Centuries-old ideas about force and motion have an intuitive appeal that is enduring but oh-so-incorrect, as…
Author: Rhett Allain
You Can Make Your Own Scale With a Rubber Band and a Ruler
Take some simple measurements, add a dash of algebra, and you basically have a way to…
Just How Fast Is the Parker Solar Probe? Astonishingly Fast
The probe just broke the record to become the fastest human-made object, relative to the sun.…
This Tiny Drone Uses Friction to Pull More Than Its Own Weight
New flying robots can pull loads that appear far too heavy for their tiny size. Here's…
How to Keep Lil Trick-or-Treaters Safe on Halloween Night
Glow sticks and retroreflectors can help your kids be seen on Halloween night. Here's how they…
How to Make Your Commute as Cheap and Fast as Possible
There's more to it than just optimizing gas mileage. Our calculator will help you figure out…
Science Isn’t About ‘the Truth’—It’s About Building Models
These are the three key things that any person should know about the nature of science.
The Difference Between Weight and Mass, And Why It Matters
If we ever move off-planet, we'll have to get more serious about distinguishing between 'mass' and…
How to Get Better at ‘Back of the Envelope’ Calculations
Estimating answers to everyday physics problems is an art form. Here's one tip: learn to ignore…
Spider-Man Defies Physics When He Falls Backward Off a Plane
If you care about the momentum principle, this should bother you.