Recent content by nantz

I'm on the 6th floor, no trees, no snowbanks, no ice build-up, no utility wires to vibrate. But it sure is noisy.

When a 20 mph summer wind blows past my window I don't hear anything. When a 20 mph cold winter wind blows past my window I hear whistles and howls and moans. Is there an easy explanation for this? nantz

I did another search and found that Ph.D.Roger Angel, Prof. of astronomy and optical sciences at the Univ.of Arizona, Tucson is doing a study on the feasibility, cost and time it would take to set up such a shade at http://earthfiles.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1165&category=enviornment Pretty...

I'm assuming that too much sun equals too much heat and if it cools down maybe, in time, it might rain. Or at least the Earth will stop baking in the heat. As I said, this might be comic book thinking. Nancy

I am wondering if it would be possible to install a sunshade in the upper atmosphere which would move along with the Earth and shade parts of the Earth which are being affected by drought. If a sheet, 100 ft square were unfolded 30 or so miles up would it crumple? stay there? Is this comic book...

Thank you niko. That answer makes the most sense to me. As I said, the level change is not even noticable and yet the pitch keep rising as the coffee slows down. I've been asking this question for years, now I believe I know. A greatful Nantz

You guys don't give up easily do you? I guess that's what separates scientists from lay people like me. Okay, you forced me to try an easy experiment. While tapping the cup with the spoon I slowly added more coffee and sure enough the tone gradually deepened. Duh! Maybe one day I'll come back...

I may experiment a little but I'm no scientist, I'm just a retired 68 year old woman who has a curiosity about physics and related puzzles. I still find it hard to believe that the level of the coffee has anything to do with it since the level change is not even noticeable. But, I'll have to...

Thank you for that answer. I've suspected as much but thought the difference of the level of the coffee was too small to make a difference in sound. By the way, I've found that this pinging sound only occurs in better quality ceramic mugs. Maybe I'll try it with slower moving syrup and see if...

I don't know which mentor to address this question to so I'm trying it here. After I have stirred my coffee I always tap the spoon on the lip of the cup. As I do so the pitch keeps rising until the coffee is no longer moving. I've been curious about this for years and hope somebody can answer...