A big idea in thermodynamics is the mechanical equivalent of heat, a concept that spells out…
Author: Rhett Allain
You Can Play With Escape Velocity—Without Leaving the Planet
Gravity is a real pain for aspiring space travelers. These equations explain how to defy it.
Need an Ohm’s Law Party Trick? Take a Light Bulb’s Temperature
We can measure the temperature of an incandescent bulb's filament while it's connected to a variable…
For Pi Day, Calculate Pi Yourself Using Two Colliding *****
On this day of numerical glory, get to know pi in an unusual way: using the…
You Can Power a Calculator With Some LEDs
LEDs generate light, which is why they're in our screens. But if you instead shine a…
Track a Tank Shell With a Mirror and Polar Coordinates
Ultimately you get a differential equation that you can solve with a bit of code I…
How Many Times Do You Have to Slap a Chicken to Cook It?
While you could technically cook a chicken by slapping it, as proposed by a recent meme,…
Calculate How Fast Quicksilver Is Moving in *X-Men Apocalypse*
To save two dozen people from an exploding building, Quicksilver must have moved at roughly 280…
Estimate the Friction Coefficient in That Massive Nascar Pile-Up
A crash knocked 21 cars out of the Daytona 500. But good news: Everyone walked away,…
Don’t Toss That Busted Toy Just Yet—Grab a Multimeter
This essential tool lets you measure the electric current and voltage of a circuit. Here's what…