PHYS 231: Introduction to Experimental Physics

Journey to the outer reaches of our solar system with a captivating exploration of Sedna, the most distant-known object discovered in 2003. This enigmatic celestial body boasts a 1700 km diameter, a 10,500-year orbit around the sun, and a maximum speed of 4.64 km/s. Join us as we delve into the calculations of its elliptical orbit, its minimum speed, and the intriguing variations in its kinetic energy. Uncover the mysteries of Sedna's motion in this educational video.

In this enlightening video, we unravel the mysteries of electric charges and forces. Discover the fascinating concept of how the separation between two identical tiny spheres, each carrying the same electric charge, influences the force they exert on each other. Will the force double, become one-quarter as large, or remain unchanged? Join us to explore the intriguing world of electrostatics and the principles that govern electric interactions.

Explore the fundamental concept of work in physics and discover the key conditions, including movement, net force, opposing force, and direction, that must be met for work to be accomplished when pushing on an object, such as a rock.

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.

Learn how to calculate the kinetic energy of a Saturn 5 rocket with an Apollo spacecraft attached using physics principles and formulas. Understand the importance of unit conversion and the work-energy theorem as you plug values into the KE = 1/2 mv² formula. Discover that the kinetic energy for this rocket and spacecraft combo is an astonishing 1.82 x 10¹³ Joules.

Explore the fascinating optical phenomena involving a cat, a converging lens, and the creation of virtual and real images.