How far back in time can we see? But 13.8 billion light years is far too small to be the right answer. In actuality, we can see for 46 billion light years in all directions, for a total diameter of 92 billion light years. What is beyond the universe? These 93 some-odd billion light-years contain […]
Does Jupiter have gas?
Why are top predators so rare?
Why are top predators so rare? This energy constraint is the fundamental reason top predators are so rare. Many food webs consist of half a dozen or more trophic levels, and by the time you get to the top, there’s simply not that much energy left. It’s their naturally small populations that also leave these […]
Should a fridge be on its own breaker?
Should a fridge be on its own breaker? Do Refrigerators Need Dedicated Circuits? Having the refrigerator on its own dedicated circuit is the recommended best practice for homeowners. Most refrigerators run between 3 to 6 amps, with that said, a refrigerator can spike at peak usage up to 15 amps. What does circuit breaker protect […]
What is the coating on the inside of a light bulb?
What is the coating on the inside of a light bulb? The white powder coating inside the glass tubing of a CFL contains a fluorescent coating. When electricity enters a CFL, mercury and argon fumes inside the bulb produce invisible ultraviolet (UV) light. This UV light reacts with the fluorescent coating to produce the white, […]
Where should you put a barometer in your house?
What two things started Earth?
What two things started Earth? When the solar system settled into its current layout about 4.5 billion years ago, Earth formed when gravity pulled swirling gas and dust in to become the third planet from the Sun. Like its fellow terrestrial planets, Earth has a central core, a rocky mantle and a solid crust. Why […]
Are linear and angular momentum conserved separately?
Are linear and angular momentum conserved separately? Now, such an object can be assumed to have a constant mechanical energy. But that is only one part of the story. The fact is, since each linear and angular momentum of this object is conserved, the respective components of its linear and angular energy also would be […]
What does it mean when a nucleus is stable?
What does it mean when a nucleus is stable? Definition. Nuclear stability means that the nucleus of an element is stable and thus it does not decay spontaneously emitting any kind of radioactivity. Those nuclei with the highest binding energy per nucleon are the most stable with respect to destructive nuclear reactions. What is the […]
What is the ideal gas thermometer?
What is the ideal gas thermometer? In principle, we can measure the same temperature using any gas, so long as the constant operating pressure is low enough. When we do so, our device is called the ideal gas thermometer. The (very nearly) direct proportionality of two low-pressure real gas volumes contrasts with what we observe […]