Whereas physics can present us superb issues about our universe, it doesn’t at all times agree with how we expect issues ought to work. Typically, physics could be very counter-intuitive, and sometimes unsettling. So, right here’s my listing of physics information that may be a bit unnerving.
10: Weight doesn’t matter
If it wasn’t for air resistance, every little thing would fall at precisely the identical charge. For those who let go of a hammer and a feather
from the identical top
on the identical time on the Moon, they might hit the bottom concurrently.
9: Gyroscopic precession
It doesn’t matter how a lot you recognize about physics; gyroscopes are bizarre. The way in which they appear to defy gravity makes you rethink every little thing you recognize about physics, regardless of being pretty easy toys. Nonetheless, it’s all simply Newton’s legal guidelines of movement.
8: Neutrinos and darkish matter
We wish to assume that we are able to work together with a lot of the world round us, however this couldn’t be farther from the reality. Neutrinos and darkish matter are passing by your physique proper now, as when you weren’t even there. The truth that 65 billion neutrinos move by every sq. centimeter of your physique each second is bizarre sufficient, who is aware of what we’ll study darkish matter.
7: Photons are particles
Mild travels like a wave, however can solely work together like a particle. It may possibly intrude and have a frequency, however it will possibly solely take and provides power in discrete portions. It behaves like nothing else in our macroscopic world, and could be very troublesome to think about.
6: Electrons are waves
We’ve established how photons act like waves and particles, however certainly huge particles act usually. Nope! Even electrons have wave-like properties. Actually, every little thing acts like a wave! Besides these waves are available discrete portions, which we’ll name particles. This received’t get complicated.
5: E=mc^2
Einstein’s most well-known contribution to physics
states that matter is solely one other type of power, which has very
profound penalties. A wound-up Jack-in-a-box would weigh ever so
barely greater than a launched Jack-in-a-box, because of the potential power
saved inside.
4: Time is relative
The core of particular relativity states that point passes in another way for various observers. For those who took a visit to Alpha Centauri at 99% the pace of sunshine, everybody on Earth would see the journey take 4.4 years, when you would solely expertise 7.5 months. Time journey is actual!
3: The (not so empty) vacuum
One thing could be created from nothing, so long as it goes proper again to being nothing shortly. In seemingly empty house, particles pop out and in of existence on a regular basis because of the uncertainty precept. To not point out, house is inflating at an accelerated charge because of “darkish power”. To the vacuum, the legislation of conservation of power is extra of a suggestion.
2: c is the quickest pace
One other vital level in particular relativity is that nothing may ever go sooner than mild. This doesn’t sit nicely with lots of people, however the math doesn’t lie. To even get one thing with mass to journey at the pace of sunshine would require infinite power. Even when you someway get round this, there are simply too many mathematical issues with superluminal journey. Prefer it or not, the universe has a pace restrict.
1: The cat is lifeless and alive
How may it not be this? The character of quantum mechanics permits for objects to tackle two seemingly contradictory states in a ‘superposition’. An electron could be in two locations without delay, or in a extra excessive instance, a cat could be each lifeless and alive. After all, this bizarre property goes away as soon as somebody makes an commentary. It’s as if there are tiny physics trolls messing with nature each time we’re not wanting.
After all, there’s a lot extra unsettling physics information, just like the space-bending nature of normal relativity, or the “spooky motion at a distance” that’s quantum entanglement, however these are my high 10. I’d like to listen to any unsettling physics information you assume I’ve missed, although!
