Mystery Definition and 897 Threads

  1. wolram

    Mystery Glue-like Substance in Roasting Tin

    I went to use one of my roasting tins and found a layer of glue like substance in it, the last time i used it was for roasting potatoes and i used vegetable oil, now i may have forgotten to wash it but surely veg oil does not set like glue, i had a devil of a time cleaning this stuff out it...
  2. G

    Unveiling the Mystery Behind White Ice

    [SIZE="4"][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]Hi, This is my question: why is in the middle of ice, white ? (have you noticed ?) I guess the reason must be that water molecules don't have enough space to expand naturally and form symmerical crystals; and the white colour is because of this...
  3. Evo

    The Mystery of Global Warming's Missing Heat

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88520025 Interesting, especially when you consider that this winter has been the coldest in over 100 years in many places around the globe.
  4. G

    Solving the Mystery of dl in Integrals

    I'm trying to deal a problem using this formula, but I'm unclear as to what dl represents (Or if it is the same as dx in most integrals, then in that case I don't know what the lowercase L is) {\cal{E}} = \int_{a}^{b} \vec{E} \cdot \vec{dl}
  5. W

    The Mystery of Boiling an Egg: From Liquid to Solid!

    When you boil an egg it turns into a solid. Isn't that kind of wierd?? I thought when you heated a liquid/semi-liquid it will turn into a gas. But on the other hand I get one of my fav. breakfast. HOW?
  6. K

    Unraveling the Mystery of Cooking Steak: Why Oil Matters?

    So, you have steak which you toss on a hot pan. The heat eventually break apart the molecules, making oxygen and hydrogen evaporate and you are left with just carbon, a burnt crust on your steak. My question is, why does this change when you use oil or fat? I have two possible solutions...
  7. S

    Uncovering the Mystery of 5 & 6: A Puzzle

    What relationship do 5 and 6 have that make them unlike any other pair of distinct positive integers under 1000? (1000 was as far as I tested.) WARNING: Don't read the rest of this thread if you want to solve the puzzle for yourself. It's not that hard--my dad got something rather close to...
  8. M

    Unravelling the Mystery of Work (W = Force X Distance)

    Hi, I am facing difficulty in trying to prove how the mathematical relation for WORK W = force X distance it might sound strange to a few but I was wondering how it was decided upon that force has to be multiplied by distance and not added or something else! Its understandable that to...
  9. Danger

    Covering a Budgie Cage at Bedtime - Mystery Solved!

    When I bought that useless budgie for W's birthday (she really wanted one), I just automatically started putting a towel over her cage at bed-time (the bird, not W). That's because everyone that I've ever known who had a bird did that. Why do we do that? I know that the thing has a brain the...
  10. D

    Unraveling the Mystery of Electric Fields & Atoms

    Hi all, I am having a hard time understanding the following scenario (I'm quoting from page 305 of the "Electricity & Magnetism" textbook which you can access via Google Books): "Assume a simple model for an atom which consists of a point nucleus (+q) surrounded by a uniformly charged...
  11. Danger

    Unveiling the Mystery of Delayed Phone Ringing

    This has been bugging me for years, but I never thought to ask about it before. I always thought that the 'ring' trigger signal was just sent to the phone from outside and set it going. What I've noticed, though, is that two phones on the same line don't ring at the same time. It's very...
  12. Z

    The Mystery of How All Colors Combine to Create White

    Hello, the question is above...now all I know is that all the colors combine to make white. Can you help? Thanks
  13. T

    What is Number Theory? Unraveling the Mystery

    what exactly is number theory i have heard of it but i don't know what it is
  14. T

    Why Do Fractured Steel Specimens Feel Warmer After Tension?

    A question has been puzzling me: why does a steel specimen feel warmer after it is fractured via applied tensile stress?
  15. T

    Uncovering the Mystery of Graph 2: Analysis & Explanation

    Homework Statement http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2813/graphmo4.jpg [/URL] Homework Equations Not necessary The Attempt at a Solution The answers that I have up there are correct, but I was wondering why graph 2 did not look something like this...
  16. glondor

    Uncovering the Mystery of the EVO Gun

    Jeez I hope I never get you mad at me. How did you discover antigravity anyway?? http://www.americanantigravity.com/articles/572/1/The-EVO-Gun/Page1.html
  17. M

    What is the Electron Cloud and Why is it So Mysterious?

    Simple question here, I know where the protons, neutrons etc. are, but what I can't seem to find anywhere is what I have labeled "X" in my poorly drawn diagram. Everywhere I look it calls it an "electron cloud" is that all it can be described as because we don't actually know exactly what is in...
  18. A

    Unravelling the Mystery of J & l Quantum Numbers

    [SOLVED] Quantum Numbers What is the difference between using J and l for quantum numbers? I have some lecture notes that aren't fully explained. It was talking about rotational transitions for diatomic molecules, and said the energy of a photon going from level J to level J-1 is...
  19. D

    Unravelling the Mystery of the 3 Forms of Double-Angle Formula for Cos 20

    How can there be three forms of the double-angle formula for cos 20?
  20. scupydog

    Solve the Mystery: Find the Switch that Lights the Attic

    In the cellar you have three light switches, one of which turns the light on in the attic. You can only go upstairs once to check the light in the attic. Which switch turns on the light?
  21. glondor

    Mystery Lights Seen in Night Sky: What Are They?

    Do you think this is an effect of the night scopes? or is there some other phenominon going on here. I give the video 100% credability, as it seems several observers see the same thing... what are they seeing. Seems the brightest is over the biggest city.
  22. C

    Was the Dust Cloud Surrounding Proto-Earth Hot or Cold?

    Hi, I'm not good enough to contribute answers yet, but I hope to entertain you with questions. Practically all the Earth formation stuff I've read talks about the Earth being molton. That always seems strange to me. If I think of a space body without an atmosphere, I generally think of it...
  23. H

    What Caused the Big Bang and Where Did It All Begin?

    Where did everything that went 'bang' come from ? It would seem to me that even potential must have a source of origin. Accepting that the Big Bang is true, where did it come from ? Where did all the potential of the unified field come from that went 'bang'? What caused all the 'matter' of the...
  24. wolram

    Mystery Objects: Can You Guess What They Are?

    How are you at guessing or even knowing what some of these are? http://puzzlephotos.blogspot.com/2006/01/mystery-objects.html
  25. A

    Unveiling the Mystery of Negative Energy and Transportation

    negative force! can anyone in this world,tell me what is negative energy... how does that help in transportation... heard that if it really existed,we can travel large distances in few seconds please do help folks
  26. E

    Tackling a Tough Momentum Problem: Solving the Mystery

    I had a test today that was really tough. We just went over conservation of momentum and angular momentum and that stuff. The hardest problem on the test looks like this: http://alexmabee.googlepages.com/problem.jpg/problem-full.jpg I can't for the life of me figure out how to solve...
  27. H

    Solving the Mystery of Drop Out Ride: Find Rev/s Needed for Floor Drop Out

    Homework Statement In a ride called Drop Out, riders are spun in horizontal circles of radius 5.5m, which forces them to the outer wall. When they are spinning fast enough, the floor drops out, and they are suspended by friction. The coefficient of static friction is 0.28, how many rev/s must...
  28. E

    Unravelling the Mystery of Infinite Potential Solutions

    Homework Statement Say I have a potential that is infinite from - infinity to 0, -V_0 from 0 to a, and 0 from a to infinity. Then I have three unknowns, two for the plane wave solution in the finite well and one for the exponential outside the well. But I also have four equations. Two...
  29. U

    The Mystery Behind the Fan's Circular Motion

    Homework Statement Hey just a quick question that bothering me: how come when u stick your finger in the middle of the fan and let it move it goes in a larger circle?
  30. S

    How Do Radio Receivers Isolate Specific Frequencies from a Combined Signal?

    I've been puzzling how it is that you can tune into a signal on a particular frequency. How can it be possible to get rid of all the other signals that are added together? I don't know how much of this makes any sense, but I have tried to specify the problem mathematically. Suppose R_1(t)...
  31. Evo

    Today's Mystery - Can You Guess What It Is?

    Today's "What is it?". Can anyone quess? If you ask, I will give hints. http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6198/whatisitlc9.jpg
  32. B

    How Can Space Be Cold in a Vacuum Despite Molecular Vibration?

    Heat is the the vibration of molecules in a medium. If this is so, then how is space cold if it is a vacuum. I'm aware that space has very few particles but I don't understand how heat is emitted. I'm guessing that it might have to do with radiation.
  33. B

    Is the Concept of an Infinite Universe Truly Understandable?

    Say you take pi and keep zooming on on a circle. You keep getting more digits but you never actually hit the end of pi. It has been proven to be infinite. But how exactly is something infinite constructed in our universe. It just doesn't make sense to me. Almost as far as saying that the...
  34. B

    The Mystery of Gas-Powered Heat Pumps

    Are there natural gas powered heat pumps? My friend says yes, but the science is puzzling to me if so. Easy to understand burning gas to make heat, but what economical home system can make cold air from hot burning gas unless the heat turns a dynamo that makes electricity that powers the AC...
  35. Ivan Seeking

    Unravelling the Mystery of "Electric Fog"

    There are a number of similar reports that I've seen about an alleged phenomenon that has been called an "electric fog". One episode is described by a pilot, and another by a tug boat captain, both in the so called Bermuda Triangle. I will dig those up later. I don't mean to say that even if...
  36. Maxwell's Demon

    Uncovering the Mystery of Wave Momentum Transfer

    Apparently what I thought I understood about waves is wrong: there seems to be a net momentum transfer with mechanical waves, as well as photons (it seems they're perfectly analogous). I hope some of the experts on the board can help to clarify this issue; perhaps it’s less surprising to...
  37. wolram

    Mystery Gift of Ancient Motorbike Mags: Priceless Joy!

    I found a folder of ancient motorbike mags on my porch, can you imagine my joy? No one loves or even likes me enough to give me such a gift, they are probably priceless, well worth a few bob anyway, who the heck?
  38. R

    Solving the Mystery of Clay Temperature Change

    k the question states On a pleasant fall day (temperature of 21.0 degree Celcius) a lump of clay (with mass of .855 kg) is thrown against the wall with a speed of 38.0 m/s. The clay deforms as it sticks to the wall, noiselessly. Assuming no heat escapes into the air, what will be the...
  39. qspeechc

    What Strategy Saves the Most Prisoners?

    Riddle 1 30 Prisoners are on death-row for marijuana related offences. The prison warder doesn't view their crimes with much seriousness,and decides to give them a chance to escape.He makes the prisoners the following offer: Tomorrow all the prisoners will be blindfolded, and either a black...
  40. J

    Unravelling the Mystery of Negative Multiplication

    I wondered why it is that when you multiply a negative with a negative, you get a positive? in example; why is it that -3 x -3 = 9? when you do -3 x 3, the answer is intuitively -9, because you just go three times as negative. But when I multiply two minus signs, I don't have this...
  41. Greg Bernhardt

    Solving Milk Souring Mystery in Fridge

    For the past year I haven't been able to keep milk in my fridge for more than 4-5 days. I always buy the freshest milk, not expiring for a couple weeks from purchase. However, the milk sours in my fridge in 4-5 days no matter what brand or size of milk. After 4-5 days the top of the milk is...
  42. J

    Unraveling the Mystery of Carbon Dating: Age of an Ancient Fire Pit

    Carbon dating! A 5g charcoal sample from an ancient fire pit has a 14C activity of 63 disintegrations per minute. A living tree has a 14C activity of 15 disintegrations per minute per 1g. The half-life of 14C is 5730 years. How old is the charcoal sample from the ancient fire pit...
  43. wolram

    The Mystery of Turbulent Flow for F1 Cars

    One of the factors that can produce a winning F1 car is the understanding of turbulent flow, the people that design these cars spend millions on wind tunnels, simply because turbulent flow has not yielded to mathematics, my way of thinking is ,that it is essential to understand turbulent flow...
  44. C

    Water Pipe Boyle's Law Mystery.

    This is a very curious situation. I have a large water tank on the top of a hill. It supplies a gravity fed water system that works fine. There is an under ground pipe with one end A in the bottom of the tank. The other end E is about 80 feet below A, and has a faucet. None of the pipe is...
  45. E

    Mystery Symbol: What Does a Big Inverted V Mean?

    what does a big inverted V stand for? it's not "and" because it's used right in front of a literal (atomic formula) not sure if it's a quantifier... This is a paper discussing approach based on deontic logic that I am scanning through, but this sign i cannot figure out how to search online...
  46. S

    The Mystery of Aurora Borealis: Electron Acceleration

    I'm just wondering whether anyone has any theories as to what causes the electrons in the Aurora Borealis to accelerate (emitting e.m radiation)?
  47. U

    Unsolved Mystery: Accelerating Charges & Radiation Reaction Force

    It is often stated that ANY accelerating charge radiates, so this includes uniformly accelerating charges. But the radiation reaction force is proportional to the THIRD derivative of x, so it vanishes when acceleration is constant. What's the deal here? Here's a graph which supposedly shows...
  48. J

    Dilbert's Pointy Haired Boss: The Mystery Solved!

    I'm often slow on the uptake, but this is ridiculous. I just figured out what the pointy hair represents in Dilbert's pointy haired boss.
  49. R

    The Mystery of Cold Air Travel: Light vs. Heat

    How does cold air travel? Isn't it like me flashing darkness at your face? Because cold is the absence of heat as darkness is absence of light. It's like nothing traveling. I know it's confusing.:confused:
  50. P

    Uncovering the Mystery of Dark Matter: A Beginner's Guide

    Hi everyone, I have just read an article about the discovery of a ring of a dark matter. In fact I do not understand this matter very much, except that it has great gravitational field in space. Can anyone explain shortly about that or just give me some web links that I can read about that...
Back
Top