Perigee is a term used to describe the closest point at which an object orbits the Earth or another object in space. When an object is at its perigee, it travels faster than it does at any other point in its orbit because it is under the influence of the strongest gravitational force that its source gives, which propels it further in its orbital path. How Perigee Works Although there are several different types of orbits that an object can take around its source, most objects travel in an elliptical Read More

Tides are caused by the gravitational attractions between the Moon and the Earth. At some times, though, the gravitational pull of the Sun can lead to an even larger tide. The basics of a tide is that they are higher and lower depending on where the Moon is. If the Moon is right over that area, the tide will be low because the Earth is moving in that direction. If the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth, the tide will be high because the Earth is being Read More

The Coriolis effect is the tendency for a moving body that is on or above the Earth’s surface to drift sideways from its intended course due to the Earth’s rotation. The direction of drift is to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This is because the Earth’s surface rotates to the east at a faster speed near the equator than near the poles. Who Discovered the Coriolis Effect? French scientist, Gustave-Gaspard Coriolis, is given credit for first discovering the Coriolis effect by Read More

Linalool is a chemical derived from flower and spice plants as a naturally occurring terpene alcohol. It is used in a variety of applications and the Environmental Protection Agency has approved its use as a pesticide, flavor agent, and scent. It can be used on people/pets and outdoors safely, without being a threat to wildlife. Linanool has a pleasant scent that is closely related to a spicy floral tone. It is used in consumer goods such as cosmetics, lotions, creams, shampoos, perfumes, etc. It is commonly listed under ingredients for Read More

Levitation is a phenomenon in which an object appears to 'float' in mid-air without wires or strings. Acoustic levitation is levitation using sound waves that counteract the pull of gravity and make an object float in mid-air. The Principles behind Acoustic Levitation Sound is a disturbance or vibration that moves through a medium (air, liquids or solids) in the form of waves. The source of sound is any object that moves or rapidly changes shape which causes the air around the object to vibrate. Consider a bell that is struck, Read More

The Kelvin Scale is a thermometric scale used in physical science to describe the absolute temperature of an object, substance, or area. While Fahrenheit and Celsius scales measure temperature, the Kelvin Scale defines temperatures relative to an object’s thermodynamic movement. As a result, the Kelvin Scale does not use degrees, but simply a number followed by “K” for Kelvin. The Kelvin Scale begins at absolute zero (equivalent to -273.15° C), which is the temperature at which all objects stop moving, and ends at the triple point of water (equivalent to Read More

Electroluminescence is the phenomenon where a material emits light when electricity is passed through it. It is one of the greatest discoveries of the twentieth century and other forms of luminescence, including incandescence, chemiluminescence, cathodoluminescence, triboluminescence, and photoluminescence rival it. Electroluminescence generally involves a material producing light without producing heat. It is different from black body light emission, which only mechanical actions produce. How Electroluminescence Works Electroluminescence is produced when an electric current is passed through a semiconductor with tiny holes. As excited electrons pass over these holes, they are Read More

The speed of light in MPH is 670,616,629 mph, 299,792,458 meters per second, or 186, 282 miles per second. Light takes approximately one second to travel the 238,854 miles to the moon. The speed of light is considered a physical constant that is used in many areas of physics. This is because light always travels at this speed in space or in a vacuum regardless of the measurement source or observer. The most popular use of the speed of light is in Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, E=mc^2, where c Read More

Electromotive force is the electrical potential energy that causes current to flow through a circuit. It results from the difference in charge between two points in a material. This difference is created when an external source such as a battery makes electrons move to both points so that there is an excess at the first point and a deficiency at the other. The volt is the unit that describes the energy that the source of electric power supplies that drives the unit charge within or around the circuit. Electromotive force Read More

Developed in the 1920s by a group of physicists, quantum electrodynamics is the quantum field theory that is employed for electrodynamics. Its general purpose is to describe how matter and light interact with each other. Physicists are able to mathematically describe all different types of phenomena that involve the electrically charged particles that are interacting by exchanging photons. Because quantum electrodynamics has been known to provide tremendously accurate predictions – especially in cases of the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron – that one physicist referred to quantum electrodynamics as Read More