PHYS 254: Applied Modern Physics

Embark on a celestial journey! In this video, we calculate the altitude above a distant planet's surface where a starship orbits. Discover how astronauts experience reduced free-fall acceleration and the fascinating dynamics of space travel.

Explore the fascinating world of geosynchronous satellites in this video. Learn how these communication satellites are strategically placed in circular orbits, staying directly over fixed points on the Earth's equator as our planet rotates. We delve into the physics behind these orbits, calculating the speed and acceleration of a satellite in geosynchronous orbit, using the Earth's radius and altitude as reference. Gain a deeper understanding of the science that enables global communications.

Explore the fundamental principles of this law, unraveling its implications, and clarifying common misconceptions related to mass preservation in chemical reactions.

Unpack the concept of normal force on a sports car and its driver atop a hill. Utilize Newton's second law to calculate these forces based on speed and hill curvature. Discover the speed at which the driver feels weightless in the car.