Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
If you’ve ever walked across an improperly installed floor, you know how irritating they can be. Whether the floor isn’t level or gives when you walk across it, it’s often because support joists aren’t placed flush with one another. Because of this, builders must ensure that they lay joists flush, a job that relies upon precise placement of the hardware that affixes joists to beams, known as joist hangers. While contractors often use a specialized tool, a joist hanger nailer, that sets joist hangers perfectly, a more cost-effective approach is available for homeowners who don’t want to incur the cost…
The magnetic floating bed -- designed by innovative architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars in cooperation with Bakker Magnetics -- is an expensive, luxurious bed that hovers about 40 centimeters off the ground. The bed uses large, super-strength magnets to stay afloat. The bed can tolerate a weight of up to 2,000 pounds.
Preschool students are some of the most curious beings on the planet. The problem, however, is that they don't understand complex answers if you only use words. "Magnetic fields" and "positive/negative terminals" mean little to a preschooler. Take the time to sit down with the children. Let them experiment with how they work. Explain what happens as the children encounter it.
First developed in the 1930s, magnetic switches work similar to relays, closing an electrical contact in the presence of a magnetic field. Unlike relays, magnetic switches are sealed in glass. Advantages of magnetic switches over traditional relays include lower contact resistance, faster switching speed and longer life. Because they are sealed, magnetic switches eliminate sparking hazards in flammable or explosive environments.
Magnetite is an iron oxide, that is, a combination of iron and oxygen. It occurs naturally in rocks and sand and is known for its attraction to magnets. Walk on a beach and along with white sand you may find black magnetite as part of the beach. Purifying magnetite requires removal of all impurities, including sand or rock.
Electrical signals are the basis of modern-day technologies. There are a number of measurements that can be performed on electrical signals and examples include voltage (potential energy per unit charge), current (a scaled velocity of charge carriers), and resistance (a measure of electrical friction). Electrical current is measured in amperes (amps) and can be measured using a ampere meter. These devices consist of a number of inputs and a digital display that shows the measured value.
The electrical flow of charged particles is known as electricity. Electrical current is measured in amperes and is a measure of the speed charged particles flow. Most everyday appliances work with relatively large currents of a few amps. More sensitive electrical apparatus such as those in scientific experiments produce only tiny currents. In order to measure such tiny currents, a specialized device known as a micro-ampere meter is needed. These devices normally consist of a series of inputs, buttons to control the range of measurements and a screen to output the result.
A spectrometer is a device that is used to identify elements that are in a gaseous form by studying the light that a gas emits. This is very useful for scientists who are studying the stars in particular, as they can use a spectrometer to determine what wavelengths a star is emitting, and thus what elements it contains. It is possible to use simple spectrometers to study wavelengths of everyday items on Earth.
Synthetic polymers like polystyrene play a host of important roles in your everyday life. Natural polymers are important too: molecules like DNA, proteins and cellulose are all polymers found in living organisms. Some polymers are composed exclusively of carbon and hydrogen, while others also include oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine or other elements. The bond angles around these atoms depend on the structure of the polymer.
Magnetism mystified ancient humans, and it wasn't until the 19th century that scientists began to understand the phenomenon and how to tame it. Rotating turbines are simpler to understand, but like magnetic fields they too play a key role in the generation of electricity.
A superconductor is an element, metallic alloy or compound the electrical resistance -- opposition to the flow of electric current, measured in ohms (Ω) -- of which falls to zero at very low temperatures. Electrical resistance is undesirable because it results in dissipation or loss of electrical energy, typically as heat, which reduces the efficiency of electrical devices and thereby increases the cost of operation.
An inductor is an electrical component that stores energy by converting electricity into an electromagnetic field. Inductors are available in two form factors: solenoids and toroids. An inductor whose windings wrap around a rod is considered a solenoid. When designing a rod-based solenoid inductor, you must take into account three things: inductance required, circuit frequency, and size limitations.
Many end-of-life vehicles end up in shredding facilities. These facilities use machines to divide a vehicle's parts. The machines use magnets to separate ferrous metals from non-ferrous metals.
The phenomenon scientists call superconductivity was first discovered in 1911. It has sparked a great deal of excitement in recent decades, however, especially when physicists found in the 1980s that some materials became superconductors at temperatures of 90 degrees Kelvin or above --- a temperature above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. These materials are called high-temperature superconductors. Superconductors can be used for varied high-tech projects, such as power grids, magnetic levitation trains, MRI machines and even the Large Hadron Collider in the European Union.
An air-core inductor is a device that is used in electrical and electronic circuits. Unlike its ferrite-core and iron-core counterparts, air-core inductors can be used in high-frequency AC circuits without the losses due to hysteresis (magnetic friction in the core). In an air-core inductor, the inductor wire is commonly wrapped around a non-magnetic tube or rod.
Ion source leak detectors make use of the laws of chemistry - specifically the transfer of electrons and creation of ions - to change the molecular make-up of gases, thus enabling their detection. The central part of an ion source leak detector is the ion source, which is essentially simply a filament or cathode. The detection aspect of the equipment is a mass spectrometer which, in the case of a leak detector, is used to detect the ionized particles of the gas which is feared to be leaking.
Inductors are electrical components that store electrical energy. This characteristic allows inductors to alter the waveform of an AC signal or to smooth out a DC signal. One particular type of inductor, called a ferrite inductor, contains an iron or steel core. A ferrite inductor can be used for low-frequency, high-current electrical circuits that require an inductor.
Wherever you find electrically powered equipment, you will find an inductor. Inductors store electrical energy by converting the energy into a magnetic field. An inductor with more turns of an electrical wire around the inductor's core, or windings, will store more energy than an inductor with fewer turns. The inductor must be wound properly to work.
To test whether a magnet is working, you have to know what magnets do. Magnets attract materials such as iron, steel, nickel and cobalt, so the magnet and the material stick forcefully together and must be pried apart. Each magnet has a north and south pole, and while opposite poles attract, like poles do not. Magnets are also affected by temperature and distance.
The Overhauser Effect derives its name from Professor Albert W. Overhauser of Purdue University, who in the early 1950s developed a theory of dynamic nuclear polarization. Professor Overhauser demonstrated that by lining up--or polarizing--nuclear spins of an element's atoms and then applying heat to accelerate the electrons the orientation of the nucleus could be polarized by a factor of 1,000 or more. This Overhauser Effect has many applications, notably to hydrogen.
Rare earth permanent magnets known as neodymium magnets boast the strongest known magnetic power. These magnets, used in industrial, medical and educational settings as well as for fashioning tools, contain the alloyed elements of boron, iron and neodymium. They are quite fragile, meaning they are susceptible to fracture and loss of magnetism when exposed to heat. They also pose health risks and damage magnetic media (computers, credit cards), and should be handled with care.
Magnetic pulse water meters, also known as electromagnetic flow meters or mag meters, apply Faraday's Principle of Induction to the measurement of water flow through a pipe. These meters work for any liquid that is conductive.
Many electronic speed sensors use a magnetic principle called the Hall Effect. The Hall Effect device registers the presence of a nearby magnet. A computer counts how many times the magnet passes by and determines speed.
People all around the world use exercise bikes to get fit, to work out and to make sure they stay active throughout their lives. There are two main types of exercise bikes available, and the most popular type is the magnetic resistance exercise bike. These bikes use the power of magnetism, controlled by the flow of electricity and a flywheel to change the level of resistance in the bike, to get a more effective workout.
Infrared spectroscopy, also known as IR spectroscopy, can reveal the structures of covalently bonded chemical compounds such as organic compounds. As such, for students and researchers who synthesize these compounds in the laboratory, it becomes a useful tool for verifying the results of an experiment. Different chemical bonds absorb different frequencies of infrared, and infrared spectroscopy shows vibrations at those frequencies (displayed as 'wavenumbers') depending on the type of bond.
Magnets have been one of the most useful materials discovered and have been the source for much wonder and entertainment. Since their discovery thousands of years ago, people have found uses for magnets in all types of equipment. From compasses to cabinet doors, most people encounter magnets on a daily basis, yet many do not fully understand how they work.
Put simply, a magnet is any material, object or device that has a magnetic field. Magnets can be temporary--as in an electromagnet, where the magnetic field disappears when the current is cut off--or permanent. Permanent magnets are objects that have been magnetized so that it they retain their magnetic fields with no external energy source. They can be man-made, or they can occur naturally.
Increasing the efficiency of magnets, whether they are man-made superconducting magnets or pieces of iron, can be accomplished by altering the temperature of the material or device. Understanding the mechanics of electron flow and electromagnetic interaction allows scientists and engineers to create these powerful magnets. Without the ability to improve magnetic fields by lowering temperature, beneficial high-power magnets, such as the ones used in MRI machines, would be out of reach.
Water is dimagnetic, which means that it exerts a weak magnetic field, and repels other magnetic fields. If a magnet is suspended over water, the water's dimagnetism will repel the magnet. This weakens the magnet's effect on other objects. When salt is added to water, it weakens the water's magnetic field further, so that it ceases to have any significant effect on other magnetic fields. However, salt water conducts electricity better than non-salt water, so magnets placed near it can cause significant turbulence in the water.
Magnets play an essential role within the workings of many everyday electronic and mechanical devices. Magnetic forces involve the energy-altering effects they have on certain materials. These effects arise from natural phenomena within the physical world. By modifying how these natural phenomena operate, scientists have developed a myriad of electromagnetic devices.
Ball-jointed dolls, or BJDs, are a type of poseable doll with joints that allow the limbs and body to be moved. These dolls are often made from resin and have been made popular in recent years by Asian doll companies like Volks and Luts. The separate pieces that make up a ball-jointed doll are joined together with an internal system of elastic string that is attached to the limbs and pulled up through the torso and head, which can be accessed through the doll's skull. To open the skull, you must remove the skull cap, which is also known as…
An inductor is an electrical component that uses an electromagnetic field to store electrical energy. When a voltage differential is applied across an inductor's leads, electrical current flows through the inductor and creates the magnetic field. Many inductors are commonly referred to as "coils," since an electrical conductor (such as insulated copper wire) is wrapped in a coil.
Ampere meters, also called ammeters, measure the electrical current that flows through a wire. Earliest designs used needles that moved by magnetic forces, while modern digital ammeters measure current flow using more direct electronic means.
Whether you are an amateur filmmaker or editor or you simply have a damaged video tape, learning how to splice video tape will serve you well. The filmmaker and editor will benefit from learning how to splice video tape because you will be able to take film reels and find the perfect scenes and seamlessly stream the scenes together (even if they are on different reels). For the owner of a damaged video tape, you may be able to salvage the tape by splicing it properly. Purchase the proper tools (listed below) and you can splice video tape at home.
Create polymer stamps of favorite images, words and shapes using photopolymer and ultra-violet light. Glue them to a small block of wood for easy handling and stamping, and the result is equal to what can be found on the shelves of many scrapbook-supply and arts-and-crafts stores. Add more variety to stamping projects by making one-of-a-kind polymer stamps at home.
Magnets are used in spa pumps in two different ways: they can be either a part of certain energy-efficient motors used inside the pumps, or used to help purify the water as it passed through the pump and back out into the spa. While not all spa pumps use magnetic pumps, those that do operate via electromagnetic fields in a brushless system. While all motors employ some type of electromagnetic activity, brushless motors are designed specifically to save energy by permanent magnets in an external rotor designed to turn the inside motor mechanisms. They are both very quiet and safer…
AC motors are electromagnetic devices that have an alternating current as a power source. Their function is to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy that can perform work. They operate on the principle of Faradays' law of induction, which states that a rapidly changing magnetic field produces an induced emf or voltage.
A superconductor is an element or substance that conducts electrical current with no resistance and repels magnetic fields. A superconductor relies on many variables, such as temperature, to reach its superconductive state.
Magnetism is created by the movement of electrons. In every atom electrons spin rapidly around a nucleus and that movement makes tiny magnetic fields in each atom. In a normal piece of iron, these magnetic fields are randomly arranged and as such cancel each other's pulls, giving the iron no north or south pole, and thus no strong magnetic pull. But if the piece of iron is put in a very strong magnetic field it will align all these magnetic fields and give the piece of iron a distinct north pole and south pole, resulting in a strong magnetic force.…
Magnetic fields are generated by magnets, and some magnetic fields can be stronger than others, attracting objects called pheral magnetic objects. Discover how magnetic fields can repel as well as attract with help from a science teacher in this free video on magnetic fields.
Magnetic sensors detect changes and disturbances in a magnetic field like flux, strength and direction. Other types of detection sensors work with characteristics like temperature, pressure, light. From established knowledge about the existing magnetic field and the data collected from sensors regarding changes and alterations, many things can be known. Rotation, angles, direction, presence and electrical current can all be monitored. Magnetic sensors are divided into two groups, those that measure the complete magnetic field and those that measure vector components of the field. The vector components are the individual points of the magnetic field. The techniques used to create…
A magnet is loosely defined as any object or material that produces a magnetic field. Although this definition encompasses electromagnets, which produce magnetic fields as a result of electrical current, in most cases the term "magnet" is used to describe permanent magnets, which are objects made from a material that can be permanently magnetized. These materials are also the ones that can be strongly attracted to other magnets, and are known as ferromagnetic materials. Some examples of ferromagnetic materials are cobalt, iron and nickel, as well as other natural minerals, including lodestone. Ferromagnetic materials can be divided into "hard" ferromagnetic…
Invented in the early 1980s, neodymium magnets are, as of 2009, the strongest kind of permanent magnet available. Their strength, small size and low cost have made numerous advances in personal audio, electric motors and other areas possible.
A magnetic field is a force that exists within a given area that is able to attract or repel other magnetically charged objects and electrical particles. There are many potential sources of magnetics fields and they can vary immensely in strength and range. There are also many potential shapes in which magnetic fields are found. The most common and understood shapes are the azimuthal, meridional, dipole, quadrupole, solenoidal, toroidal, poloidal, radial and helical magnetic field shapes.
Isotopes are atoms of an element that have a different number of neutrons than the standard version of the element. Isotopes have different chemical and physical properties. Hydrogen is the only element that has specially named isotopes. These isotopes have special functions and uses throughout many branches of science.
Motorized Rollerblades are becoming increasingly popular across the globe. They started out entirely for sport, but with the alternative-energy movement, many people are using them to make their daily commutes. Typical powered inline skates can move up to 20 mph and have a range of 15 to 20 miles. If you run out of power, you still have a usable pair of skates. Commercial motorized Rollerblades cost hundreds of dollars, but with some basic equipment and a few hours to spare, you can make your own lightweight version. For simplicity's sake, only one wheel on the skates will be battery…
The planet Mercury apparently has a core composed of molten iron, a discovery which left scientists puzzled as to how such a small planet remained hot enough to have a core that has not solidified. Astronomers previously assumed that the core was solid iron, until the spacecraft Mariner indicated otherwise.
Closures are an important accessory to add to your handmade bracelets. They are what keeps your bracelet secured to your wrist. Unless you are creating a stretch bracelet, having a closure is important. They are very easy to attach to a bracelet. With just a few simple steps, your bracelet will be finished once the clasp has been added.
According to the National Institute for Early Education Research, studies show that preschool education is linked with academic achievement, reduced grade retention, higher graduation rates and enhanced productivity in adult life. These are important reasons to teach a preschooler to read.
