A short circuit occurs when a current flows through an electric circuit without resistance. If electrons flow without being impeded in some way, excess heat will be caused by the friction of these electrons moving in the conductive material. Too much heat will eventually damage the circuit, perhaps through fire or worse. Short circuits occur […]
The Difference Between Mass and Weight
The difference between mass and weight is that they are quantities which ultimately mean different things, are measured differently, relate to different physical quantities and relationships. They are related to one another, sure. However, they are not the same. Our weight is the amount of force that the Earth exerts on an object, whereas the […]
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law is used in the study of series circuits, where it is observed that the voltage applied to a closed circuit is equal to the sum of the voltage drops within that circuit. Another way of expressing this is, the algebraic sum of the voltage rises (applied voltage) and the voltage drops must […]
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) is another statement about the law of conservation of energy within a circuit, affirming the conservation of charge flow. It states that the sum of currents entering a junction is equal to the sum of currents leaving the junction. Mathematically we can sum up this idea as We read […]
Black Hole Accretion Disk
A Black Hole Accretion Disk is a massive disk composed of superheated gas, dust, and plasma that rotates around a black hole in an orbital pathway just beyond the event horizon — the spherical region around a black hole singularity inside of which the gravitational force exerted by the black hole is so great that […]
What Is Quantum Mechanics?
As ironic as it is, Quantum Mechanics in some ways began with Albert Einstein when he revealed his theory of relativity in the early years of the 20th century. The irony comes from the fact that Einstein was forever at odds with the emerging discipline of physics, causing him to erupt in one of his […]