Xenon is a noble gas–found all the way to the right on the periodic table of elements–that is odorless, colorless and heavy. It has many different uses, but one of the biggest uses that it has is the use in light bulbs. The reason for this is because when xenon is excited, it gives off …
The fifth state of matter is actually the first phase of matter. It is called a Bose-Einstein Condensate. Matter in the fifth state is really slow moving and extremely condensed. It only exists at near absolute zero temperatures and is very fragile and unstable. It was discovered in 1995 by Eric Cornell and Carl Weiman through experimentation with rubidium, …
During the nineteenth century the main theory in physics was still Newtonian Mechanics. With the advances in electricity, magnetism and the studies about light, it was clear that the theory had its limitations. The limitations appeared in the limits of the too small (atomic size) or the too fast (light speed). The study of the …
There are many different kinds of energy but the single most widely used in society as well as in nature is chemical energy. Chemical energy allows energy to be stored for later use and it is also easy to access. Without chemical energy, many of the luxuries and even basic necessities that people have grown …
The term microfarad is used to describe a unit of capacitance that is 0.000001 farad. The symbol that represents a microfarad is µF. It is commonly used in utility alternating-current and audio frequency circuits. The capacitors that are found in them normally have a rating of 1 µF or more. However, even smaller capacitors are …
Magnetic Permeability is a term refers to the ability of a material to gain or maintain magnetism. When certain materials are placed in a magnetic field they become magnetized. For example, when you take a piece of iron and rub it on a substance already magnetized or a magnet, it will become magnetized and have a …
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 …
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 …
What are Alpha Particles? An alpha particle is a type of ionizing radiation that is exerted from radioactive materials. Alpha particles consist of two neutrons, two protons, and no electrons, giving it a net positive charge. This positive charge allows the alpha particles to leave their nucleus and bombard any nearby items with radiation. Alpha …
In simple terms, an optical illusion is caused by the structure of both the eye and brain and how they work together. Because of the anatomical make up of the eye and the complexity of the way images of transmitted from the eye to the brain, optical illusions are not as rare as one might …