Recent content by jerich1000

I'm not asking for the "net" energy obtained from splitting iron-56, as it probably is negative. I'm asking what the absolute energy release would be after splitting iron-56. Perhaps I should ask, "what energy is required to split iron-56?", given that it's the same or more than what is...

From the standpoint of temperature (not pressure), would components that could experience fission experience a higher fission rate toward the center of the Earth because of the higher temperature, or at ordinary room temperature conditions?

I know the iron-56 nucleus is not a good fission candidate, and that more energy is required to split iron-56 than what is required to split it. But theoretically, if one were to split iron-56, what would be the products and what would be the energy obtained per unit mass? Would there be...

This is driving me nuts and I'm forced to ask this question. The Alcubierre FTL drive model had some limitations, so another physicist whose name began with a D or an N, I think, came up with a revised/improved model. Can you please remind me what it's called? Thanks

This is a case for FEA. There's an excellent book out there called, "Roarks's Formulas for Stress and Strain." It has cases for a very wide variety of geometries. I'm unaware of the Roarks's book covering the case you describe. Those who don't have access to FEA sometimes refer to books...

Are there articles written on exotic, ultimate batteries? I'm not referring to those for hybrid cars, but those that have energy densities up to that of nuclear fuels or higher. Rather than batteries that operate via chemical oxidation and reduction, is there a theoretical type of battery...

naima, That was EXACTLY the type of information I needed. The smartest people in the world are those who create posts on this site. Thanks tons. Or should I say, thank kSlugs.

There are many government contractors that make weapons for the military. For example, Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Az. That company makes missiles. Are those weapons enough? That is only one company of many. Become an engineer and get hired at one of those companies. There is no...

Sorry for the newbie question. Just slap me and direct me to the right post. I did some searches but couldn't find my answer. If a fundamental particle must exert one of the fundamental forces against another fundamental particle, are the appropriate gauges boson then created by the first...

Thanks!

I'm not an expert either, but I was playing with someone's orbital simulation software once where you could define any number of planets and stars and set their initial velocities, etc., and you then see how they all interact. I noticed that it is very difficult to get interstellar objects to...

I would like to know how many stars are within 150 light years of Earth. There must be a website somewhere that has the number, or perhaps a graph correlating distance with number of stars. I've done some searching, but you folks are much smarter than I am. Thanks

Z and W bosons have very short lives. I assume their decay is exothermic? Is this true? I've seen various feynman diagrams showing how these particles decay, but I'm having trouble verifying that their decay is exothermic. Also, does either of their decay emit dangerous radiation, or is it...

Thanks Drakkith and Matterwave. Aren't gravity waves, which sensors on Earth receive routinely, at different frequencies, (see for example: http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1003/1003.3899.pdf) are they not ripples in gravity created by varying cosmic events? How are they different...

The theorized Alcubierre engine is purported to be capable of transporting a ship faster than the speed of light. I'm aware of the theory's problems associated with how much energy would be required to operate such an engine. This isn't my question. Apparently gravity waves, waves in the...