Recent content by nebulinda

The fish tank is about 6 in wide, 8 in long, and 6 in tall. Same, at this point I want to minimize any sources for error as much as possible. Maybe 170-190 F. Do you think the water is TOO hot?

I am a HS teacher working with a class of seniors on building a cloud bubble chamber. I have mostly used this article to guide us, but the students have also done research and have found many articles and videos as well. We are using a small plastic fish tank with felt super-glued to the...

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'd agree that my undergraduate physics department was not very rigorous and I do feel that I missed out on some knowledge. Not to be defensive, but I probably overstated the degree to which I failed that practice exam. Certainly, it's embarrassing how much I...

Thanks for the realistic viewpoint. I know that it will be extremely difficult, but, considering my qualifications, would you consider it a waste of time to study for the GRE and try to get into grad school? If you were in my situation, would you even bother? As for passing the qualifying exam...

I graduated with my BS in physics/astronomy in 2010, and at that point I was super burnt out on school, and knew that I would not be able to handle grad school, and had no interest at all in doing research. Since then, I have been working in informal science education (including a one year grad...

I am trying to build an optics bench, similar to one you might find in a high school physics classroom. This is a prototype for a science center exhibit. Now, it's been a while since I took optics, so I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I know what I want my result to be, but I'm having trouble...

I have known many people, myself included, in a similar situation to yours. One guy I knew only got a physics degree to prove that he could, and now he sells cars. Another one majored in physics because he really likes it and finds it interesting, but he's pursuing a career in art now. I had...

Most universities only offer general physics undergraduate degrees, as opposed to more specialized degrees like astrophysics or theoretical physics. My advice is to go to a university, major in physics, and then see where you go from there. Take every research opportunity that is presented. But...

Hello everyone. I never had the chance to take a class on particle or nuclear physics during my undergrad, so I want to know what everyone's favorite popular science book on particle/nuclear physics is. I'm not looking for a textbook or something overly mathematical (there's a reason I decided...

Thanks everyone. That all has been pretty helpful.

I am looking for a semi-detailed description of the physics behind the brachistochrone problem. Basically, a brachistochrone is the shape of a ramp that takes the shortest time for a ball to roll down. This shape turns out to be a cycloid. I didn't believe it when I first heard about it, and...