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3
votes
2answers
146 views

Is length/distance a vector?

I have heard that area is a vector quantity in 3 dimensions, e.g. this Phys.SE post, what about the length/distance? Since area is the product of two lengths, does this mean that length is also a ...
-2
votes
0answers
33 views

calculate distance in feet using time interval from iphone camera [duplicate]

i am working on iPhone application to achiever the below functionality. i want the distance in feet between Two Points from the below information. i am standing at one position with iPhone (Camera ...
1
vote
1answer
135 views

Calculate the distance between two points from iPhone Camera

I want to calculate the distance between two objects using an iPhone camera. Suppose I'm standing with my iPhone 10 feet away from the objects. Now, I want to calculate the distance between those ...
-2
votes
0answers
39 views

Whats the theoretical max speed to go around the world? [closed]

I light of the new Scramjet tests I have a question thats been bogging me. I live in Denmark, about the furthest i can travel is to New Zeeland which is roughly on the opposite side of the earth. ...
0
votes
1answer
47 views

Is there any case where one would use, snap, crackle or pop?

As we all know, if you differentiate distance with reference to time, you get speed, and likewise, differentiating speed you get acceleration. However, if you keep differentiating, to the rate of ...
0
votes
1answer
76 views

How do we know that time and distance are not discrete?

I know that it is believed that energy is discrete, in that it travels in quanta. I was wondering if there is any evidence which either proves or disproves something similar with both time and ...
2
votes
1answer
164 views

Need help with the position of a particle in a velocity-versus-time graph

I am having trouble with a velocity-versus-time graph. I recently took a Physics test that asked this question: The graph shows the velocity versus time for a particle moving along the $x$ axis. The ...
2
votes
2answers
86 views

Spot of my light on the moon

This is a funny question, but worth answering. The distance between the moon and the Earth is 384,400 km. The speed of light is 299792.458 km/s. It will take 1.3 seconds (Approx.) for my laser beam to ...
0
votes
1answer
85 views

Is there a finite unit of distance that we cannot divide past?

If distance could be divided into an infinite no of units or points, then it seems to me that motion would be impossible since a meter for instance, having an infinite no of points within it (and the ...
1
vote
1answer
153 views

What is the apparent diameter of the sun as seen from earth?

I know this may not be physically accurate. For my purposes, basically 3D renders, I am assuming the sun rays are parallel rays from an infinitely far lamp. If the sky is clear, what size would that ...
5
votes
8answers
516 views

Can you completely explain acceleration to me?

I understand what acceleration is, and I know the formula, and I understand it's a vector. I just don't understand how the equation works exactly. I'm kind of picky, I know, but bear with me. ...
13
votes
4answers
530 views

Why are so many forces explainable using inverse squares when space is three dimensional?

It seems paradoxical that the strength of so many phenomena (Newtonian gravity, Coulomb force) are calculable by the inverse square of distance. However, since volume is determined by three ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views

instrument that measures the distance from a point in space, through a material like bone, to a live wire carrying very low voltage current?

Is there an instrument that can measure electronically the distance from a point in space through something like bone to a very low voltage wire?
5
votes
5answers
239 views

How is distance measured to far away stars and galaxies?

What I need is an accurate description of the methods used to determine the distance to Andromeda. The Parallax method is for nearby objects as I presume. The red shift method applies, but how do you ...
10
votes
0answers
475 views

Why does the moon look bigger at the horizon? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Why does the moon sometimes appear giant and a orange red color near the horizon? Why does the moon look bigger at horizon or skyline than at other times e.g. at ...
3
votes
1answer
319 views

How do I find the initial velocity in this problem?

An X-ray tube gives electrons constant acceleration over a distance of $20\text{ cm}$. If their final speed is $2.0\times 10^7\text{ m/s}$, what are the electrons' acceleration? I know this ...
-1
votes
1answer
148 views

Distance and displacement of an object on a straight line [closed]

I had this homework problem, but don't actually know if what I did is right, or that I even read the problem correctly. Can someone please tell me if this is the right interpretation of the problem ...
-1
votes
1answer
199 views

Find the distance of a third charge [closed]

The problem I am having is: Two positive charges (+8.0 mC and +2.0 mC) are separated by 300 m. A third charge is placed at distance r from the +8.0 mC charge in such a way that the resultant electric ...
1
vote
1answer
518 views

Relation between comoving distance and conformal time?

In cosmology, we have two quantities and I want to understand the physical relation between these two : $\chi = \int_{t_e}^{t_0}c\frac{dt'}{a(t')}$ : the comoving distance with $t_e$ the time at ...
0
votes
1answer
2k views

Finding deceleration and velocity using distance and time

A car is moving down a street with no brakes or gas. The car is slowing due to wind resistance and the effect of friction. The road is flat and straight. The only data I have are timings taken at 100m ...
4
votes
2answers
503 views

How could scientists know how far a star or galaxy is from us?

How do astronomers measure how far a star (or galaxy) is away from the earth? How would they know that it has taken 13 million years for light to travel in space before it reaches us?
4
votes
3answers
209 views

In relativity, what is the difference between a rod that is perpendicular to direction of motion and a rod parallel to the direction of motion?

In Feynman's Lectures on Physics , chapter 15, page 6 he writes about 2 identical, synchronized light signal clocks. These are clocks that consist of a rod (meter stick) with a mirror at each end, and ...
4
votes
2answers
543 views

How do you measure distance to stars within the galaxy?

I know that for close by stars (<50 LY) we can use the parallax effect. And for distant galaxies we use red-shift (& hubble's constant). So how do we measure how far is a star lets say 50,000 ...
5
votes
1answer
545 views

Most accurate ways to find the average distance between stars in Milky way galaxy

I've already posted here on quora. But, I'm not totally sure if it's the most reasonable method. Would anyone care to elaborate on how to find the average distance between stars in a given galaxy ...