This site from the University of Oregon’s Physics Department provides a description of Olbers’ Paradox which asks why the night sky is dark. The site presents diagrams and an explanation for why a static infinite universe would have a brightly illuminated night sky. It also contains rationale for why this is not so, supporting calculations, and conclusions that can be drawn about the Universe.
This is a five-part interactive tutorial on the basics of energy in the context of introductory physics. The author presents Work and Energy as a means to analyze the motion of objects, an area of demonstrated weakness among secondary students. Detailed explanations and sample problems allow students to explore potential, kinetic, and mechanical energy, while also introducing related equations. Included are force diagrams, quick links to pertinent definitions, and links to animations that allow learners to visualize what is being discussed.
This Wikipedia article offers a description of tuned mass dampers, which reduce wind-driven vibrations in structures. The site explains the science behind these devices and their applications in large buildings. Numerous images and diagrams are included in the descriptions as well as a helpful animation demonstrating the operation of these devices.
This article from the Australian Telescope National Facility describes the death of massive stars. It discusses the formation and characteristics of supernovae, hypernovae, neutron stars/pulsars, and black holes. The article includes an animated diagram showing how the pulsar beam is observed from Earth.
This U.S. Geological Survey site lists and discusses the properties of volcanic ash. The site contains many helpful diagrams, and explains topics including the size of ash particles, the dispersal of ash by wind, and the kind of eruption that produces ash.
The largest of the Giza pyramids is usually called the Great Pyramid. It can also be called the Great Golden Pyramid, because its geometry is that of the Golden Mean. Pictures and diagrams of the interior and exterior architecture, with explanations of the related math, astronomy, and physics. References included.
This is the ecosystems section of Save Our Earth and Make a Difference, a Thinkquest site containing facts about all things ecological. Topics are illustrated with relevant quotations, statistics, photographs, diagrams, sounds, and links to environmental organizations. Biomes discussed include mountains, tundra, temperate forest, marine/islands, desert, tropical dry forest, cold climate forest, grassland, savannah, and tropical rainforest.
About Temperature is a tutorial that covers several topics about temperature, thermometers and thermodynamics. The text clearly explains topics such as the development of thermometers and temperature scales, heat and thermodynamics, kinetic theory, thermal radiation and the temperature of the universe. There are diagrams and helpful links. A version of the web page is available in Spanish as well. This website would be useful for students or teachers researching thermometers or introductory thermodynamics.
This diagram illustrates some of the most abundant stores of carbon and identifies some of the pathways in the carbon cycle along which carbon is transferred from one form to another. Long-term sinks of carbon are labelled in black; shorter-term fluxes are labelled in purple. Amounts are in billions of tons.
This article explains the concept of chaos theory, starting with the work of meteorologist Edward Lorenz on the impact of small initial conditions on a larger system. The page includes several helpful diagrams.
