PHYS 00893: Basic Astronomy

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.

Explore the effects of altitude change on a pendulum clock's speed when moved from the Mississippi Delta to the Rocky Mountains. Learn why it runs faster or slower and how to make adjustments. Discover the assumptions involved in this fascinating timekeeping scenario.

Join us in exploring the concept of significant figures in numerical values. Learn to identify and count significant figures in various numbers, from whole numbers to decimals. Understand the precision and accuracy of your measurements through this engaging video.

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.

Explore the world of collectible stamps as we delve into the story of the rare 1918 'Jenny' stamp and its astonishing auction price. Join us to learn about the use of a simple magnifying glass to examine this valuable collectible and discover how to calculate its focal length.

Step into the showroom as we explore the intriguing connection between rug dimensions and area. Learn whether a rug being twice as long as another implies its area is also doubled. Join us for a comprehensive explanation of this geometric concept.