3 days agoMember-onlyEstimating the Population Density on Coruscant (from The Mandalorian)Here’s the line from The Mandalorian Chapter 19: The Convert. Elia Kane is talking to Dr. Pershing about Coruscant. Don’t worry, there aren’t any plot spoilers here. Elia: A trillion permanent residents. Pershing: Amazing. Right away I think: Wow. 1 TRILLION people. That’s a lot. It’s WAY more than the…Physics4 min readPhysics4 min read
Mar 12Member-onlyHow Deep Are the Living Waters in The Mandalorian?I’m here to answer the questions that you didn’t even know about. In this case, it’s an estimation of the depth of water in Mandalorian Season 3, Episode 2: The Mines of Mandalore. SPOILERS AHEAD. But seriously, if you are even here I’m sure you’ve already watched this episode. OK…Physics6 min readPhysics6 min read
Mar 10Member-onlySolving the Three Body Problem With PythonYes, it’s time for the famous Three Body Problem. How do you model the motion of three objects interacting gravitational (those are the 3 bodies)? Well, let’s jump back for a second. How do you model just TWO objects with a gravitational interaction? The Two Body Problem Here are two planets (or stars —…Python9 min readPython9 min read
Feb 26Member-onlyGuardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 Physics: How Big Is This Moon?I have no idea what’s really going on with this scene from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 trailer. But a lack of knowledge can’t stop me from analyzing this motion. Really, in case you haven’t look at my past blog posts this is what I like to do. Take…Physics7 min readPhysics7 min read
Feb 23Member-onlyVisualizing Tidal Forces With PythonI am legally required to start this with the following quote. Tide goes in, tide goes out. Never a miscommunication. You can’t explain that. You can’t explain why the tide goes in. If you don’t know where that’s from, it’s fine. It’s still funny. OK, just to be clear —…Physics9 min readPhysics9 min read
Feb 18Member-onlyDK Metcalf — Is This Catch Real or Fake?Oh, there’s a crazy video on the internet? Everyone is trying to figure out if it’s real or fake? It involves gravity? This is right where I belong. Let’s do this. Here is the video showing receiver DK Metcalf with a seemingly impossible jump-catch. But is it real? My…Physics5 min readPhysics5 min read
Feb 15Member-onlyHow Long Before Adam Driver Takes Over the World in This Squarespace Commercial?Maybe you just watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. I’m OK with that. There’s always AT LEAST one short clip that catches my attention. In this case, it’s the Squarespace ad with Adam Driver (I mean, really he’s Kylo Ren). Basically, it goes like this. Adam learns that Squarespace…Python5 min readPython5 min read
Feb 10Member-onlyThe Two-Body Problem: Going from Six Variables to One.Suppose you have two objects interacting with a central force — where by “central force” we mean that the potential energy only depends on the relative position of the two objects. This two-body problem could be a a binary star system or two masses connected by springs. …Physics14 min readPhysics14 min read
Feb 8Member-onlyModeling a Falling Rope Ladder That Falls Faster Than Free Fall.I saw this YouTube short on Vertiasium’s channel. It shows two falling rope ladders. The one on the left hits a table while the one on the right never hits anything. Which one ends up falling faster? The one that hits the table (SPOILER ALERT). Falling ladders - why does this happen? What happens when a chain ladder lands on a table? Great video and concept by Andy Ruina. Let me know if you want me to…youtube.comPhysics7 min readPhysics7 min read
Feb 4Member-onlyAll the Physics You Need for a Spy BalloonSometimes news items have some physics connections. That’s when you need someone to do some stuff. I’m that someone. In this case, it’s a large Chinese “spy” balloon floating over the USA. Chinese Spy Balloon or 'Civilian Device'? WASHINGTON - American military officials on Thursday said they had detected a "high-altitude surveillance balloon"…www.nytimes.com I’m not judging anyone. Maybe it’s a spy balloon or maybe it’s someone’s science fair project that got…Physics8 min readPhysics8 min read
