COMMON ANSWERS TO COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I just thought a list of common short answers to commmonly asked questions would be helpful. If you don't agree with a statement, have something new, or just wish to discuss it further, then I suggest you post a topic. Or better yet, use the "Find" button for an existing discussion. If you want to add to the list then post here.
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[] 9/11 CONJECTURE is not appropriate to this forum. There is ample evidence supporting the official conclusions. "Conspiracy" theories have no basis in scientific or practical fact. These topics will just get deleted.

[] ANTIGRAVITY - True antigravity devices that actually shield or cancel the effects of gravity so that an object becomes weightless and not just levitated by another force do not exist (yet?).

[] CELL PHONE UNLOCKS CAR - Trying to use your cell phone (and another phone) to transmit your car's remote signal to unlock your door from a distance does not work. Most modern remotes use radio signals, a phone is designed to carry audio signals and cannot "pickup" the remote's signal. Also busted by scott9282 : "I tried it, two different cars, two different days, every possible combination of cell phones, landline phones and wireless phones. Does not work."

[] FREE ENERGY - "Free Energy" or anything that claims to output more energy (or equal) than is input is not possible under the laws of physics. This includes perpetual motion machines. (This is not the same as "Free-to-Me" energy. A sail boat, for example.)

[] PLANE ON A TREADMILL (POAT) - For the "Plane on a Treadmill/Conveyor Belt" problem, the plane will take off. (Given the correct/classic wording of the myth.)

[] TENNIS BALL DOOR UNLOCKER - Trying to use a tennis ball with a hole cut in it to unlock a car door does not work. There is no part of the unlocking mechanism that can be affected by the small amount of air from the tennis ball. This myth was recently busted on the show. They also tried a strong, air compressor as well. Still could not unlock the car door.

[] TIME TRAVEL - You cannot travel "backwards" in time.

[] TRAVEL AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT - You cannot accelerate matter to the speed of light (c) or faster in normal spacetime.

[] WATER AS FUEL - Using hydrolysis to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water requires more energy than the amount you get back by "combusting" the hydrogen to power a vehicle. This energy deficeit makes "onboard hydrolysis" vehicles infeasible. (Hydrogen gas and fuel cell powered vehicles already exist that use methods other than "onboard hydrolysis".)

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Later!

Following this are:
-> USEFUL SCIENCE FACTS AND FORMULAS
-> USEFUL SCIENCE WEBSITES

** PLEASE DO NOT POST MYTH IDEAS ON THIS PARTICULAR THREAD! **
** THEY WOULD PROBABLY NEVER BE SEEN BY THE PRODUCERS! **
.

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USEFUL SCIENCE FACTS AND FORMULAS


** This is for reference only. **
** Please keep in mind that the implications of these can be complex! **

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MOTION AND FORCE

[] NEWTON'S LAWS OF MOTION
>> 1.) First Law : An object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force.
>> 2.) Second Law : F = ma
Force(F) = mass(m) times acceleration(a). Must be a net external force. There are other limitations.
>> 3.) Third Law : All forces in the universe occur in equal but oppositely directed pairs.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/newt.html#ntcon

[] FREEFALL DUE TO GRAVITY
>> v = gt
Velocity(down)(v) = gravity(g) times time(t).
>> y = (1/2)gt^2
distance traveled(y) = (1/2) gravity(g) times time(t) squared
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/traj.html#ffall

[]MOMENTUM
>> p = mv
momentum(p) = mass(m) times velocity(v)
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mom.html#mom

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ENERGY

[] LAWS OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
>> 0.) Zeroth Law : If two systems are at the same time in thermal equilibrium with a third system, they are in thermal equilibrium with each other.
>> 1.) First Law : Asserts that you can't get more energy out of a heat engine than you put in. ("You can't win.")
>> 2.) Second Law : No heat engine can use all the heat produced by a fuel to do work. ("You can't even break even.")
** There are alternate interpretations of these, especially #2. **
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/conser.html#coneng

[] KINETIC ENERGY
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy it possesses because of its motion.
KE = (1/2)mv^2
Kinetic Energy = (1/2) times mass(m) times velocity(v) squared.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/ke.html#ke

[] RELATIVISTIC ENERGY (Mass-Energy Equivalence)
E = mc^2
Energy(E) = mass(m) times (c) squared
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/relativ/releng.html#c1

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RELATIVITY

[]Relativistic Mechanical Quantities: How things like mass, length, time, etc., change as something approaches the speed of light.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/relativ/relmom.html#c3

[] Formulas for Length Contraction, Time Dilation, and Relativistic Mass (They would be a mess without all the symbols):
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/relativ/tdil.html#c1


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ELECTRICITY

[] OHM'S LAW
I = V/R
Electric current(Amperes) = Voltage(volts) divided by Resistance(ohms)
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/ohmlaw.html#c1

[working on it]

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VALUES & CONSTANTS

[] (c) -> speed of light in a vacuum = 299,792,458m/s
[] (g) -> gravity (acceleration) near surface of Earth -> 9.8m/s^2, 32.15ft/s^2

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DEFINITIONS

[] Electromagnetic Spectrum : (A picture is worth a 1000 words.)
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/ems1.html#c1

[] Electron Volt (eV) : The energy given to an electron by accelerating it through 1 volt of electric potential difference. An electron striking a color TV screen is ~20,000eV.
1eV = 1.60217733x10^(-19) Joules
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/ev.html

[] Fundamental Forces (4) : 1.) gravitational 2.) weak nuclear 3.) strong nuclear 4.) electromagnetic.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/forces/funfor.html#c1

[] Joule (J) : a unit of work or energy equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through a distance of one meter (See Kinetic Energy or E=mc^2 above measured in kg, meters, seconds.). A 1kg mass dropped from 5m would hit at ~10m/s. It's kinetic energy would be ~50J.

[] Matter : 1.)(old) Matter is made of atoms, electrons, protons, and neutrons. ; 2.) (current) There are two major classes of matter, hadrons and leptons, distinguished by the types of fundamental force interactions in which they participate. A third, more elusive class of neutral leptons are called neutrinos.
http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/vvc/theory/matter.html

[] Photon : Photon is the name given to a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation. The photon has zero rest mass, it has finite momentum, exhibits deflection by a gravity field, and can exert a force.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/particles/expar.html#c5

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OTHER

[] DENSITY (Mechanics)
p = m/V
density(p{Greek rho}) = mass(m) divided by volume(V)
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/dens.html

[] QUANTUM PHYSICS :
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/quacon.html#quacon

[] Black Holes :
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/relativ/blahol.html#c1

[] Electrolysis of Water and Fuel Cells :
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/electrol.html#c1

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( More later.)

Later!

Notes to self:
J to get H2, electricity(??),

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USEFUL SCIENCE WEBSITES

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SCIENCE

[] HyperPhysics - A great site with a little bit about most everything you could think of concerning the principles of physics. Mainly college level (science) or advanced high school.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html
Also see HyperMath:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/calc.html

[] LiveScience - Clear, non-technical explanations on a wide variety of subjects (Use the search feature). Good for just about everybody.
http://www.livescience.com/

[] NewScientist - A magazine that covers current science news and "cutting edge" developments. Mostly general knowledge level, though some articles can get technical rather quickly.
http://www.newscientist.com/home.ns

[] Particle Physics - Good for when the discussion turns to things like photons, quarks, bosons and such. Also applies to Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Big B_ang, and black holes. General knowledge, high school and up for most articles (though some can get complex).
Fermilab :
http://www.fnal.gov/pub/inquiring/index.html
Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC) :
http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/vvc/

[] Science.gov - Celebrating Einstein - A very good series of articles covering Einstien's theories including light and Relativity(reference frames, spacetime, etc.). General knowledge level, though the explanations are not trivial. Other subject resources available here as well (periodic chart, FAQ's, etc).
http://www.osti.gov/accomplishments/nuggets/einstein/index.html
and
http://www.science.gov/


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GENERAL

[] Google - Google is your friend, use it. Don't forget about the "Scholar" option (On the very top of the Google page click "more". This is usually college level and up material.)
http://www.google.com

[] Merriam-Webster Online - Good online dictionary if you don't have a spell checker. Stupid ad window opens all the time though.
http://www.m-w.com

[] Tinyurl.com - converts very long URLs (web addresses) into short manageable URLs that fit on the message better.
http://tinyurl.com/

[] Wikipedia - Most everybody uses it, but some members have reported inaccuracies and incomplete explanations, so be wary. A good place to start though.
http://www.wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

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Later!

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