Shows
The Hyperfine Physics PodcastAcoustic Levitation w/ Special Guest Dr. David JacksonZak and Derek discuss acoustic levitaiton with Dr. David Jackson, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Dickinson College.
Their published paper at AAJP (requires subscription), "Acoustic levitation and the acoustic radiation force":
https://aapt.scitation.org/doi/10.1119/10.0002764
You can contact Dr. Jackson to request a copy:
https://www.dickinson.edu/site/custom_scripts/dc_faculty_profile_index.php?fac=jacksond
Ming-Hua Chang's senior thesis, "Using Schlieren Optics to Visualize Ultrasonic Standing Waves In Acoustic Levitation":
https://scholar.dickinson...
2021-07-081h 02The Hyperfine Physics PodcastGravitational G and How Science WorksZak and Derek discuss the "controversial" value of Newton's gravitational constant G. They cover the history of its measurement and how the value (and confidence in that value) has changed over time.
Gravitational G wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_constant
Relative uncertainty of phsyical constants: https://codata.org/blog/2015/08/04/codata-recommended-values-of-the-fundamental-physical-constants-2014/
Different G experiments with uncertainty bars: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344933668/figure/fig2/AS:1019607263477760@1620104723443/The-eleven-values-of-G-adopted-in-CODATA-2014-after-2000-and-our-latest-two-values.pngThe podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
2021-06-181h 07The Hyperfine Physics PodcastCosmology and the Arrow of TimeZak and Derek discuss the big question: why is the future different than the past? Why do we remember the past but not the future?
Much the discussion comes from Sean Carroll’s book, “From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time“The podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: https://www.in...
2021-05-1657 minThe Hyperfine Physics PodcastIs Anything Truly Random? w/Special Guest Grant CiffoneZak and Derek chat with special guest, Grant Ciffone! Grant joins us as a non-physicist who asks “Is anything truly random in the universe?”
Interested in being a guest on the show? Come ask us a question! Email us at hbar@thehyperfine.comThe podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: https://www.instagram.com/liketortilla/
Zak...
2021-05-0557 minThe Hyperfine Physics PodcastHow to Keep TimeZak and Derek discuss a mystery in a hospital, where an MRI machine seems to have taken out only iPhones; Android was unharmed. This leads to a conversation on how watches work, fundamentally.The podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: https://www.instagram.com/liketortilla/
Zak on Twitter @phyzaks: https://twitter.com/phyzaks
2021-04-2157 minThe Hyperfine Physics PodcastEntropy & Statistical MechanicsZak and Derek discuss the statistical origins of entropy and how it connects from there into thermodynamics. They also encourage using flashcards 🙂The podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: https://www.instagram.com/liketortilla/
Zak on Twitter @phyzaks: https://twitter.com/phyzaks
2021-04-081h 24The Hyperfine Physics PodcastThermodynamicsZak and Derek discuss the basics of thermodynamics, including the so-called thermodynamic potentials.
Topics: energy, temperature, entropy, pressure, volume, enthalpy, Helmholtz free energy, Gibbs free enthalpy.
Modern Thermodynamics: http://www.av8n.com/physics/thermo/
Legendre transformation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendre_transformationThe podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
2021-03-231h 14The Hyperfine Physics PodcastBenford’s LawZak and Derek discuss Benford’s Law, including the strange places it pops up, and some fundamental origins of the law.
Some of the references discussed:
The Mathematics of Benford’s Law – A Primer
Arno Berger and Theodore P. Hill
April 22, 2020
A Simple Explanation of Benford’s Law
R. M. FEWSTER
The American Statistician, February 2009, Vol. 63, No. 1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benford%27s_lawThe podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.c...
2021-03-0657 minThe Hyperfine Physics PodcastPlanck, Einstein, and the Origins of Quantum MechanicsZak and Derek discuss Max Planck’s work in the foundations of what would turn into quantum mechanics, and Albert Einstein’s role in its promulgation. How did Max Planck fix the blackbody radiation problem with the ultraviolet catastrophe, or is that actually what happened?
References discussed:
Black-Body Theory and the Quantum Discontinuity by Thomas Kuhn (Amazon book)
Einstein and the Quantum: The Quest of the Valiant Swabian by Douglas Stone (Amazon book)
Revisiting the Quantum Discontinuity (PDF)The podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Jo...
2019-12-081h 06The Hyperfine Physics PodcastThe Physics of HurricanesZak and Derek discuss the physics of hurricanes, including the energy involved, and rotating reference frames, including Coriolis effects. Why do they rotate in different directions in the northern and southern hemispheres?The podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: https://www.instagram.com/liketortilla/
Zak on Twitter @phyzaks: https://twitter.com/phyzaks
2019-09-031h 26The Hyperfine Physics PodcastHadrons – Quark SystemsZak and Derek discuss the composite systems of quarks in baryons and mesons, as well as the eightfold way and multiplet organization of quark particles. This is a follow up to the Standard Model episode.
Further reading:
“Introduction to Elementary Particles” by David Griffiths
Eightfold way (physics) on Wikipedia
Murry Gell-Mann on Wikipedia
List of baryons on WikipediaThe podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on I...
2019-07-271h 38The Hyperfine Physics PodcastNeutrinosThe podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: https://www.instagram.com/liketortilla/
Zak on Twitter @phyzaks: https://twitter.com/phyzaks
2019-05-221h 16The Hyperfine Physics PodcastThe Standard Model Part 1The first of a multi-part series on the Standard Model of particle physics. This is an overview of the particles that make up the standard model.
Derek’s main reference book: The New Cosmic Onion
Zak’s main reference book: The Theory of Almost Everything
The Standard Model on WikipediaThe podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Inst...
2019-05-121h 21The Hyperfine Physics PodcastDomino AmplifierZak and Derek discuss toppling larger and larger dominos in a chain reaction. How does the potential energy work? What are the limits of the setup?
World Record Largest Toppling Dominos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODHofgWv2QM&feature=youtu.be&t=86
The gravity-powered LED light: https://deciwatt.global/The podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and...
2019-04-1354 minThe Hyperfine Physics PodcastBohmian Mechanics – Pilot Wave TheoryZak and Derek follow up their Bell’s Theorm and EPR discussion with a survey of Bohmian mechanics, often called pilot wave theory, one of many interpretations of quantum mechanics.
Looking Glass Universe “Bohmian Mechanics- An Alternative to Quantum” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbRVnC92sMs
Looking Glass Universe “A problem with Bohmian Mechanics? Contextuality” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz4CHI_W-TA
Veritasium “Is This What Quantum Mechanics Looks Like?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIyTZDHuarQ
de Broglie–Bohm theory on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Broglie%E2%80...
2019-04-071h 11The Hyperfine Physics PodcastRelative Motion (Not Relativity)Zak and Derek discuss a drone flying in an accelerating car. Does it stay in place? Fly to the back, front, ceiling, or floor? (And does the plane take off?)
The original Reddit post. (The actual question has been removed, but the replies feed the discussion.) https://old.reddit.com/r/Physics/comments/8makbf/i_dont_know_if_this_is_the_right_place_to_ask_but/
Drone in a car YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjTj-tGPSWE
Smarter Every Day balloon (and bubble) in a car: https://www.youtube.com/watch...
2019-03-311h 02The Hyperfine Physics PodcastBell’s Theorem and EPRZak and Derek discuss nothing less than the fundamental nature of reality. They start with the arguments made in the Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen paper from 1935, which were then tackled by John Bell in 1964 with Bell’s Theorem and Bell inequalities.
References:
The original Bell paper (1964): https://cds.cern.ch/record/111654/files/vol1p195-200_001.pdf
The original EPR paper (1935): http://www.drchinese.com/David/EPR.pdf
Bohr’s response to EPR (1935): http://cds.cern.ch/record/1060284/files/PhysRev.48.696.pdf
Bohm’s physics textbook. Specifically, page 29, and Chapter 5 section 3, and Ch...
2019-03-211h 13The Hyperfine Physics PodcastClimbing MagnetsZak and Derek try to tackle the “climbing magnets” puzzle from Veritasium’s Youtube channel. Both taking different approaches until watching the result together.
Video on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0oNkO2YI-wThe podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: https://www.instagram.com/liketortilla/
Zak on Twitter @phyzaks: https...
2018-11-291h 07The Hyperfine Physics PodcastBalloons Inside Balloons and Sweet SpotsZak and Derek first discuss what happens to a balloon which holds another balloon that pops while inside the first. Then they try to tackle the physics of sweet spots on bats.
The balloon gif: https://i.imgur.com/96ld4oz.gifv
Sweet spot discussion starts 18:50The podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: https://www...
2018-11-221h 06The Hyperfine Physics PodcastFortnite and the Principle of Least ActionZak and Derek discuss the physics of dropping in Fortnite and PUBG.
Derek’s Epic name: theHyperfine
How do you reach the ground the fastest? When should you jump? What do you do after you jump?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_least_action
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachistochrone_curveThe podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/...
2018-11-151h 02The Hyperfine Physics PodcastEncryption: Diffie-Hellman & RSADerek and Zak confirm they are talking to each other using the Diffie-Hellman protocol. Zak then encrypts a secret message using RSA encryption, which Derek then decrypts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffie%E2%80%93Hellman_key_exchange
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSA_(cryptosystem)
The Art of the Problem has a fantastic pair of videos on YouTube explaining how these encryption methods both work.
Diffie-Hellman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEBfamv-_do
RSA Encryption: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXB-V_Keiu8The podcast...
2018-11-081h 06The Hyperfine Physics PodcastGeosynchronous OrbitsDerek and Zak discuss why there is a specific geosynchronous orbit distance at all. Why can’t it be any distance? And why is the escape speed what it is? Why can’t you move 1mph and leave Earth?The podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: https://www.instagram.com/liketortilla/
Zak on Twitter @phyzaks: https://twitter.com...
2018-11-011h 08The Hyperfine Physics PodcastHow Much Weight Do You Lift When Doing a Pushup?Pushup discussion starts at 11:12.
Our last episode on discussing the floating hourglass:
https://www.thehyperfine.com/podcast/3-floating-hourglass/The podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: https://www.instagram.com/liketortilla/
Zak on Twitter @phyzaks: https://twitter.com/phyzaks
2018-09-281h 04The Hyperfine Physics PodcastFloating HourglassHow does moving sand affect the buoyancy of the hourglass? Or does it?
Derek takes a stab at a conceptual answer, but Zak works out some contradicting math.
The animation in question: https://gifer.com/en/AjtnThe podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: https://www.instagram.com/liketortilla/
Zak on Twitter @phyzaks...
2018-09-211h 02The Hyperfine Physics PodcastDoes Data Have Mass?Is your cell phone heavier when it has more data stored in memory? What about an SD card? Magnetic storage drive? Is there a difference?
Zak and Derek dive in to the physics of flash storage, and what that means for mass even on the smallest of small scales. Electron mass? Einstein mass-energy equivalence? Is there any change at all?
Original reddit post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/74rboo/if_my_60_gb_phone_is_full_or_empty_is_there_any/
Maxwell’s demon:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell%27s...
2018-09-1459 minThe Hyperfine Physics PodcastLanding on PlanetsDerek and Zak question how a bug zapper works, complete with testing on yourself…as only good scientists do!
They then explore a SF writer’s query on reddit, asking about the safety of people landing on planets by dropping to the surface while enclosed in spheres filled with water.The podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: http...
2018-09-0642 minThe Hyperfine Physics PodcastIntro to The Hyperfine Physics PodcastDerek and Zak introduce themselves and the podcast.
Join our listener community on Reddit at https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
What the name "Hyperfine" means: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperfine_structure
Three Blue, One Brown podcast: “Ben Ben Blue” https://www.benbenandblue.com/The podcast lives at https://www.thehyperfine.com/
Join our listener community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheHyperfine/
Follow the show on Instagram @thehyperfine: https://www.instagram.com/thehyperfine/
Derek on Instagram (and Twitter) @liketortilla: https://www...
2018-08-3024 min