174 Answered Questions for the topic Forces

07/11/19

Can molten metal be suspended in air?
I wondered if magnets could be used to hold a drop of molten liquid metal in air (not for any particular reason just because it could be done), but was disappointed when a quick Google search... more
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07/11/19

Are fundamental forces conservative?
I wonder whether fundamental forces are conservative. First of all, I'm not sure if we can talk about conservative forces, since to study electromagnetism, weak and strong interactions we need... more
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07/11/19

How do electrons know when a circuit is closed?
I was told that electrons do not begin flowing unless the circuit is closed. The electrons from the battery are not in the ends of wire when it is open, apparently, as there is no reason for them... more
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06/28/19

Finding work done in an inclined plane
I'm trying to solve a textbook problem that says:A boy in a wheelchair (total mass 47.0 kg) has speed 1.40 m/s at the crest of a slope 2.60 m high and 12.4 m long. At the bottom of the slope his... more
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06/25/19

Planet orbits: what's the difference between gravity and centripetal force?
My physics teacher says that centripetal force is caused by gravity. I'm not entirely sure how this works? How can force cause another in space (ie where there's nothing). My astronomy teacher... more
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06/25/19

Relativistic equivalent of a spring-force?
Usually what helps me understand a concept better in physics is to write a simulation of it. I've got to the point where I'm competent in the basics of special relativity, but, I can't figure out... more
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Forces Physics Gravity

06/25/19

Origin of the force of gravity?
Where does exactly gravity come from when bodies exert this force? Does it come from the center of every object or it arises from their surface?
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06/25/19

Physics behind the flow of gas coming out of a balloon?
I'm working with stratospheric balloons (latex ones) and I want to put a valve on it so it can float for a longer time. I'm trying to define which valve I should use, which demands I estimate the... more
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Forces Physics Force

06/14/19

What was the force that the wall exerted on the ball?
A bouncy ball with a mass of 350 g is traveling at 25 m/s when it hits a wall at a 60 degree angle relative to the wall. If the ball rebounds at a 30 degree angle and traveling at 12 m/s, and... more
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05/06/19

Why does a billiard ball stop when it hits another billiard ball head on?
(*I'm repeating myself a lot here, but it's because I want to make my confusion clear.*) If 2 billiard balls are the same exact mass, and one hits another stationary one head on, I have heard that... more
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05/06/19

GR and my journey to the centre of the Earth?
>> [General Relativity] basically says that the reason you are sticking to the floor right now is that the shortest distance between today and tomorrow is through the center of the... more
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05/06/19

Short of collision, can gravity itself kill you?
Imagine that you are falling into object with huge gravity (i.e. black hole) that does not have any atmosphere. The question is - before you hit the ground, can the gravity itself (which would be... more
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Forces Physics

05/03/19

Physics Help...Forces and Newtons Law
A moving 46.6 kg sled feels a 52.9 N friction force. what is the coefficient of friction
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04/17/19

How exactly does curved space-time describe the force of gravity?
I understand that people explain (in layman's terms at least) that the presence of mass "warps" space-time geometry, and this causes gravity. I have also of course heard the analogy of a blanket or... more
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04/14/19

How can I stand on the ground? EM or/and Pauli?
There is this famous example about the order difference between gravitational force and EM force. All the gravitational force of Earth is just countered by the electromagnetic force between the... more
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04/13/19

With Newton's third law, why are things capable of moving?
I've got a rather humiliating question considering newton's third law "If an object A exterts a force on object B, then object B exerts an equal but opposite force on object A" ->... more
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04/13/19

Are Newton's "laws" of motion laws or definitions of force and mass?
If you consider [them](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton%27s_laws_of_motion) as laws, then there must be independent definitions of [force](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force) and... more
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04/13/19

Why do ballpoint pens write better on pages that have pages below them?
If I write on the starting page of a notebook, it will write well. But when there are few or no pages below the page where I am writing, the pen will not write well. Why does this happen?
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04/12/19

Does juggling balls reduce the total weight of the juggler and balls?
A friend offered me a brain teaser to which the solution involves a $195$ pound man juggling two $3$-pound balls to traverse a bridge having a maximum capacity of only $200$ pounds. He explained... more
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04/12/19

Am I attracting Pluto?
My question is simple: as the title says, **am I exerting a force over for example Pluto**, although it is a **very small** force, it is there, right? Or maybe let's go further: **Am I exerting a... more
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04/12/19

If gravity isn't a force, then why do we learn in school that it is?
I have studied some of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, and I understand that it states that gravity isn't a force but rather the effects of objects curving space-time. If this is true,... more
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03/16/19

Why is the Moon considered the major cause of tides, even though it is weaker than the Sun?
You have likely read in books that tides are mainly caused by the Moon. When the Moon is high in the sky, it *pulls* the water on the Earth upward and a high-tide happens. There is some similar... more
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03/14/19

Why does a helium filled ballon move forward in a car when the car is accelerating?
I noticed that when I had a helium filled, latex ballon inside of my car, it moved forward in the cabin as I accelerated forward. The faster I accelerated forward, the faster the ballon went from... more
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03/14/19

Why does Newton's Third Law actually work?
My father explained to me how rockets work, and he told me Newton's Third Law of motion worked here. I asked him why it works and he didn't answer. I have wasted over a week thinking about this... more
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05/09/18

Finding the potential of a force
Hi   I have been asked to find the potential V(x) of the force F(x)=k(x-L).   Can anyone help me with this please? Thanks
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