Serving Newton

CHAPTER FOURTEEN SERVING NEWTON At the start of the year's University Physics 1 degree course, the Physics Professor looked at the motley crew filling the lecture theatre. He knew some students were destined to survive, while others would drop-out. In a rather callous way, the professor wrote-off the previous twelve years of the students' scientific education before introducing the course. Writing on the board just four symbols, he continued saying "The single most important equation in the Universe is," " F = m a " The experience could be likened to watching the rector at church, singing the praises of the most exalted one. "From this equation" he said, "everything else, all other forces are derived, forces including motion, gravity, electrostatics and magnetism. This can be experimentally proven over-and-over again as a Law of Nature, as a Universal truth. " But this was no rector, this was the bishop, the professor himself outlining Newton's laws of motion, showing the magic relationships that exist in the sciences. The Universe seemed to make sense at that moment, but then his reverent attitude turned. He introduced into this overview scheme of things, three body gravitational systems. At this point, he stated that Newton's laws failed, for "this is where Einstein's approximations come into their own, for only they can accurately predict and solve the forces that

  • Word count: 10405
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Modern Physics - AQA GCE Physics B - Revision Notes

Music and sound * All sounds are formed by a vibration and require a medium to travel through. Sound travel as a longitudinal wave (compression waves) where it forms a series of compression (region of higher pressure than surrounding) and rarefaction (region of lower pressure than surrounding) * Distance between 2 compressions is one wavelength and the frequency is number of waves / compression passing a certain point per second - measured in Hertz (Hz). Wave speed (c) = frequency (f) x wavelength (λ) * Typical human ear can detect frequency ranging from 15 – 20000 Hearts. The frequency below this range is called infrasound and those above are ultrasound. * When sound is turned into electrical signal (i.e. recorded by a microphone) the frequency can be measured with an oscilloscope, here: Frequency = and vice versa, Time period = * The pitch of a sound is produced form the fundamental frequency (lowest frequency when it’s vibrating freely) plus harmonics (multiples of the fundamental frequency). * When hearing sound waves of certain pitches together it produces consonants or harmonics. These sound waves form the basis of a musical interval. I.e. any 2 musical not of frequency ratio of 2:1 are separated by an octave. Whereas 2 notes with frequency ratio of 5:4 are separated by an interval of a third. * Quality can be called timbre. The same frequency note

  • Word count: 9393
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Investigation to determine the viscosity of glycerol.

2007 IMPACT OF TEMPERATURE ON VISCOSITY "Viscosity is the virtue by which a fluid offers resistance to the motion of a solid through it." This document reports on an experiment that examined the relationship between temperature and viscosity. The terminal velocity and up-thrust experienced by a sphere of fixed weight and radius was calculated by dropping it into a measuring cylinder filled with glycerol heated to different temperatures. Using Stokes Law viscosity corresponding to each temperature level was worked out. This generated a range of data points with viscosity corresponding to each temperature level. These data points were statistically analysed. The results corresponded to those indicated by theory i.e. temperature and viscosity are inversely related; as temperature increased viscosity decreased. This report is in five sections. The first details the plan and the science on which the experiment is based. The second describes implementation while the third analyses the results. The fourth section evaluates the both the experiment and its results. The fifth concludes. Plan .1 The Question Is viscosity affected by temperature? When temperature increases does viscosity decrease or increase and if it does are the changes systematic or random? These are the questions I investigate in this experiment. .2 Key Concepts Archimedes' principle "A body immersed in a

  • Word count: 9042
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Technology, Culture & Communications, SEAS.

Introduction Michael E. Gorman Technology, Culture & Communications, SEAS University of Virginia To organize and depict, in abbreviated form, Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone, we [1] have created a series of flowchart "maps" that include every sketch we have been able to locate from Bell's experimental notebooks, patents, depositions in court and correspondence. As the dates on the map indicate, time advances as on the maps from top to bottom. Multiple boxes spreading from right to left at the same time indicate that Bell was pursuing several lines of research at that point. When we say that Bell followed a path to the telephone, it makes his innovation process sound more linear and goal-directed than it really was, though Bell tried very hard to be scientific in his approach [2] and therefore was more linear than his competitors Edison and Gray. We refer to this flowchart as a map because the term flowchart implies more logical structure than does map, which may reflect the wanderings of an inventor. This series of maps is arranged hierarchically. The top level depicts the major experiments along Bell's path to a patent and to a device that successfully transmitted speech. When you click on one of the sketches in boxes on this top level, you will move to a lower-level map, depicting a series of experiments that were subsumed under that higher-level

  • Word count: 8274
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Investigating how temperature affects the resistance in a wire

Aristide Mooyaart 11E Investigating how temperature affects the resistance in a wire Prediction / theory: All substances in the world are made up of protons, neutrons and electrons. All atoms have a nucleus in the centre that is made up of neutrons and protons, and a certain number of electrons circling around it; these electrons circling around the nucleus have a negative charge. These electrons orbit the nucleus in shells; they occupy different shells with the rules that: -The first shells (nearest to the nucleus are always occupied first -The maximum of electrons any shell can hold is 2n^2 (where n = the shell number) -The outer-most shell containing electrons can only hold a maximum of 8 electrons To demonstrate this here is a model of a metal atom (iron): All metals are known as n-type semiconductors as they all conduct electricity but all have resistance at room temperature. Metal atoms can bond together to form a giant structure, which is held together by metallic bonds; this means that there are many free electrons in these structures. This is because the metal atoms in the metallic structure have electrons on the outer-most shell that pass freely from one atom to another; these electrons can carry heat from one metal atom to another (making metals good conductors of heat). The electrons in these metal structures can be 'pushed' in one direction buy a lack of

  • Word count: 7665
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Multi-bladed Pumps. Does the number of propellor blades affect the efficiency of a water pump?

Pumps & Physics Research and Rationale What's new? When I was thinking about which aspect of physics to investigate for my investigation, I knew it was a good idea to choose something that really interested me. At the time I was becoming more and more fascinated by subatomic particles. I liked the fact that much of it was new and not understood properly, unlike the classical physics that everyone associates the subject with. Unfortunately, high energy physics does not translate into good practical coursework. However, while reading Six Easy Pieces, a book adapted from Richard Feynman's famous textbook The Feynman Lectures on Physics, I noticed that a very common everyday phenomenon is still not properly understood by physicists. Encouraged by the prospect of discovering something new, I read on. Chaotic ideas Feynman wrote (on page 66) "There is a physical problem that is common to many fields, that is very old, and that has not been solved...It is the analysis of circulating or turbulent fluids...No-one can analyse it from first principles" "Wow - something science can't explain" I thought. I looked on the internet for further details and I found a poster from World Maths Year 2000 (http://www.newton.cam.ac.uk/wmy2kposters/march/), showing just the type of unpredictable fluid motion that Feynman was writing about. It's a new and exciting branch of maths called

  • Word count: 7663
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

To find which of the circuits, shown below, are most suitable to measure a range of resistances, which the meters (the voltmeter and the ammeter) could be used to measure.

How do I connect this Voltmeter? Aim To find which of the circuits, shown below, are most suitable to measure a range of resistances, which the meters (the voltmeter and the ammeter) could be used to measure. Prediction I did not know which circuit would be the most accurate, to start with so I did a preliminary investigation, which consisted of setting up the two circuits above and then just putting two resistors in each and working out the required resistance. I did not see at the time that different value of resistance would make much of a difference until I commenced with my calculations. I discovered by using resistance values of 2200? and 4700?, that Circuit Two was better. Circuit One 2200? = 2105? by meter readings 4700? = 4364? by meter readings Circuit Two 2200? = 2222? by meter readings 4700? = 4600? by meter readings As you can see from these initial findings Circuit Two is the better circuit for measuring resistance values according to the labelled resistance. Hypothesis The manufacturers' specifications as given on the Voltmeter and Ammeter are as follows: Ammeter - Maximum Current 2mA, resistance 40? Voltmeter - Maximum Pd 5V, Maximum current 100µA After inspecting the above apparatus I have decided that the smallest value of the Current that I can accurately measure is 1 x 10-4 A and the maximum is 2 x 10-3 A. Any higher than 2 x

  • Word count: 7521
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Investigating the factors affecting the size of current flowing through a length of resistivity putty.

04/02/97 ????? GCSE PHYSICS SC1 INVESTIGATION 996/7 INVESTIGATING THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE SIZE OF CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH A LENGTH OF RESISTIVITY PUTTY. CANDIDATE NUMBER 6247 CENTRE NUMBER 15131 PLANNING AIMS The main aim of this investigation will be to investigate the factors that have an effect on the size of the current passing through a length of resistivity putty. I will also try to explain my results using a number of models formulae and theories including Ohm's law, the formula for resistivity and a water model. VARIABLES Below is a list of the variables which are likely to have a major effect on the size of the current passing through a length of resistivity, putty: . The length of putty used. 2. The cross-sectional area of the putty. (Including the amount of contact between the plates and the putty). 3. The temperature of the putty. 4. The voltage across the putty. 5. The resistance of the wires etc. and the contact resistance between the plates and the putty. Other factors, for example the density of the carbon inside the putty, or the pressure at which the experiment is carried out, may also have an effect on the size of the current, however these factors would either be difficult to control in a school physics laboratory or are not likely to have a significant effect compared to the inaccuracies of the experiment. The two

  • Word count: 7146
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Characteristics of Ohmic and Non Ohmic Conductors.

Physics Coursework Characteristics of Ohmic and Non Ohmic Conductors Every part of matter is made up of atoms. Atoms are called the building blocks of nature. These atoms consist of a nucleus and shells. The protons and neutrons are part of the nucleus and the electrons are distributed in shells around the nucleus. The protons have a positive charge, neutrons are not charged and the electrons are negatively charged. Electrons have no overall mass while neutrons and protons both have a mass of 1 unit. This is how the relative atomic mass is calculated, by adding up the number of protons and neutrons. The electrons are distributed in the shell in order of the amount of energy that they hold. So according to that I will introduce the concept of electricity. Electricity is a flow of electrons. Electricity can be transferred by some materials and some cannot transfer it. Conductors are any materials or substances that can allow heat or electricity to pass through them. Conduction means that heat or current is transferred from atom to atom on its way out. Some materials are good conductors; some are bad conductors while some do not conduct at all. Such materials or substances that do not allow heat or current to pass through are called insulators. These insulators usually do not have enough electrons to carry the current and thus they are non-conducting substances. One example

  • Word count: 7032
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Waves and Cosmology - AQA GCE Physics Revision Notes

Matter waves * As waves can behave as a stream of particles, particles can also behave as a wave De Broglie wavelength: λ = where mv is the momentum of the particle * Diffraction rings are where electron waves interfere constructively to produce a maximum - energy gained by electron is equal to the kinetic energy of the electron. Here, electrons are accelerated by a voltage of 2000 V; 2000 x (1.6 x 10-19) = x (9.11 x 10-31) x v2 Mass of electron = 9.11 x 10-31 3.2 x 10-16 = x (9.11 x 10-31) x v2 v2 = 7.025247 x 1014 v = 2.65 x 107 ms-1 So the momentum of electron: (9.11 x 10-31) x (2.7 x 107) = 2.5 x 10-23 kgm/s The de Broglie wavelength: λ = = = 2.6 x 10-11 m * If the accelerating voltage increases, energy and momentum of the electron would decrease the wavelength. Shorter wavelength blue light falling on diffraction grating produced fringes that are closer together than longer wavelengths (red light). * Resolving power is the wavelength of radiation used to determine the smallest object we are able to detect with it. The smaller the wavelength, the better the resolution. I.e. Resolution of visible object is limited by its wavelength of 5 x 10-7 m. In electron microscope, electrons are accelerated through 30000 V have wavelength of about 10-12 m, and so can produce images of object as small as a nanometre. When

  • Word count: 6842
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay