I have a song at 150 bpm, perfectly in tune. I want to repitch it down to around 120 by slowing it down. At which bpms will the notes be at pitch?
posted by semaphore
on May 23, 2013 -
6 answers
Are there any online stores that sell teaching aids for demonstrating principles of architectural engineering? I am wanting to buy model columns, arches, domes, trusses, cantilevers, and so forth, to use in architectural history classes that I am teaching. The goal is to demonstrate the physical forces that act on buildings, so I don't need models of finished buildings and bridges, but rather models that show how the structures work--preferably in an interactive way. Any leads would be most appreciated.
posted by mortaddams
on May 19, 2013 -
3 answers
I'm watching the X Games on ESPN, and it's the skateboard competition in a swimming pool-like skateboard park. After the initial drop-in to start a run, the competitors do not put a foot down and kick off, yet they seem to sometimes gain speed during the run, depending on their actions. What's going on here, from a physics perspective? How are they adding energy to speed up?
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posted by Cool Papa Bell
on May 16, 2013 -
5 answers
Actual question: what is the formula for the deflection of an intermediately loaded simply supported beam from multiple point loads? Reason for the question so you can question my assumptions
(and know that I'm not doing homework):
I am building a swing-set, from pretty much standard swing set parts, but want to deviate from the standard dimensions a bit - in particular, I want to make the top beam in a single bay setup 1.75' longer than the usual 10'. I am doing this so I can hang a longer bench swing that would hold a couple of people, so this is more length supporting more load, and I want to calculate some things. More inside!
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posted by flaterik
on May 16, 2013 -
18 answers
Please help me pronounce this formula related to projectile motion as it would be spoken out loud: L = v0^2 sin2θ / g
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posted by misozaki
on Apr 30, 2013 -
15 answers
I want to relearn algebra, chemistry, basic mechanics, and basic physics this summer. For free?
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posted by Grandysaur
on Apr 25, 2013 -
12 answers
Three years ago, I graduated with a Physics degree. Since then, I've been working in a soul-crushing IT job. Realistically, what are my options to push my career forward? Help me find my passion. Lots of snowflake details inside.
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 25, 2013 -
11 answers
What are the fatal ambient temperatures, cold & hot, for the human body? (total destruction, not just death)
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posted by herbplarfegan
on Mar 19, 2013 -
20 answers
I am a scientifically-minded person who is trying to sort out my religious beliefs. I think it would be helpful to read some debates between deism, atheism, pantheism (Spinozism), and/or a scientifically-grounded theism. Can anyone recommend me books or essays that discuss these topics in ways that are engaging, well-thought-out, and thorough?
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posted by capricorn
on Mar 19, 2013 -
16 answers
If you have an object with a given base length and a given CG height, how fast can it travel before you have to worry about it running over an obstacle and falling over?
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posted by Popular Ethics
on Mar 5, 2013 -
16 answers
My dad built a proper pedestal for our new washing machine and dryer. It is 19 inches high. The challenge is getting the washer up onto the pedestal. The washer weighs 232 lbs. It is just the two of us today. I don't want to throw my back out. Neither does he. What equipment or physics tricks can we employ to get this thing up on the pedestal?
posted by jasondigitized
on Feb 17, 2013 -
16 answers
I am considering writing a novel/story that involves the idea of people living among us who are somewhere between three and eight inches tall, but I don't know enough about the physics of sound to know if normal height humans would be able to speak to these tiny people. Would their voices be too high-pitched to hear at all, or just very difficult to understand? Would our voices be understandable to them?
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posted by Rock Steady
on Feb 15, 2013 -
18 answers
If I know the material that I'm teaching well, but don't have any experience with tutoring or teaching, how do I learn the skills and techniques that will help me be an effective tutor?
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posted by cognitio
on Feb 3, 2013 -
8 answers
Giving my sister my old dslr for her 18th birthday. I'd like to also give her a book that explains the principles of photography. I'd like it to be clear and easy to understand in regards to aperture, depth of field, dynamic range etc. , but I'd also like it to have some ray optics to get her to think about why the camera works the way it does (focal depth, optics etc). Any suggestion would be great.
posted by Large Marge
on Dec 16, 2012 -
11 answers
Driving home this afternoon, I spun my car 360 degrees. I have no idea what happened. Please help me figure out what it was so that it never, ever, dear god ever happens again.
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posted by AthenaPolias
on Dec 15, 2012 -
24 answers
Despite being in a technical field, I feel like I don't understand physics beyond 1915. Are there any excellent books, websites, anything that has helped you actually grasp physics from the last 100 years?
posted by four panels
on Dec 3, 2012 -
9 answers
Does the Large Hadron Collider collide large hadrons, or is it a large machine that collides regular hadrons?
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posted by gkhan
on Nov 8, 2012 -
12 answers
Where can I find someone willing to help me do
relatively simple
(ha!)
relativistic time dilation calculations?
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posted by brenton
on Nov 2, 2012 -
14 answers
What was this book I read? Published in last 10 years, it had something like an explanation in layman's terms of the physics of
time & why time is perceived by our consciousness as a flow.
Can't recall much more than that I'm afraid.
posted by canoehead
on Oct 29, 2012 -
9 answers
I might be hired as a technical writer soon. I'm not sure this would be the right job for me. I need some advice.
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posted by Fillus
on Oct 24, 2012 -
9 answers
How much would a human have to weigh to be unable to jump (lift both feet off the floor at once at least a couple of inches)?
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posted by crabintheocean
on Oct 3, 2012 -
12 answers
What is the best way to preheat a stainless steel pan enough that the food won't stick, but not so much that it warps?
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posted by Jim Biancolo
on Sep 28, 2012 -
12 answers
How low can a helicopter fly before people on the ground are affected by its downdraft? Is there a standard way of calculating downdraft strength and diameter at various heights?
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posted by embrangled
on Sep 23, 2012 -
7 answers
I added some red wine to a hot pan containing some carmelized onions and garlic and spices and just-added cold ground turkey. FWOOM the wine ignited as if it were brandy in souvlaki. Wha?
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posted by mwhybark
on Aug 19, 2012 -
12 answers
What readily available materials change state at a constant, predictable rate in an easily observable manner?
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posted by londonmark
on Aug 15, 2012 -
12 answers
I need time to go through
this, but I'm wondering to the scientists if they have ever pointed an electron microscope at the center of a
particle collision at the
LHC? Do they see at that level of
detail?
posted by sfts2
on Jul 19, 2012 -
13 answers
The amount of hummingbird food in my feeder is going up and down on its own. What's going on? Is it possible that it's acting as a thermometer or a barometer?
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posted by waldo
on Jul 18, 2012 -
30 answers
My community college requires a basic, high school level Physics course as a prerequisite to any other course in the subject. While I took such classes in high school, I have no proof of this on my transcript.
My only option at this point is to appeal to the head of the department of Science and Mathematics. While I do plan on making as compelling of a case as possible, I've been told that they want to see some kind of proof that a student would succeed in such a class before granting the petition.
Does anyone have any idea what kind of things they might be looking for? What might I be able to do to prove that I know the material and would be able to handle the coursework?
posted by zazzles
on May 22, 2012 -
18 answers
How would explain and draw the solution to this physics problem re: packages dropped from an airplane (projectile motion/falling objects)?
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posted by sunnychef88
on May 21, 2012 -
17 answers
Explain alternating current distribution across "the grid" to me in terms an educated layman can understand. Specifically, I have a question about how to talk about which power plants are providing power to a particular consumer.
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posted by 256
on May 17, 2012 -
20 answers
I'd really love a detailed explanation of the terms and humor in this math / science related XKCD cartoon.
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posted by lazaruslong
on Apr 25, 2012 -
14 answers
I'm looking for reputable articles on how locks(ie. tumbler locks, pin locks, ect) work. I have to write a 5-page paper on the physics of locks for a class but I'm having trouble finding articles other than just Wikipedia explanations. I need a few sources Wikipedia besides that because this is a college course. Any suggestions?
posted by kitsully
on Apr 19, 2012 -
14 answers
There was a great series about the history of physics on PBS in the late 80s. It featured a combination of very clear explanations of each of the fundamental equations in physics throughout history presented by a very calm, level voiced (almost reverent) narrator and accompanied by fantastic very BBS Hitchhiker's Guide style animation. What was this show? And where can I find it now?
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posted by smallerdemon
on Apr 18, 2012 -
14 answers
Can you help me make a list of the things that pass through your body constantly? (eg. radio waves, neutrinos, micro black holes)
posted by herbplarfegan
on Apr 13, 2012 -
9 answers
Scientists recently announced more evidence of the existence of the Higgs Boson, at a mass of around 125GeV. This indicates a mass significantly larger than that of a proton. If this is the particle that gives all other particles the property of mass, how is it possible for an single unit to have more mass than the particles it confers mass on?
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posted by fearnothing
on Mar 10, 2012 -
9 answers
I need to approximate, very simply and avoiding any mention of fluid dynamics because this is for schoolkids aged 14-16, the forces acting on a volume of air that is being pulled through a tube by a fan. My physics is failing me. Help!
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posted by dowcrag
on Mar 9, 2012 -
6 answers
Are there types of laser light, color or wavelength, whole beam can be seen in daylight conditions with a special eyeglass filter?
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posted by pallen123
on Mar 6, 2012 -
11 answers
Superhero Physics: If you telekinetically/magically crushed an automobile to the size of a baseball, what would happen exactly?
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posted by Cool Papa Bell
on Mar 1, 2012 -
14 answers