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Category Archives: Physics
Pluto: the Eccentric “Planet”
Most of us have heard of Pluto’s downgrade from the category of planet to “dwarf planet,” but it is less well-known why it was demoted. One of the main reasons had nothing to do with size and everything to do with Pluto’s strange orbit. Instead of orbiting with the sun roughly at the center of […] Continue reading
Blog 6: Jupiter Fluid Dynamics
Jupiter has a very thick atmosphere with lots of temperature difference causing strong convective currents. These convective currents and Jupiter’s fast rotation give the planet it’s colorful bands and demonstrate different fluid behaviors. The image above, captured by the Juno Spacecraft, shows a storm in Jupiter’s atmosphere. The eddies are similar to that caused by vortex … Continue reading Blog 6: Jupiter Fluid Dynamics Continue reading
Posted in Class, Jovians, Physics
Tagged Solar System
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What is St. Elmo’s Fire?
What is St. Elmo’s Fire? Well its not a 1980s “brat pack” movie, and it certainly has nothing to do with Sesame Street. In fact, St. Elmo’s Fire is a fascinating weather phenomenon that results from electrical charges in Earth’s atmosphere. During (or shortly before/after) a thunderstorm, the difference in electrical charges between the air…
Nuclear Fusion Here on Earth
Though nuclear fusion is most often talked about as something that takes place in the cores of stars, many people don’t realize that nuclear fusion has been produced by people here on Earth since the 1940s. Unfortunately for the first several decades that fusion occurred on Earth, it only served the purpose of destruction. Although … Continue reading Nuclear Fusion Here on Earth → Continue reading
Posted in Physics
Tagged astro2110, blog4, nuclear fusion
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Fusion vs. Fission
The nuclear energy can be generated in two ways – fusion and fission. Both fusion and fission energy are generated by altering atoms. What is the difference between fusion and fission? And which way will generate more energy? As the word “fission” means separate a thing into different parts, nuclear fission means releases energy by … Continue reading Fusion vs. Fission → Continue reading
Measuring the Interior of the Earth
It is very hard to drill to the deepest part of the Earth. However, there are some indirect measurements that allow us to know limited information about the interior structure of the Earth. One of those is the measurement of seismic waves. By knowing the characteristic of seismic waves, we are able to identify the properties … Continue reading Measuring the Interior of the Earth → Continue reading
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Fusion refers to the nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number elements fuse to form a heavier nucleus. This reactions releases energy and is how the sun and other stars generate light and heat. Energy is produced during the smashing of the lighter atoms, which is most easily achieved on Earth … Continue reading Nuclear Fusion → Continue reading
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Fusion refers to the nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number elements fuse to form a heavier nucleus. This reactions releases energy and is how the sun and other stars generate light and heat. Energy is produced during the smashing of the lighter atoms, which is most easily achieved on Earth … Continue reading Nuclear Fusion → Continue reading
How Close Are We to Nuclear Fusion Reactors?
Harnessing nuclear energy as an energy source has long been an idea surrounded in mystery and fear. Very few people actually know how nuclear power plants work, but many people know how catastrophic nuclear reactor meltdowns can be. However, the kind of nuclear energy we can currently control in nuclear power plants is only one … Continue reading How Close Are We to Nuclear Fusion Reactors? → Continue reading
How Close Are We to Nuclear Fusion Reactors?
Harnessing nuclear energy as an energy source has long been an idea surrounded in mystery and fear. Very few people actually know how nuclear power plants work, but many people know how catastrophic nuclear reactor meltdowns can be. However, the kind of nuclear energy we can currently control in nuclear power plants is only one … Continue reading How Close Are We to Nuclear Fusion Reactors? → Continue reading