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Real questions from readers, answered in plain language by physicists. From household energy bills to black holes — explore what you have always wanted to know.
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Physics Mysteries
150 questions answered by our physicists
Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
The very definition of absolute zero says that 0 K (i.e. −273.15 °C) cannot be achieved. It is one example of the limitations that nature gives us. Why this is so (that is, why nature limits us in this way) is more…
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Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
The microwave oven is an example of an invention that was created not on the basis of a theoretical design, but happened by chance. While working on military radar components, Percy Spencer discovered that a chocolate ba…
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Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
The first possibility is that the thing (the Sun, a bulb, fire) emits light. In this case, the colour of light is determined by the material of the body and its temperature (so the Sun is yellow just because it consists…
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Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
I will try to explain the question with an analogy of the postal services. We use electricity to fulfil its work and the post office to send packages. In the case of the electricity, charged particles (especially electro…
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Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
It could be expected that outside of sci-fi movies, we will not know how a human would end up if they were exposed to the current of really accelerated particles in the accelerator, but in the 1970s, something similar ha…
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Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
Light colour is made by its frequency and as you write correctly, light is a type of electromagnetic wave and is specific "only" by that it is about the frequencies we see. The frequency of the electromagnetic waves can…
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Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
A convex mirror is used in a car's rearview mirror — this is the reason it always creates a reduced and inverted image. But the image that is created is reversed. If you want to shake your right hand with your image in t…
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Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
Yes, that's right. A pressure wave is typically created by an explosion (it doesn't matter what the source is) compressing the surrounding air. Because air is a flexible environment, this compression will spread further.…
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Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
It is true that the plane takes off due to the geometry of the wings. The upper part is more bulging than the lower part and therefore the air flows at a higher speed around the upper part of the wing than the lower part…
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Jaroslav Kores, Ph.D.
I hope that no one will have to experience this situation because it will not be possible to jump in a falling elevator — I will explain the situation where we do not take into account the air resistance. If an elevator…
Read the answerSend us an e-mail with the subject "Physics mysteries" to the address below, or use the contact form.
We can't wait to tackle your interesting questions!