PLANETS Hypothetical Planet X Artist's concept of a hypothetical planet orbiting far from the Sun. Credit: Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC) Overview Caltech researchers have found mathematical evidence suggesting there may be a "Planet X" deep in the solar system. This hypothetical Neptune-sized planet orbits our Sun in a highly elongated orbit far beyond Pluto. The object, which the researchers have nicknamed "Planet Nine," could have a mass about 10 times that of Earth and orbit about 20 times farther from the Sun on average than Neptune. It may take between 10,000 and 20,000 Earth years to make one full orbit around the Sun. The announcement does not mean there is a new planet in our solar system. The existence of this distant world is only theoretical at this point and no direct observation of the object nicknamed "Planet 9" have been made. The mathematical prediction of a planet could explain the unique orbits of some smaller objects in the Kuiper Belt, a d...
The Science of Mirages We’ve all seen that part in the movie where the weary desert wanderer has been walking for hours and is dying of thirst. Then he happens upon a vast body of water on the horizon. He runs towards the water, it grows closer and closer, until he springs himself into the air only to land back down in the sand and no water in sight. You might think the traveler was hallucinating, but mirages are a naturally-occurring optical illusion. In cartoons, a mirage is often depicted as a peaceful, lush oasis lying in the shade of swaying palm trees, but in reality it is more likely to just look like a pool of water. How do mirages form? Mirages really have nothing to do with water at all. It’s really all about how light travels through air. Normally, light waves from the sun travel straight through the atmosphere to your eye. But, light travels at different speeds through hot air and cold air. Mirages happen when the ground is very hot and the air is cool. The hot ...
Viscosity is a measurement of how resistant a fluid is to attempts to move through it. A fluid with a low viscosity is said to be "thin," while a high viscosity fluid is said to be "thick." It is easier to move through a low-viscosity fluid (like water) than a high-viscosity fluid (like honey). Key Takeaways: Importance of Viscosity Viscosity, the "thickness" of fluid, refers to how resistant a fluid is to movement through it. Water has a low or "thin" viscosity, for example, while honey has a "thick" or high viscosity. The law of viscosity has important uses in such areas as inkjet printing, protein formulations and injections, and even food and beverage manufacturing. Viscosity Definition Viscosity refers to the thickness of fluid. Viscosity results from the interaction, or friction, between molecules in a fluid. Similar to friction between moving solids, viscosity will determine the energy required to make a f...
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