This might surprise you when shown on video. The experimenter Veritasium demonstrates this physics effect with a bicycle wheel: In this video I talk about gyroscopic precession – the “wobbling” of a spinning top around its axis. This is caused by the torque due to the object’s weight. The big idea is that the torque…
Cool Tesla Style Coil Made At Home [Video]
This home experimenter and inventor takes a video of a Tesla style coil that he made. Here is how he describes this device: Short video of completed Spooky coil with all 6 windings, per the design of youtuber smathewsauthor The 13 inch diameter toroid form is a big plastic slinky covered with tape and white…
This Substance’s Boiling Point Is Two Thirds of The Sun!
This boiling point is two thirds that of the sun…whoa! Researchers at Brown University may have found a substance with such properties. Here is more on the sun from wikipedia: The Sun[a] is the star at the center of the Solar System and is by far the most important source of energy for life on…
The Magnus Effect Is Used In Many Cool Inventions
Many of us have seen the first incredible viral video by Veritasium showing what happens to a basketball rotating and let go from a lofty height. The unexpected curving and trajectory is known as the magnus effect. Aside from looking cool apparently it has many uses and is currently being used in many applications today.…
What Is Quantum Electrodynamics?
Is this something to fear or embrace? Could this be the future of computing? This is really out there and actually hard to get one’s mind around, but absolutely fascinating. And there are people on both sides. Some say this is to be used in the next gen computers. Others say this is like the…
Water Droplets On A “Frictionless Sphere” [Video]
This is a cool experiment showing off some liquid droplets on a spherical surface coated with a special compound: Consider an object starting at rest at the top of a frictionless sphere. The equilibrium at the top is unstable. Any little nudge to one side will cause it to begin sliding down the surface. If…
Watch What Happens When You Add Milk And Coke [Video]
Have you seen the weird reaction? Although this experiment itself is simple, the reaction may be a bit surprising. At first instinct you might think it would just get really foamy when milk and coke mix. This chemistry behind it expains a bit more: The reaction of phosphoric acid (V) to proteins in the milk…
Watch What These Ants Do When An iPhone Rings
This is kinda weird.. Watch what whe ants do when an iphone rings. Here is also some content posted by the video uploader. I’m not sure of the significance or how it ties in but am including it here: This Is What Your iPhone Has Done To Your Braincells – the electromagnetic wave of an…
How Hard Is It To Pull Two Phone Books Apart? [Video]
you might be surprised. Why is it so darn hard to pull two phone books apart? They think they figured it out: People, trucks and even military tanks have tried and failed the task of pulling apart two phone books lying face up with their pages interleaved, like a shuffled deck of cards. While physicists…
The Science Behind A Jetpack Water Rocket [Video]
Veritasium makes a cool video here where he tests a water jetpack. At the same time he uses physics to explain what is happening. Here is how he describes his experience: Despite the fat lip I had a great time. I think knowing a bit about physics actually helps fly the jetpack. It works…
What Happens When They Put 2000 Volts Through A Plasma TV? [Video]
This home experimenter decides to take 2000 volts and put it through his plasma tv. Do not try this at home without the supervision of a professional. It looks pretty neat in the video and this enthusiastic commenter had this reaction after watching: dude this is super cool! is there any way to convince you…
10 Optical Illusions That Will Have You Amazed [Video]
This list of 10 cool optical illusions are shown in the video with components and steps. A few of the ones listed and named by the home experimenter are: Amazing 3D Illusion Animated Optical Illusion Crazy Tables Optical Illusion Awesome 20 Dollar Bill Illusion This is likely the work of “CrazyRussianHacker” which is his internet posting…
Will They Be Able To Make It An Entire Year?
Some people think this is a solid experiment and others are skeptical on its importance. But preperation is key for any serious endeavor, space, personal, learning a new skill etc. On Friday (Aug. 28), six scientists left the comforts of civilization, set to be gone for an entire year. Their mission will simulate what it…
DIY Aqua Lens Uses Physics To Make A Crazy Death Ray
One of the most underutilized energy sources (although they are making progress) is solar power. This creative DIYer has made a very clever “aqua lens” which uses water and the sun. Here is how he describes this device: This solar water lens that is almost 30 inches in diameter is grid free energy and can burn…
Coke Can Experiment At Home With Electromagnetism [Video]
Guy does a really cool and simple experiment at home with some soda cans. The physics property he demonstrates is electromagnetism. That is kind of a very broad term but basically he is showing off the properties of charged particles, and demonstrating that they exist in places you might not have thought about. Wikipedia describes…
10 Extremely Cool Chemical Reactions [Video]
Ah finally a list of really cool chemical reactions, all in one video! Most of us that have been on the internet for a while have seen the famous lab coat gentlemen who put mentos in soda bottles. However, there is a world of really awesome science experiments that have been shared online. This particular collection…
Can Liquid Metal Solve This Maze? [Video]
Every now and then, something in science that can be very simple is so cool! The properties that are displayed by liquid metal under certain circumstances are kind of mind blowing: Researchers at NC State have developed a new method to remove liquid metal from microfluidic channels utilizing voltage. It provides a simple way to change…
Who Knew These Ants Were In Space?
Apparently there were some ants in space (the ones we’re talking about got sent there by us 🙂 The test referred to is called the “ISS experiment” and it was done with the pavement ant. There is also a video on this experiment: Get up to speed on Ants in Space! This brief overview video explains…
Laser Is Dunked In Liquid Nitrogen [Video]
Here is another awesome science experiment. Note do not try this without the supervision of a professional. The experimenter dunks a laser in liquid nitrogen. It is simple enough and looks extremely cool in the video. Here is some info on the experimenter: Good science is my passion, and I always have the drive to…
Cool Experiment Where Sound Moves Water [Video]
This is actually part 2 of another similar cool experiment by this home enthusiast. Here is his intro to the video: Ever since I created the first version of this video a year ago I’ve been wanting to try it again with more water and better lighting / footage. This is a really fun project…
