The Mesmerizing Math of a Wind Turbine on Fire
This video shows a wind turbine on fire making a crazy helix. Here’s how to model this motion in 3D.…
The Physics Behind a Madman’s Parachute-Free Skydive Into a Giant Net
In this stunt, Luke Aikins jumps from a plane and lands in a net without using a parachute. Here are…
It’s Hot, But the Heat Index Means It Feels Even Hotter
What is the heat index and how do you calculate it? The post It’s Hot, But the Heat Index Means…
The Physics of Trying to Crash Into the Sun
Why is it so difficult to crash into the Sun? This numerical calculation in python shows just how difficult it…
No, the Death Star Isn’t Impossibly Big in the Rogue One Poster. We Did the Math
People are complaining about the size of the Death Star in the Rogue One poster. Here’s how you could actually…
Hey Let’s Do the Physics of a Crazy Person Launching From a Huge Slingshot
Here is a stunt that launches humans into the air with a giant slingshot. The humans then parachute down. It’s…
How to Use Python to Teach High School Physics
I recently facilitated two workshops for high school teachers to introduce them to python in physics. Here are my lessons…
Here’s How Fast Harry Potter‘s Treasure Trap Would Kill You
In this scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, a magical trap creates treasure that continuously multiplies. How long…
Physics Says The BFG Shouldn’t Just Look Like a Giant Human
In the movie The BFG, a giant looks like a human but just bigger. But big things are not the…
If Y’all Keep This Up, Every Baby Will Be Named Rhett by 2020
I have noticed an increase in the use of “Rhett” as a name. This leads to the question: When will…