Science universe: Physics articles

Click on image to enlarge A science fair project is a complex activity that requires the coordination and completion of several mini-projects/activities. The first mini-project/activity that you need to complete is to select a topic. The topic needs to be interesting, topical and feasible. The next activity is to start a science journal. This journal will help you to organize your ideas, to collect observations and to take notes about your experiments. The third step is to conduct background research. This can be done through field observations, research in the library or research done online. The fourth step is to complete the scientific method. This step can be further broken down into several steps to make it easier to handle. The final step is to produce your deliverables, the report and the visual display. The report will have a section dedicated to each step in the scientific method. The visual display will reflect the information in your report. You can also add three dim...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Your skin can be left looking dull and lifeless due to poor diet, a bad skincare regime or simply through ageing. Many people try to cover up damaged or dull skin with make-up, rather than actually treating the skin condition itself, which can in turn cause further skin problems such as spots and irritation. So, it is essential that you treat the skin itself instead of covering up the problems, as this will help it to appear healthy and radiant again. Here are the three most important steps to follow for a naturally glowing complexion ... Image via Nico Paix 1. Choose the RIGHT cleanser for you To revitalise and rejuvenate the skin you should use a good cleanser which is appropriate for your skin type - what works for your friend may be doing more damage than good on your own skin, because our skin types are all so unique. Dry skin needs a moisturising cleanser for example whilst oily skin needs one that controls shine, not adds to it. You should cleanse your skin every mornin...

We all know how stressful it is when it comes to getting a new pair of glasses, it may seem as easy as walking in to the opticians, taking a test, picking a frame, paying and then returning in 2 weeks to collect them. This is almost true apart from we tend not to realise the amount of choice there is now and how many additional options are available. Eye Test You start off by booking your eye test at your chosen opticians, you should do your research, look at reviews of previous users, look at what their prices are like and what offers they have in store. Family run opticians or independent firms tend to be the most professional an best for money. It may also be an idea to walk into a few before booking your eye test to have a look at what they have on offer, the prices, and what the staff are like. You could also enquire on the average time for production. Although some opticians seem to have amazing offers they may not be the best opticians when manufacturing the lenses or on staff ...

cc licensed flickr photo shared by IPOXstudios You may believe that you are depressed because occasionally you feel sad or gloomy. However, depression is a treatable illness that affects your mind and body and every aspect of your day-to-day life and activities for a period of time. This clinical condition often requires help and treatment from a mental health professional or a doctor as well as the support of family and friends. About 19 million people in the US suffer from some form of depression. As a common medical condition, clinical depression may result from a number of factors, including your brain’s chemical imbalances, medications, genetics and hormonal and major life changes, including critical illness and divorce. People from all socio-economic backgrounds suffer from depression, with women being affected more than men. The illness also impacts the patient’s family and friends, many of whom neither understand the condition nor are able to help with the challenges it pres...

cc licensed flickr photo shared by austinevan The human body is designed to work collectively, each part of our body is responsible for our overall well-being. Our body works and develops according to the food and nutrition we provide to it. Most of the people are unaware of the fact that our eating habits have a great affect over our mind and its functioning. According to research, a person's diet is capable of enhancing cognitive abilities, counteracts the signs of old age, and provides protection against any damage to our brain. There is a great connection between the food we eat and our brain chemistry. In this article, we are going to discuss the effects food has on your body, and how to change eating habits. How food affects your mind? Our brain chemistry has a deep connection with our eating habits. Brain works by transmitting and receiving electrical impulses or brain waves; it requires neurotransmitters for carrying out these functions. There are different types of neu...

Intake of low fat recipes is one of the effective methods by which you can lose weight. In other words doctors prescribe and recommend the intake of low fat recipes for successful weight loss. There is a growing demand for low fat recipes across the globe thanks to their effectiveness in causing calorie burn. Some of the very popular low fat recipes include fat free hot dogs, low fat turkey chili, healthy burritos, broccoli rice, butternut squash soup, low fat hand tossed pizza, Romanian potato soup and tuna salad. It is important to know that although not all types of pizzas are fat free, you can ask for low fat hand tossed pizza in the pizza shop in your area. This particular type of pizza is low on fat count and hence you would be immensely benefited by its intake when it comes to weight loss. Make sure that you pick only the types of fish that contribute to weight loss especially due to their low fat content. Tuna is one such fish which successfully assists in weight loss. It is...

The main features of the human eye     This image is a simplified diagram of the human eye.      In many respects it is similar to the camera . An image is formed by the eye lens on the sensitive retina at the back of the eye, whence a message is transmitted to the brain by way of the optic nerve . The iris the colored membranous disk,with a pupil in the center. It has two types of muscular fibers: circular and radial . In the bright light   the circular fibers contract and the radial fibers relax : the pupil becomes less in size to reduce the amount of light that enters. in the less light the circular muscles relax, and the radial ones contract. The pupil then becomes wider so that more light will enter to facilitate vision. in other words, the colored portion of the eye automatically adjusts the size of the pupil or circular opening in its center according to the intensity of the light falling on it. Focusing of the image...

cc licensed flickr photo shared by Robert Couse-Baker In any given year, 25% of adults will be diagnosed with a mental health condition. What follows are the most common mental health problems Americans face. Phobias About 2.2% of phobia sufferers are diagnosed with agoraphobia, the fear of open spaces. This fear causes panic when a person feels crowded or thinks they will be unable to find a place to escape should they be trapped. Another 4.4% are diagnosed with a specific phobia, such as fear of heights. These fears produce sweating, rapid heart rate and panic when confronted by the fear. Finally, 3.7% of people are found to have social anxiety. This condition surfaces when the person has to interact socially with others. Saying the wrong thing on a regular basis, being unsure of how to approach someone in conversation and feeling like a misfit can also be signs of a social phobia. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Once thought to only affect children, ADHD is presenting...

   This is the second part of our discussion about dispersion and color . And we’ll learn about: 1- Color of objects in white light. 2- Light filters. 3- Appearance of colored objects in colored light. 4- Primary and secondary colors. 5- Mixture of colored lights. 6- Mixing colored pigments. and 7- Infrared and ultraviolet light. So let’s begin our course! . Mixing colored lights explained 1- Color of objects in white light When white light falls on any particular body, then either all the colors in white light may be reflected from the body, when it appears white, or only some of them may be reflected while the others are absorbed. In the latter case the body appears colored. The energy of light absorbed is generally converted into internal energy (for more details about internal energy, read work, energy and power part 2 ) so that the body becomes slightly warmer . The color which the body presents to the eye is the the color of light which it reflec...