PHYS 309: Descriptive Astronomy

Explore the relative strengths of two fundamental forces, the electromagnetic force and the gravitational force, in this enlightening physics tutorial. Learn about Coulomb's law and Newton's law of gravitation, and uncover the significant difference in their constants that makes the electromagnetic force much more powerful than gravity.

Discover the physics behind the musical notes produced when car tires interact with highway lane dividers. This video explains the "stick-slip friction" phenomenon and its relation to tire vibrations. Learn how analyzing sound frequencies can offer insights into vehicle speeds

Delve into Newton's third law of motion and explore how the choice of the 'system of interest' influences whether force pairs cancel each other out.

Dive into the world of aviation as we calculate the thrust required for a medium-sized jet to maintain a cruising speed of 230 m/s at a specific altitude. Explore the impact of air density and drag coefficients on aircraft performance.

Discover the incredible tale of David Purley's survival in a high-speed car crash! In this video, we calculate the magnitude of the acceleration he experienced during the rapid deceleration from 173 km/h to zero. Learn how to express it in units of gravity and explore the limits of human endurance.

Discover the gravitational forces at play in a triangle of masses in this video. We calculate the net force on each mass and explore how changing the side length impacts these forces. Join us for a gravitational journey through physics.