the force of gravity on it acting downwards and an equal and opposite reaction to its weight exerted on it by the table. But even if this condition could be achieved momentarily, the slightest vibration of the draught would inevitably cause the cone to tilt. The force ...

Post-menopausal women whose diets are high in trans-fats are at an increased risk for strokes, according to a recent study. Data from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study involving 80,725 women ages 50 to 79 whose general health was good, showed that over a three-year period, women with the highest intake of trans-fats suffered ischemic strokes at a 39% greater rate than those whose diets were lowest in trans-fats. Ischemic strokes occur because of blockage in the blood vessels leading to the brain. The American Heart Association reports that 137,000 Americans die from strokes each year, 60% of whom are women. Only trans-fats were found to contribute to the elevated stroke risk. The research showed no significant connection between cholesterol in the women's diets, their total fat intake or other types of fats and the increased risk. What are Trans-Fats? Understanding different types of fats can be confusing. We know that there are good fats, and bad fats. We...

       On discussing Newton’s law of universal gravitation , We have  seen a body is attracted to the earth by the force of gravity. This statement, however, says nothing about the point of application of the force, so we shall now discuss this ‘as I promised in our previous post’. Definition of Center of gravity ‘mass’: Any particular body, a stone, for example, may be regarded as being made up of a very large number of tiny equal particles, each of with is pulled towards the earth. The earth’s pull on the stone thus consists of a very large number of equal parallel forces . These will have a resultant which is equal to the total force of gravity on the stone, and it will act through a point G called the center of gravity . Center of gravity of a body is defined as the point of application of the resultant force due to the earth’s attraction on it.   You can do it at home, with a ruler or pencil A ruler can be made to balance on a finger-tip...

There are a number of reasons why a woman may experience hair loss. Causes of hair loss in women include hormonal changes,fungal infections, medical treatments, stress, overprocessing, poor nutrition and medical conditions. Hormonal changes Hormonal changes in a woman's body can lead to hair loss. After pregnancy, women can experience some hair loss. This is because that during pregnancy there are high levels of hormones in a woman's body that causes retention of hair that would fall out normally. About three to four months after giving birth, women start to lose hair as pre pregnancy hormone levels return and the hair loss and growth cycle resumes. Hormonal changes experienced during menopause and with gland conditions, can also result in hair loss. Similarly, birth control pills cause hormonal changes that can lead to hair loss in women who start taking it or discontinuing its use. Fungal infections Fungal infections can also cause hair loss in women. In particular, fu...

cc licensed flickr photo shared by Beverly & Pack According to experts there are many ways to increase life span. In today's day and age it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with all of the latest health trends and fads. Here are 5 easy things anyone can do to lengthen their lifespan. Have Sex Studies have shown that a good sex life can actually improve your health! How? Regular sexual activity increases blood flow, lower blood pressure, helps with improving cholesterol levels, and even increases circulation throughout the entire body. Sex exercises the heart as well, causing the heartbeat to rise up to 150 or more beats a minute. Worried about stroke or heart attacks? Sex can decrease the possibility of these devastating medical emergencies by half. Stay Active Everyone knows that exercise is good for the body, but it can also help you live longer. A study performed in Taiwan shows that adding a mere 15 minutes of exercise to your day may decrease your risk o...

Do you know what alcohol actually does to your body and the way you look? Apparently, there are different haunting effects of alcohol that people may not be aware of. Let us first determine why people take alcohol. Often times, alcohol is seen as a means to "belong to a crowd" or to get that "lightheartedness" feeling that people long for, especially after a long day. However, it is necessary to look beyond this and what it actually does to you and your body, upon having too much. Don't get me wrong, you don't have to completely give up drinking alcohol. In fact, studies have proven that a small amount of red wine is beneficial to the heart. (Take note: small amounts) Yes, alcohol may have its benefits, but only up to a point. How Alcohol Affects Your Body The thing is, too much alcohol makes one vulnerable to different complications. When we're drunk, we lose sight of our behavior, feelings, emotions, and what is actually happening around us. But ...

Weight loss is an idea that penetrates the minds of many people and for this reason scientists are working endlessly to find more and more weight loss remedies every day. The ingredients we would find at the local market or those in our homes are now being studied carefully so scientists can improve diets for weight loss. A diet which limits itself to salads only is now being known to void the body of nutrients which are needed and the weight loss through this process would also be temporary. Thus efforts are being made to make this diet more comprehensive, while also allowing remedies for permanent weight loss to be developed. Apple cider vinegar has recently caught the attention of many scientists in terms of weight loss. While the effectiveness has been confirmed by many who have used it over time, the technique which the apple cider vinegar uses to help weight loss is still being studied. Some of the results have confirmed a few factors, while others remain a mystery. It has been...

cc licensed flickr photo shared by katerha Many Americans live hectic and rushed lifestyles that lead to added stress. When we eat on the run, or over self- indulge in bad habits, it becomes more cumbersome to pay attention to our health. Every day on the news, we hear about new research and studies that say what to eat and not eat. It is important to pay attention to the fast-paced change of health news with light consideration, and stay focused on the most basic rules. That is to balance life with a healthy lifestyle, diet, and exercise. Here are some beneficial health tips to keep in mind: 1. Aerobics Will Make a Significant Impact in Improving Health Most people are aware that aerobic exercise is great for losing weight. However, intensive exercise that maintains elevated heartbeat and breathing levels is good particularly for losing fat in areas of the body where it is difficult to lose, such as the lower abdomen. Aerobics contributes in keeping the heart, lungs, and muscles s...

This is a quote I like very much:   “Great minds have purposes, others have wishes.” Washington Irving Now let’s have a purpose, learning :) Every time we open a door, turn on a tap or tighten up a nut with a spanner, we exert a turning force . Two factors are involved here, 1- The magnitude of of the force applied 2- The distance of its line of action from the axis or fulcrum about which turning takes place . A very large turning effect can be produced with a comparatively small force provided the distance from the fulcrum is large. For this reason, it is easier to loosen a tight nut with a long spanner than with a short one.   Experienced mechanics are aware that long spanners must be used with care, as it is easy to strip screw threads by too large a turning force. I think you –my dear reader- are ready for the following definition. The moment of the force The combined effect of the force and distance which determines the magnitude of the t...

In today's interconnected world we humans work with tekkie gadgets for hours and hours upon end each day. And though technology has made for some great advances in terms of ease of communication it can still hurt the body quite a bit to be at a computer all day. And sadly, the strain on your body is a slowly developing thing that will most likely only rear its ugly head once you're in some deep trouble. To help prevent computer-usage injuries don't forget to occasionally give yourself a physical checklist. Eye strain If you find yourself getting numerous tension headaches or discover you're squinting at the screen on a regular basis then you may be experiencing eye strain. To help avoid such a thing be sure to take needed breaks from long stints at the computer. If you're deep in the trenches of a deadline and can't afford to step away as often as you need then at bare minimum take moments to look away from the screen, either by gazing out a window, letting y...

Weight loss entails a lot of hard work and self-discipline, making it a very difficult feat to achieve. Moreover, weight loss does not stop when you have finally lost a few pounds. In order to maintain your weight, you need to impose continuous hard work and self-discipline. Due to all these strict requirements, many people wish that weight loss was easier to achieve. As a result, they easily believe and fall prey to those who are trying to take advantage of them. People who want to lose weight are easily tricked into trying unhealthy diet plans and buying worthless exercise machines. Careful selection of a diet plan is essential to maintain one's health while trying to lose weight. However, many weight loss plans out there neglect the nutritional aspect of a diet and just concentrate on shedding off extra layers of fat. Here are the tell-tale signs your diet plan is detrimental to your health. Promises Instant Weight Loss A slow and steady weight loss plan is ideal. It gives t...

What is the Bladder? The organ that we have in the lower abdomen is called a "bladder". This is the organ where urine (made by the kidneys) is collected/stored for later excretion. The collection of urine allows the bladder to expand like a balloon. When the bladder fills up and reaches its maximum capacity, the wall of the bladder contracts. This action is easily controlled by adults with regard to the timing, hence why infants (and in some cases, older people) can’t control when they urinate. When ready to let go, the urethra relaxes and the urine is excreted from the bladder. Then the urine slowly flows through a narrow tube and is excreted out; this procedure in total is called urination. Bladder cancer is when the normal cells go through a lot of transformation, growing and multiplying without any control. When these cells multiply and form like a group it is called a tumour. This tumour increases in size every time there is an addition of cells. The increase in si...

 You’ve just sent your RSVP stating that you will be attending your high school reunion. Now the panic has set in! You haven’t seen these people in years. How can you look your best without a huge budget or a professional stylist? Does this sound familiar? Even if you don’t have the budget for the latest injectable fillers or expensive cosmetic procedures, there are things that you can do to look and feel younger. If you’ve got an important event on your calendar, follow the tips below to look your best. Sleep. Nothing makes you look more haggard than lack of sleep. If you want to look like a knock-out, don’t burn the midnight oil. Got to sleep early. If a late night is in your immediate future, plan for it accordingly by taking a nap earlier in the day. Drink plenty of water. We all know this one but most of us still don’t follow this rule. Try giving your water by flavor by cutting up some cucumbers or adding lemon. If you’re a coffee drinker, make sure to pour up a tall ...