Author: Tru Physics
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Neutron Stars
Introduction Neutron stars are incredibly dense and compact astronomical objects, resulting from the collapse of massive stars during supernova explosions. These stars are primarily composed of neutrons, hence the name. Formation of Neutron Stars When a star of significant mass exhausts its nuclear fuel, it undergoes a violent explosion known as a supernova. The star’s…
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Neutrinos
Introduction Neutrinos are one of the fundamental particles which make up the universe. They are also one of the least understood. Neutrinos are unique among the elementary particles because they interact only via the weak nuclear force, making them incredibly difficult to detect. Properties of Neutrinos Neutrinos are electrically neutral and have a very small,…
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Nanotechnology
Introduction Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with structures sized between 1 to 100 nanometers in at least one dimension, and involves developing materials or devices within that size. Quantum Size Effect When particle sizes approach the nanoscale, quantum effects can begin to dominate the…
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Momentum
Introduction Momentum is a fundamental concept in physics. It is a vector quantity and is expressed classically as the product of an objects mass and velocity. Definition of Momentum The momentum of an object can be calculated using the formula: where is the mass of the object and is its velocity. Conservation of Momentum One…
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Minkowski Diagrams
Introduction Minkowski diagrams are a type of spacetime diagram introduced by Hermann Minkowski in the context of special relativity. They provide a geometric interpretation of the Lorentz transformations and offer a visual way to understand the effects of relativity, such as time dilation and length contraction. Basic Structure A Minkowski diagram is a two-dimensional graph…
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Millikan Oil Drop Experiment
Introduction The Millikan Oil Drop Experiment was a groundbreaking experiment conducted by Robert A. Millikan and Harvey Fletcher in 1909 to measure the elementary electric charge (the charge of the electron). This experiment provided the first precise measurement of this fundamental physical constant. The Setup The experiment involved observing tiny oil droplets between two horizontal…
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Michelson-Morley Experiment
Introduction The Michelson-Morley experiment was a pivotal moment in the history of physics. Conducted by Albert A. Michelson and Edward W. Morley in 1887, it aimed to detect the relative motion of matter through the hypothetical “luminiferous aether” which was believed to carry light waves. The null result of this experiment set the stage for…
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Mechanical Waves
Introduction Mechanical waves are disturbances that propagate through a material medium due to the elastic properties of the medium. These waves transfer energy from one location to another without the physical transportation of matter. Examples of mechanical waves include sound waves, water waves, and seismic waves. Fundamental Properties of Mechanical Waves The function describes the…
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Maxwell’s Equations
Introduction Maxwell’s equations are a set of four differential equations that form the foundation of classical electrodynamics, classical optics, and electric circuits. These four equations describe how electric and magnetic fields interact. They were derived by James Clerk Maxwell in the 19th century. The Four Equations where is the divergence of the electric field ,…
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Mass Spectrometry
Introduction Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that is used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. This process is used to identify the chemical structure of a molecule by observing its mass spectrum. The basic principle is to ionize chemical compounds to generate charged molecules or molecule fragments and measure their mass-to-charge ratios. Mass…