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Atoms are very remarkable and, of course, very small. If you were to scale both the sun and the nucleus of an atom of gold to a diameter of one foot, the distance from the nucleus of the gold atom to its outermost electron would be 3.3 miles, while the distance from the sun to Pluto would be 1.6 miles (the distance to the earth would be 215 feet). Given the small size of atoms, scientists use an equally small unit of measurement, the atomic mass unit, when discussing or mathematically manipulating the mass of atoms. Converting from atomic mass…
When a normal mass balance is not sensitive enough, scientists turn to another tool called the microgram balance. This instrument is sensitive enough to detect one-millionth of a gram. Because it is so sensitive, even dust and changes in the air temperature may effect its reading. Therefore the weighing surface, called the pan, is enclosed in a glass case called the weighing chamber. Even with this precaution, it is best to perform measurements in a climate-controlled, dust-free environment.
To find the number of particles in a substance from its mass, you could consider the mass of a single particle. This value is so small, however, that chemists instead base these calculations on the mass of a mole, which has a large number of particles. A mole contains 6.022 --- 10²³ particles, which is the number of atoms of carbon-12 that contains 12 grams. The weight of a mole of any substance is the sum of the weights of its elements.
Measuring the snow equivalent of water isn't an exact science because the density of fallen snow varies. A general rule, however, can be applied to snowfalls with regular density, which are the most common. Use a snow gauge to collect the snow, though any wide and flat container will suffice. You need to make sure all the snow in the gauge is melted before estimating the snowfall.
Gravity is the attractive force between two bodies. It is what keeps the moon orbiting around the Earth and what keeps our feet planted on the ground. The force of gravity can be stronger or weaker depending upon two factors, mass and distance.
Center of mass, otherwise known as center of gravity, is the point in the object where the entire mass is considered to be concentrated. This point is used while calculating the object's response to external forces and torques. For calculating center of mass, a reference point outside the object is taken. The average of the mass of the object at different distances from this reference point is considered center of mass.
Formula 1 racing drivers, astronauts and anyone who has ever ridden up on an elevator or driven in a car has experienced the effect of a change in acceleration. The acceleration caused by the Earth's gravitational pull is approximately 9.8 meters per second squared and is defined as 1G. This is the acceleration you would experience if you jumped from an airplane; 100Gs would correspond to an acceleration 100 times greater than that caused by gravity. G force is technically not a force but a measure of acceleration. However, if you know the G force an object is experiencing, you…
The discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton revolutionized our understanding of the natural world. Of all his many contributions, one of the most far-reaching was his theory of gravity. Although gravity is the weakest of the four major forces, it's also one that plays an immense role in our everyday lives -- because as weak as it is, the mass of the Earth is so great that its pull on us is very strong. We can calculate the force of gravitational attraction between two objects using Newton's equations.
Learn to calculate the weight of the Earth for use in science problems. In common language, the word "weight" is used interchangeably with the word "mass," but they are fundamentally different. When one calculates the weight of the Earth, actually the mass is being determined. Weight equals the pull of a nearby gravitational force on an object, and changes depending on the reference used. Mass is simply the total amount of matter in an object and does not change. The mass of the Earth is calculated from Newton's gravitational force equation combined with his second law of motion that says…
Brass is a man-made alloy, meaning it is comprised of a number of different metals. About 96 percent of the metal in brass is a combination of copper and zinc; But it also include traces of tin and lead. Brass may be identified by its yellowish color, but this may lead to misidentification. Its density, or compactness, isn't subject to interpretation, and can be calculated with a few simple tools.
While planning to start a cement project around the home or office, first consider the quantity of material required for the job. Calculating the volume of cement needed for the job beforehand will save you money as well as time by preventing extra trips to the store later. Volume measures the amount of space that a given object occupies. The volume of cement needed depends on the dimensions of the space to be filled. Typically, cement is purchased by the cubic yard.
A load quantifies the weight a given substance applies to a surface, for example, a pile of snow on a deck composed of 2 x 6 boards. The weight of an object is related to the amount of space it takes up, or volume, as well as its density. Measure the compactness of the material's composition. For example, snow is more dense that water. Specifically snow has a density of 100 kg per cubic meter, according to the Avalanche Center.
A load on an object equals the weight, in pounds, the object supports without breaking or failing. In the case of a wheel on a car or truck, each wheel bears a load. The weight of the vehicle and all items placed inside or on the automobile must be taken into account. Each wheel shares equally in bearing the total load of the automobile. This is also true for a nonmotorized weight-carrying device, such as a wheelbarrow.
Determine the weight that a snow drift applies to a surface, called its load, by finding the drift's volume. Volume specifies how much space an object occupies. The density of an object relates mass to volume by a simple ratio. More compact materials have higher densities. For example, snow is 10 times less dense than water. Snow has a density of 100 kg per cubic meter, so 1 cubic meter of snow has a mass of 100 kg.
Sir Isaac Newton derived a famous equation for calculating the force of gravity between two objects. This equation uses a constant called the Universal Gravitational Constant (G) and it is equal to 6.67 x 10^-11 cubic meters per kilogram per square second. People commonly ask how in the world scientists calculated this number. They did it by using the measured values of gravitation between two objects of known mass. Anyone can do it using his own mass, a relatively simple formula, and some well-known facts about the earth.
To find the density of an object, you must first determine its volume. You cannot convert mass to density without knowing the volume. Mass is the amount of matter in an object and density is the ratio of mass to its volume. An object that is considered very dense has tightly compacted matter, and a less dense object has matter that is spread apart. In order to find volume, you will need a measuring tape and calculator for accuracy.
The ideal gas law illustrates the simplest expression of the parameters determining gas behavior, namely pressure, volume and temperature. It is called ideal because it doesn't fit any real gas perfectly, but if atoms were infinitesimally small, taking up no volume themselves, and they had no interaction with each other, they should obey the ideal gas law exactly. Even with the "imperfections" of real gases, the law yields fair-agreement results for the inert gases such as helium, and at least qualitative results for many other gases. As a bonus, other parameters can be calculated using the law, such as molecular…
A gram is a unit of mass defined as one one-thousandth of a kilogram, which is the base unit of the International System of Units (SI). "Micro" is a metric prefix that indicates a magnitude of 1E-6 (the notation 1E-6 means "10 in power -6"). Metric prefixes allow to conveniently express very large or very small values. As an example, consider this calculation of micrograms from kilograms and pounds.
"Hot" fusion is the source of all energy in the Universe. This process powers stars such as our sun where hydrogen is continuously being fused together to form helium. In the process, some of the mass is converted to energy given off in the form of heat and light. Fusion doesn't happen in places other than stars because atomic nuclei normally repel each other. It takes a lot of heat and pressure to force or "fuse" them together. The only other known source of fusion in the universe is at the heart of a thermonuclear explosion. "Cold" fusion is the…
