Tons of Rain
Category: Physics
How much rain is a ton?
Posted by Chad Orzel at 11:25 AM • 6 Comments •
Uncertain Principles
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"Uncertain Principles" features the miscellaneous ramblings of a physicist at a small liberal arts college. Physics, politics, pop culture, and occasional conversations with his dog.
You've read the blog, now try the book: How to Teach Physics to Your Dog will be published December 22nd by Scribner.
"Prof. Orzel gives the impression of an everyday guy who just happens to have a vast but hidden knowledge of physics." (anonymous student evaluation comment)
Emmy is a German Shepherd mix, and the Queen of Niskayuna. She likes treats, walks, chasing bunnies, and quantum physics.
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Basic Concepts:
Basic Concepts: Polarization of Light
Category: Basic Concepts
What do we mean when we talk about polarized light?
Posted by Chad Orzel at 9:44 AM • 20 Comments •
Basic Concepts: Fermi Questions
Category: Basic Concepts
How many shopping malls are there in the United States? How to guess the answer without using Google.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 9:21 AM • 15 Comments •
Basic Concepts: Estimation and Dimensions
Category: Basic Concepts
Order of magnitude estimates and dimensional analysis are two crucial elements of the physicst's mental toolkit.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:14 AM • 10 Comments •
Basic Concepts: Ohm's Law
Category: Basic Concepts
Scott Aaronson asked for an explanation of Ohm's Law in terms of the motion of electrons, which happens to be tomorrow's lecture topic...
Posted by Chad Orzel at 1:49 PM • 22 Comments •
Basic Concepts: Measurement
Category: Basic Concepts
Measurement is the process by which we determine the properties of the world around us.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:13 AM • 17 Comments •
Basic Concepts: Energy
Category: Basic Concepts
The energy content of an object is a measure of its ability to change its own motion, or the motion of another object.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:53 AM • 14 Comments •
Basic Concepts: Fields
Category: Basic Concepts
An attempt to give a really basic explanation of the concept of fields in physics, and why they're sometimes particles.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:43 AM • 15 Comments •
Basic Concepts: Force
Category: Basic Concepts
Pretty much everything I can think of to say about the concept of "force" in physics.
Posted by Chad Orzel at 10:56 AM • 28 Comments •
