Author: Tru Physics
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Cathode Ray Tube
Introduction A cathode ray tube (CRT) is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a phosphorescent screen. It was invented in the late 19th century and has been widely used in various electronic devices, including televisions, computer monitors, and oscilloscopes, before the advent of modern display technologies like LCDs and OLEDs. Basic Structure and…
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Casimir Effect
Introduction The Casimir Effect is a quantum mechanical phenomenon where two uncharged metallic plates attract each other when placed a few nanometers apart in a vacuum. It was first predicted by Dutch physicist Hendrik Casimir in 1948. Theory The Casimir effect arises due to the quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field in a vacuum. Even…
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Carnot Cycle
Introduction The Carnot cycle, named after Sadi Carnot who introduced it in 1824, is a theoretical thermodynamic cycle that provides the maximum possible efficiency a heat engine can achieve operating between two thermal reservoirs at different temperatures. It’s an idealized process that assumes no friction, perfectly insulated components, and other ideal conditions. The Carnot Cycle…
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Bose-Einstein Distribution
Introduction The Bose-Einstein distribution describes the statistical behavior of a collection of non-interacting indistinguishable particles, known as bosons. Bosons are particles that follow Bose-Einstein statistics, characterized by their integer spin. Bose-Einstein Distribution Function The Bose-Einstein distribution function gives the average number of particles in a given energy state: where is the average occupation number of…
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Bose-Einstein Condensate
Introduction A Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is a state of matter that arises in a dilute gas of bosons cooled to temperatures very close to absolute zero. It is named after Satyendra Nath Bose and Albert Einstein, who predicted its existence in the early 20th century. Properties In a BEC, a large fraction of the particles…
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Beta Decay
Introduction Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle is emitted from an atomic nucleus. Beta particles can be either an electron (in beta-minus decay) or a positron (in beta-plus decay), along with a corresponding antineutrino or neutrino, respectively. Beta Minus Decay In beta minus decay, a neutron in the…
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Bell’s Theorem
Introduction Bell’s theorem, proposed by physicist John Bell in 1964, is a pivotal result in quantum mechanics. It deals with the concept of local realism, a principle stating that physical processes occurring at one location do not depend on the properties of objects at other locations. Statement of Bell’s Theorem Bell’s theorem states that: “No…
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Astronomical Unit
Introduction The astronomical unit (AU) is a unit of length often used in astronomy to represent astronomical distances within our solar system. It is approximately equal to the mean distance from the Earth to the Sun, making it a convenient scale for distances involved in planetary motion. Question: If the Earth were the size of…
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Antimatter
Introduction Antimatter is a term used in particle physics to describe particles that have the same mass as their corresponding matter particles but opposite electric charge and other particle properties. When a particle and its antiparticle meet, they annihilate each other, giving rise to other particles or energy in the form of photon radiation. Antiparticles…
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Ampere’s Law
Introduction Ampere’s Law, named after its founder André-Marie Ampère, is a fundamental law in electromagnetism that relates magnetic fields to the electric currents that generate them. It is one of Maxwell’s four equations, which together form the basis of classical electrodynamics. Ampere’s Law in Integral Form Ampere’s law can be stated in its integral form…