Related papers: The heavy spring at work
A conventional stroboscope uses flashes of light to make a rapidly moving object visible. This is achieved by throwing repetitive pulses of white light on the object of specific frequency. Here an alternative approach is given in which two…
There exists one experimental result that cannot be explained by the Standard Model (SM), the current theoretical framework for particle physics: non-zero masses for the neutrinos (elementary particles travelling close to light speed,…
Little Higgs models are formulated as effective theories with a cut-off of up to 100 times the electroweak scale. Neutrino masses are then a puzzle, since the usual see-saw mechanism involves a much higher scale that would introduce…
We suggest that the Higgs is a light composite state that does not emerge from TeV scale strong dynamics for any generic reason, such as when it is pseudo-Goldstone boson. Instead, a state that is Higgs-like and fairly decoupled from…
I will argue that the inertial mass is greater than the gravitational mass for all objects which are held together primarily by gravitational forces. Thus, for celestial objects, like planets, stars and galaxies, their inertial mass is…
Fundamental questions in neutrino physics are likely to be resolved by upcoming experiments. Neutrino masses require either new Higgs particles or sterile neutrinos. Their masses, couplings, and habitat are yet to be determined. Neutrino…
Sports are a popular and effective way to illustrate physics principles. Baseball in particular presents a number of opportunities to motivate student interest and teach concepts. Several articles have appeared in this journal on this…
Visible matter is characterised by a single mass scale; namely, the proton mass. The proton's existence and structure are supposed to be described by quantum chromodynamics (QCD); yet, absent Higgs boson couplings, chromodynamics is scale…
An unconstrained, non-linearly elastic, semi-infinite solid is maintained in a state of large static plane strain. A power-law relation between the pre-stretches is assumed and it is shown that this assumption is well-motivated physically…
We study gravitational lensing by clusters of galaxies in the context of the generic class of unconventional gravity theories of the scalar--tensor type. For positive energy scalar fields with any dynamics, the bending of light by a weakly…
We consider the motion of a large number of heavy particles in a Newtonian fluid occupying a bounded spatial domain. When we say "heavy", we mean a particle with a mass density that approaches infinity at an appropriate rate as its radius…
Even if nothing but a light Higgs is observed at the LHC, suggesting that the Standard Model is unmodified up to scales far above the weak scale, Higgs physics can yield surprises of fundamental significance for cosmology. As has long been…
The Standard Model is in good shape, apart possibly from g_\mu - 2 and some niggling doubts about the electroweak data. Something like a Higgs boson is required to provide particle masses, but theorists are actively considering…
The climate system is a forced, dissipative, nonlinear, complex and heterogeneous system that is out of thermodynamic equilibrium. The system exhibits natural variability on many scales of motion, in time as well as space, and it is subject…
Physics and mathematics are difficult enough without the aditional burden of bad habits. In this article, we examine some helpful habits that tend to be underemphasized by many physics teachers (mainly because they seem so obvious!).
Springs can provide force at zero net energy cost by recycling negative mechanical work to benefit motor-driven robots or spring-augmented humans. However, humans have limited force and range of motion, and motors have a limited ability to…
The standard model of particle physics is analyzed for the case of a Higgs potential not favoring spontaneous electroweak symmetry breaking to gain insight into the physics of the standard model. Electroweak breaking still takes place, and…
In gauge theories, observable quantities have to be gauge-invariant. In general, this requires composite operators, which usually have substantially different properties, e.g. masses, than the elementary particles. Theories with a Higgs…
The Slinky is a well-known example of a highly flexible helical spring, exhibiting large, geometrically nonlinear deformations from minimal applied forces. By considering it as a system of coils that act to resist axial, shearing, and…
In the theory of the Dirac equation and in the standard model, the neutrino is massless. Both these theories use Lorentz invariance. In modern approaches however, spacetime is no longer smooth, and this modifies special relativity. We show…