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Questions tagged [experimental-physics]

For questions about design, process, data, or analysis of experiments and observations.

Use this tag to ask about techniques in experimental physics, including the processing of data, design of experiments, and analysis of results or observations.

This tag may also be used to ask about experimental or observational evidence regarding a topic.

3840 questions
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Why is it easier to break a tightened or stretched string than a loose one?

I want to know, why is it that it is easier to cut through a string which is tightened then a loose one? The question arose when I was watching - "What Happened Next?". In a part, they showed two clips, each one demonstrating the crash of rotor…
user3459110
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What is the most counter-intuitive result in physics?

I think that relativity and quantum mechanics would provide some good examples.
Casebash
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Is there a different behavior between proton and antiproton beams at the Tevatron?

This question has its origin to the reference on the Aegis experiment at CERN where they aim to produce super cooled antihydrogen and detect whether its reaction to gravity is negative. It set me thinking that the beams in the Tevatron circulate for…
anna v
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4 answers

Power fit to some experimental data

I have to fit some data to a power law $$ F=\alpha q^{\beta}$$ being $q$ and $F$ the experimental data points. What I usually do is taking logs so that $$ \ln(F) = \beta \ln(q)+\ln(\alpha)$$ and apply least squares with uncertainties in both…
J L
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Why is the velocity of a voltage wave in a pure copper wire so high?

A pressure wave in air travels at the speed of sound. However a voltage wave in a copper conductor travels at a significant fraction of light speed. Why the difference of many orders of magnitude?
adlibber
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How does Aquarium Aeration work on the Aquatic Habitat aboard the International Space Station?

The most recent set of experiments sent to the ISS included 32 fish which are going to be studied in a space aquarium called the Aquatic Habitat. On Earth, an air pump pushes air which flows out of an airstone and travels, in the form of bubbles,…
Major Stackings
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How does rainbow stay for such long time even it is caused due to raindrops?

Rainbow forms when light rays pass through a raindrop (usually, it can be a watet droplet also) and it undergoes several phenomenon like refraction , reflection , dispersion , But after the rainbow is formed it should not stay for much long as the…
Chloritone_360
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Why does the iron and gallium alloy called Galfenol generate electricity under impact forces?

The scientists in the experiment took a rod made of galfenol - which is iron doped with gallium - placed it under high pressure impact forces on both ends while under a magnetic field and discovered the material could convert the exerted force into…
Stevan White
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Heat transfer in a finite cylinder

This question has more to do with experimental physics than theoretical physics. I have a copper cylinder of radius $a$ and length $L$. On one side of the cylinder, let's say $x=0$, I have a source with a temperature that varies with time. Now, on…
user120474
3
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2 answers

What is the standard way to find averages of measurement values that contain statistic and systematic uncertainties?

How to find the average value of several measurement results if we know their statistical and systematics uncertainties? There might be that there is no such thing as best way to do it, but it would be helpful to know how is this done in different…
Newman
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Why do physicists always give "event rates"?

Many times I see plots for expected/measured "event rates", but what's the motivation for this? Why not generate/use plots for expected/measured event numbers/counts instead?
Arturo don Juan
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Difference between Vernier constant and least count

What is the difference between the Vernier constant and least count of a Vernier caliper?
Wonder
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Is it possible to devise a physical experiment to calculate any irrational number?

Suppose we for take example $\pi$ then one nice experiment to find an approximate value for it is the Buffon's Needle experiment. Suppose we are given any arbitary irrational number $\chi$, is it possible to find a physical experiment such that we…
tryst with freedom
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When designing experiments, when exactly is a control group necessary?

Question: An experiment is conducted to investigate the effects of different surfaces (placed at an incline) on the "rolling speed" of a golf ball. Is a control group necessary for this experiment? The answer provided: No. In the case of this ball…
Shane
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How frequency generated on water can affect it's flow on camera?

I have a science fair project, and it can be summed up in this video. The problem is that only a sub woofer can generate a pure 23.24 Hz frequency and I can't afford a sub woofer. So I was wondering, if I adjust the frame of the camera to 50 frames,…
Rami saleh
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