Top answers

The amplitude of a simple harmonic oscillator has decreased from 40cm to 38cm. What percentage of energy did the harmonic oscillator lose?

It is recommended to start off by converting all given data into SI units to avoid confusion later on. Write down the total energy of the system and that it is conserved: E(tot)= KE+PE and KE=(mv^2)/2; PE=(k...
IV
Answered by Ignas V. • Physics tutor
2870 Views

Why do windows around the house steam up?

The answer to this question is rather simple. There is a natural pressure/temperature difference between the inside of the house and the outside. The humidity in the warm air is much greater than that of col...
GD
Answered by Graeme D. • Physics tutor
2881 Views

How does a radioactive nucleus emit electrons when it doesn't contain any?

When a beta decay occurs there are a couple of things you need to remember. First of all you are right, the nucleus doesn't contain any electrons. It does however contain neutrons and protons. We know that p...
AC
Answered by Aisling C. • Physics tutor
9531 Views

I don't understand acceleration and how something can accelerate without speeding up.

For this we must take a step back and analyse the meaning of acceleration. Acceleration is a change in VELOCITY - this is very important. Velocity is speed in a particular DIRECTION. You may be confusing vel...
JS
Answered by Jana S. • Physics tutor
7595 Views

A lorry is travelling around a roundabout at constant speed. Why is its velocity changing?

Because velocity is a vector and therefore has both magnitude and direction. Thus as the lorry is changing direction whilst travelling around the roundabout its velocity is also changing (velocity = displace...
AL
Answered by Adam L. • Physics tutor
5228 Views