"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Month: March 2016
Overlapping in NHDQs 03/22/16
During a course of study of Differential equations, one may encounter Non-Homogeneous Differential equations where the yc and yp have overlapping terms!!! To avoid this entanglement, one must solve for yc and then check the terms of yp that overlap, and then multiply whatever terms of yp overlaps by x!
Solar power 03/21/16
Let one consider this. The earth receives around 3.86*1026joules of energy hits the Earth every second. The Earth directly receives1.74*1017of those joules. This number is over 35,000 times the amount of energy that all of human civilization consumes every second. If we are able to receive this much energy from the sun, wouldn’t it be logical to create a system to harness this energy? This is where Solar Power comes in. Solar power uses Solar panels which in take the energy of the sun and uses the photoelectric effect to transform this into usable energy. Most commercial solar panels have an efficiency rating of 15-20 percent, so research in to higher efficiency solar power is paramount.
Surface tension 03/20/16
Do you ever wonder why a liquid is able to maintain it’s volume and incompressibility? This facet is due to a phenomena known as surface tension. Because molecules of the same element are under the influence of the same intermolecular forces, they tend to coalesce together. This means that there is a net inward force on the molecules due to the fact that there is no molecules on the outside of the surface area to interact with. In fact, when liquids are in an environment with little to no external forces, they end up becoming spherical shaped as a result surface tension.
Solar irradiance 03/19/16
Our Sun is the largest producer of energy in our solar system. This energy is often produced in the form of solar radiation. Because of this, scientists pay special attention to the study of solar irradiation. The unit used for measuring such radiation is wm2(WattsMeter2) because we often measure the energy striking the surface area of the earth. Part of the energy that reaches an object in the range of the sun’s energy is absorbed and part is reflected, depending on the level of it’s albedo (reflectivity). The amount of energy that a receives from a blast of sunlight is also contingent upon the Cosine of the angle between the surface and the light, imagine it like water striking object at an angle, if the angle is closer to zero, then a higher percentage of the medium will come into contact with the surface. The study of Solar irradiance has a very pragmatic purpose in the form of solar energy, since the energy that strikes the earth can be transferred into useful processes.
Hydrofoils 03/18/16
Hydrofoils are a very useful invention for boating. The main purpose of hydrofoils is to lift a boat out of water using the physics of fluid mechanics. The hydrofoils of a ship are usually mounted on struts below the hull. The ship increases in speed, a lift force will be produced beneath the hydrofoil elements which raises the hull out of the water which in turn reduces the drag force on the object as a result of the lesser area in the water.
Rail Transport 03/17/16
Undoubtedly one of the most important developments in human technology was that of rail transportation. To put it simply, Rail transportation is the transportation of individuals and goods through the means of motorized vehicles that are bound by rails. Many rails are electrified, which means that on board power can be delivered to the train through tracks. One of the advantages of rail transportation is reduced friction along with the ability to transport nearly insurmountable amounts of weight across long distances.
Tracks 03/16/16
Tracks are one of the fundamental pieces in modern day human infrastructure for transportation. Tracks are structures that allow for wheels to roll. Tracks profiles are often in the shape of an asymmetrical I-beam, to allow for easy movement of train wheels. Many modern tracks are welded together through the use of welders to make sure that the strength of a modern day train will not destroy the beam. Due to the effects of thermal expansion train tracks can expand and contract depending on the weather. To counter this, anchors and hooks are used to keep the rail track in place. A Gauge of a rail is the spacing between endpoints of a rail. Gauge sizes vary all over the world.
Second order Non-homogeneous differential equations 03/15/16
Let me tell you something, non-homogeneous differential equations are just as painful as they sound. Let’s say that you are given a 2nd order differential equation in the form y”+by’+ay=g(x). What you do to solve this equation is to divide it into a Particular solution and a general solution, which can be represented symbolically as y(x0=yp+yc). To solve for the general solution we set the entire equation equal to zero and solve from there, and to solve for the particular solution we just solve for the solution in the current form.
Electric Generators 03/14/16
Have you ever wondered how a machine like a wind turbine generates electricity? This task is accomplished through the use of a machine called an Electric generator. The primary principle of an electric generator is to transfer mechanical energy into electrical energy. There are two types of generator: Dynamos and Alternators. Dynamos generate DC current while alternators generate AC current. Usually, the current is generated by using the relationship between electricity and magnetism to induce a current. There are many types of electric generators, ranging from the classical steam driven generator to the sublime magnetohydrodynamic generator.
Isaac's Science Blog 