Category Archives: — By the Physicist

Q: How many mathematicians/physicists does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Posted on February 5, 2011 by The Physicist

Mathematician: Theorem (Bulb Screwing) It only takes one mathematician to screw in a light bulb. Proof: Let the “bulb screwing number” of a profession , be the minimum number of people of profession that must be assembled to screw in … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Mathematician, -- By the Physicist, Brain Teaser, Philosophical | 23 Comments

Q: Why is it that (if you exclude 2 & 3) the difference between the squares of any two prime numbers is divisible by 12?

Posted on January 28, 2011 by The Physicist

Physicist:  That’s a really cool property! Every prime number (other than 2 and 3) can be written in the form 6j+1 or 6j+5.  For example, 17 = 6(2)+5 and 31 = 6(5)+1. This is because numbers of the form 6j, … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Brain Teaser, Math, Number Theory | 8 Comments

Q: Why does relativistic length contraction (Lorentz contraction) happen?

Posted on January 27, 2011 by The Physicist

Physicist: This probably should have come before the last post. Length contraction is a symptom of “tilted now planes”.  For someone moving past you events physically in front of them happen earlier than they should (according to you), and events … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Physics, Relativity | 24 Comments

Q: Why does Lorentz contraction only act in the direction of motion?

Posted on January 23, 2011 by The Physicist

Physicist: A lot of things get messed up by relativity, like when and where stuff happens, how massive things are, or how time passes.  Length contraction is an effect that literally makes things shorter in the direction of motion.  So … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Physics, Relativity | 22 Comments

Q: If atoms are mostly made up of empty space, why do things feel solid?

Posted on January 19, 2011 by The Physicist

Physicist: (The following paragraph is wrong.  Like, really wrong.  There’s a redaction here: My bad: If atoms are mostly made up of empty space, why do things feel solid?) As atoms get too close to one another their charges begin … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Particle Physics, Physics | 72 Comments

Q: Can we build a planet?

Posted on January 14, 2011 by The Physicist

Physicist: In theory, there’s nothing standing in the way.  In fact by constructing a planet from asteroids, comets, or dust you can expect to get a fair amount of energy back out.  Normally, you’d just chuck a bunch of dust, … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Astronomy, Physics | 30 Comments