Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Mjhavok on 13/08/2006 21:53:21

Title: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: Mjhavok on 13/08/2006 21:53:21
Suppose that the nucleus of an oxygen atom, which has 8 protons and usually has 8 neutrons, were split exactly in two. What element would be the result? How many atoms of this element would there be? Neglect, for simplicitym any energy that might be involved in the reaction.


-Steven

In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: lightarrow on 15/08/2006 17:01:51
Helium(4) isotope: 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: Mjhavok on 15/08/2006 18:29:30
No
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: another_someone on 15/08/2006 23:29:28
It doesn't take much to divide 8 by 2, look up atomic number 4 on a periodic table, and come back with the answer Beryllium.



George
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: Mjhavok on 16/08/2006 00:36:08
Hehe yep. It makes a rare isotope of beryllium. It turns out that the most common isotope of beryllium has five neutrons in its nucleus.
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: Mjhavok on 16/08/2006 00:38:54
Physics Question of the Week

What is the critical angle for light rays shining upward from beneath a fresh water pond?

-Steven
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: another_someone on 16/08/2006 00:49:08
You didn't expect me to know this off the top of my head did you?  Unfortunately, google all too easily replies that the critical angle to an air/water interface is 48.6 degrees (although this must depend upon purity of the medium, temperature and pressure of the medium, and even the colour of the light).



George
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: lightarrow on 16/08/2006 11:47:26
quote:
Originally posted by another_someone

It doesn't take much to divide 8 by 2, look up atomic number 4 on a periodic table, and come back with the answer Beryllium.



George



Right. My mistake. I'm sorry.
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: lightarrow on 16/08/2006 12:16:53
quote:
Originally posted by Mjhavok

Physics Question of the Week

What is the critical angle for light rays shining upward from beneath a fresh water pond?

-Steven



SIN(i)/SIN(r) = 1/n(H2O); n(H2O) = 1.336 at 550 nm (according to http://www.philiplaven.com/p20.html); r = 90° --> i = 48.48°. In the entire visible spectrum it varies from about 48.1° (violet) to 48.7° (red).
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: Mjhavok on 16/08/2006 22:29:38
Answer is 48.8°

Given that the angle in this situation is defined with respect to the normal to the surface, not with respect to the plane of the surface.

I didn't give enough variables to allow you to be more accurate. 48.7 and 48.6 are close enough.

Well done.

Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: Mjhavok on 16/08/2006 22:32:15
PHYSICS QUESTION OF THE DAY (IT SEEMS LOL)

The geomagnetic field is produced by what?


Steven
_______________________________________________________________
In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: syhprum on 24/08/2006 12:11:20
The movement of a condutive fluid (probably Iron) relative to the rtation of the earth in a layer immediatly above the earths solid core.

syhprum
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: lightarrow on 24/08/2006 12:54:41
quote:
Originally posted by syhprum

The movement of a condutive fluid (probably Iron) relative to the rtation of the earth in a layer immediatly above the earths solid core.


Just to Add: this movement happens in the presence of a magnetic field, and this produces an electric current, that, in turns, produces a magnetic field that reinforces the first, regenerating it (Dynamo theory).
How this can happen is however still a mistery for me, because, usually, an induced magnetic field is opposite to the first one (inducer).

The first (igniting) magnetic field could have been, for example, the one of another planetary object near the earth millions of years ago.
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: syhprum on 24/08/2006 19:03:05
It is well established that the earth early in its history was in collision with a mars sized object (Mars?) that lead to the creation of our moon, could this be the seed of the magnetic field?

syhprum
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: syhprum on 24/08/2006 12:11:20
The movement of a condutive fluid (probably Iron) relative to the rtation of the earth in a layer immediatly above the earths solid core.

syhprum
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: lightarrow on 24/08/2006 12:54:41
quote:
Originally posted by syhprum

The movement of a condutive fluid (probably Iron) relative to the rtation of the earth in a layer immediatly above the earths solid core.


Just to Add: this movement happens in the presence of a magnetic field, and this produces an electric current, that, in turns, produces a magnetic field that reinforces the first, regenerating it (Dynamo theory).
How this can happen is however still a mistery for me, because, usually, an induced magnetic field is opposite to the first one (inducer).

The first (igniting) magnetic field could have been, for example, the one of another planetary object near the earth millions of years ago.
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: syhprum on 24/08/2006 19:03:05
It is well established that the earth early in its history was in collision with a mars sized object (Mars?) that lead to the creation of our moon, could this be the seed of the magnetic field?

syhprum
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: ukmicky on 24/08/2006 20:03:38
quote:
Originally posted by syhprum

It is well established that the earth early in its history was in collision with a mars sized object (Mars?) that lead to the creation of our moon, could this be the seed of the magnetic field?

syhprum


Dont know but the way i see it is its got to have been a contributing factor as to why the magnetic field is  still so strong today as the colision  must have added heat to the outer core helping it stay liquid for so long.

Michael
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: syhprum on 24/08/2006 12:11:20
The movement of a condutive fluid (probably Iron) relative to the rtation of the earth in a layer immediatly above the earths solid core.

syhprum
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: lightarrow on 24/08/2006 12:54:41
quote:
Originally posted by syhprum

The movement of a condutive fluid (probably Iron) relative to the rtation of the earth in a layer immediatly above the earths solid core.


Just to Add: this movement happens in the presence of a magnetic field, and this produces an electric current, that, in turns, produces a magnetic field that reinforces the first, regenerating it (Dynamo theory).
How this can happen is however still a mistery for me, because, usually, an induced magnetic field is opposite to the first one (inducer).

The first (igniting) magnetic field could have been, for example, the one of another planetary object near the earth millions of years ago.
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: syhprum on 24/08/2006 19:03:05
It is well established that the earth early in its history was in collision with a mars sized object (Mars?) that lead to the creation of our moon, could this be the seed of the magnetic field?

syhprum
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: ukmicky on 24/08/2006 20:03:38
quote:
Originally posted by syhprum

It is well established that the earth early in its history was in collision with a mars sized object (Mars?) that lead to the creation of our moon, could this be the seed of the magnetic field?

syhprum


Dont know but the way i see it is its got to have been a contributing factor as to why the magnetic field is  still so strong today as the colision  must have added heat to the outer core helping it stay liquid for so long.

Michael
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: bostjan on 29/08/2006 07:37:31
i don't think that the theory is that well-established, since there are several, equally viable, competing theorys on the formation of the moon.

earth is very large for a rocky planet, so it's no surprise, really, about the outer core staying liquid.  a collision would be unlikely to add a significant ammount of heat to the outer core and not other parts of the planet, as far as i can understand.  perhaps you could clarify this conjecture?
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: ukmicky on 30/08/2006 01:52:10
quote:
Originally posted by bostjan

i don't think that the theory is that well-established, since there are several, equally viable, competing theorys on the formation of the moon.

earth is very large for a rocky planet, so it's no surprise, really, about the outer core staying liquid.  a collision would be unlikely to add a significant ammount of heat to the outer core and not other parts of the planet, as far as i can understand.  perhaps you could clarify this conjecture?


The collision theory is the main and most widely accepted theory for the creation of the moon for many reasons. To name a few, the  moon and earth are the same age. The earth is tilted due to a very large impact and the makeup of the moon which has very little iron as most of it would have been propelled into the earth during the impact. Their are other
Michael
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: ukmicky on 30/08/2006 02:03:32
quote:
Originally posted by ukmicky

quote:
Originally posted by bostjan

i don't think that the theory is that well-established, since there are several, equally viable, competing theorys on the formation of the moon.

earth is very large for a rocky planet, so it's no surprise, really, about the outer core staying liquid.  a collision would be unlikely to add a significant ammount of heat to the outer core and not other parts of the planet, as far as i can understand.  perhaps you could clarify this conjecture?


The collision theory is the main and most widely accepted theory for the creation of the moon for many reasons. To name a few, the  moon and earth are the same age. The earth is tilted due to a very large impact and the makeup of the moon which has very little iron as most of it would have been propelled into the earth during the impact.


Michael
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: bostjan on 30/08/2006 06:12:19
wouldn't mars have to be significantly older than earth for that to happen, though?  4.5 billion years ago, mars was still in its infancy, and would have been pretty darn soft itself.

moon rocks are not really similar in composition enough for me to believe that the moon is made from the earth, but if it is, i think the ejected ring theory is just as valid as the colling planet theory.
Title: Re: Physics Question of the Week
Post by: bostjan on 30/08/2006 06:12:19
wouldn't mars have to be significantly older than earth for that to happen, though?  4.5 billion years ago, mars was still in its infancy, and would have been pretty darn soft itself.

moon rocks are not really similar in composition enough for me to believe that the moon is made from the earth, but if it is, i think the ejected ring theory is just as valid as the colling planet theory.