Recent content by Jamesss

  1. J

    How Can We Measure the Level of Order in Particle Arrangements on Surfaces?

    For example: A nearby particle B may be in the viccinity of A but not necessarily adjacent. There may be another particle between A & B. Question is whether a radial distance (and how far it should extend) should be used to include particles in the viccinity of a given particle in the...
  2. J

    Outlook of the plasma physics & fusion field?

    This was a topic of discussion within our plasma group. There was a consensus that with projects like ITER (Internation Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) being proposed the work prospects for us up and coming physicists are good. They are wanting to employ the next generation of people that...
  3. J

    Fusion Scientists: Inertial & Magnetic Confinement

    During our plasma lecture today, it was commented how there is some level of rivalry between the magnetic and inertial confinement camps. I was also suprised to be informed that the milestones of fusion research are scarcely recognised outside of the fusion community, even within the plasma...
  4. J

    How Can We Measure the Level of Order in Particle Arrangements on Surfaces?

    Hello, I'm trying to determine the level of order of a pattern of particles on a sample surface. One idea was to calculate the mean distance between one particle and those adjacent and compare them to the idealised (perfect grid arrangment) distance if I take the area of the surface divided by...
  5. J

    Was Millikan's Oildrop Experiment Ethically Sound?

    How did Millikan do it? I've just completed Millikan's Oildrop experiment (with mixed results) and we haven't actually found the charge of an electron, but simply just tried to demonstrate the quantisation of charge by assuming a value of e = 1.6022e-19C. Question is how on Earth did...
  6. J

    How to Calculate the Length of Energy-Momentum Four-Vectors?

    Is this method ok? Thanks for the clarification... What I was trying to do was find the lengths of the four-vectors of this reaction before and after. p + p ==> p + p + Z Where a proton with 300GeV hits a stationary proton, then producing a particle Z. I calculated the length of the...
  7. J

    How to Calculate the Length of Energy-Momentum Four-Vectors?

    Does anyone know how you find the length of the energy-momentum four-vector for a system of particles? p_mu=(E/c,p) where length is: length(p_mu)=-(E/c)^2+(p)^2 Do you first add the corresponding vector elements then find the length OR find the length of each particle first then sum...
  8. J

    Elastic Collision: Who Experiences Larger Accel?

    Touche!~ I now remember a tennis ball and basketball demonstration. Yes it is the action/reaction forces at play here. Forget what I said before. Duh!
  9. J

    Elastic Collision: Who Experiences Larger Accel?

    apply conservation of momentum. m1v1 = m2v2, assuming they are traveling at the same velocities. you derive then for the acceleration. (algebraically speaking) James
  10. J

    Need Ideas for a Physical Science or Math Project for Intel ISEF?

    Calculate Planck's Constant. That is always fun! Remember PHYSICS IS PHUN! I did for my first year lab project and got it pretty accurate. 6.629etc e-34
  11. J

    Multiple mass-spring-damper system

    Thanks Marlon for the reply. What about when I add a driving force on ground level? This is assuming that the springs are fully relaxed? I have calculted the displacements due to the weight of each level. What should be done to may this system dynamic? Thanks James edit: oops for some...
  12. J

    Multiple mass-spring-damper system

    I posted this in the general forum but it probably belongs here. This is a tricky one! I'm unsure about the forces on the ground level. The problem is a 2-spring-damper system with three levels. A ground level, level 1 and level 2. Then a force is applied to the ground level simulating...
  13. J

    What factors affect the energy of a non-linear spring?

    The energy of a spring is the work done on the spring, and for a simple spring with F=-kx the energy may be changed by changing the constant k. In the non-linear case eg F = kx - 4qx^3 we would take the integral to obtain energy. But the question I thought was trivial was, "what values of k...
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