Category Archives: — By the Physicist

Q: Does an electric field have mass? Does it take energy to move an electric field?

The original question was: An electric field stores energy.  Energy has mass if I understand E=mc2 correctly. Now imagine a lone electron. It has an electric field. And therefore that field has mass presumably. If I apply a force to … Continue reading

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Physics | 10 Comments

Q: What would the consequenses for our universe be if the speed of light was only about one hundred miles per hour?

Physicist: In terms of things like space travel, the difference between 100mph and light speed is academic.  Everything out there is really far apart.  The speed of light, “C”, is woven into the laws of the universe from top to … Continue reading

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Physics, Relativity | 17 Comments

Q: Do virtual particles violate the laws that energy can be created or destroyed? Have virtual particles ever been observed? In any other instance can energy ever be destroyed or created?

Physicist: Almost. There’s a version of the uncertainty principle that says that the amount of energy and the amount of time involved in an event can’t both be certain.  You can think of this version of the uncertainty principle as … Continue reading

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Particle Physics, Physics, Quantum Theory | 6 Comments

Q: Would it be possible to generate power from artificial lightning?

The original question was: Would it be possible to create a very dense cloud cover inside a laboratory under controlled conditions and generate “artificial lightning”?  the Power output would be Amazing!!  it would really help solve our energy crisis. Physicist: … Continue reading

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Engineering, Physics | 28 Comments

Q: What is the optimum spectrum to visualize things with? Theoretically, which type of vision would be the best to see things with?

Physicist: At the risk of being a smart-ass; it really depends on what you want to see. Different wavelengths are good for seeing different things.  Infrared is good for seeing dust, x-rays are good for finding blackholes, novas, and bones.  … Continue reading

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Physics | 5 Comments

Q: What causes iron, nickel, and cobalt to be attracted to magnets, but not other metals?

Physicist: The magnetic properties of a material are governed entirely by the configuration of the electrons in that material.  In metals there are two types of electrons: bound electrons and free electrons.  The free electrons are free to move between … Continue reading

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Physics | 29 Comments