By breathing we inhale air that provides oxygen. Without this gas, no life can exist. When we breathe out or exhale air, it has changed. As the air made its way through our system, some of the oxygen was used up, while the amounts of carbon dioxide and water were increased. Nature keeps a balanced supply of oxygen for our …
Read More »Why is Blue-ray disc black on top?
The Blue-ray disc uses a blue (technically violet) laser operating at a wavelength of 405 nanometre (nm) to read and write data. Conventional DVDs and CDs use red and near infrared lasers, at 650 nm and 780 nm respectively. Because the Blu-ray disc data layer is closer to the surface of the disc, compared to the DVD standard, it was …
Read More »Why is an atom spherical in shape?
When we talk of the shape of an atom, we are referring to the shape of the imaginary volume in which the atom’s electrons orbit. Different electrons orbit at different levels and even at the same level they take different orbits. The shape of the atom depends on several factors, including the and the electrostatic forces between atomic particles. It …
Read More »Why is a transformer core always cubical in shape?
It is not true that cores are always cubical. Current Transformers and Potential Transformers have ringtype cores. Power transformers have cubical cores. The ideal transformer is to have all the magnetic flux produced by one winding linking the other. This is not attained in practical transformers. Flux that does not link both windings is called leakage flux and has the …
Read More »Sunita Williams
Sunita Williams, was on born September 19, 1965. She is a United States Naval officer and a NASA astronaut. She was assigned to the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 14 and then joined Expedition 15. She holds the record of the longest spaceflight (195 days) for female space travelers. She was selected to appear on the Colbert Report …
Read More »Why is a swine flu mask called N95?
Respirators or N95 masks can block 95% small particles that contain the H1N1 virus, which causes swine flu. These are expensive and can be used only for a single day. These masks are made of three layers of electrostaticallycharged microfibres, that block 95% particles, thus the name N95.
Read More »Why is a sperm whale called so?
Sperm whale is a type of toothed whale (physeter catodon) with a very large head which has cavities containing spermaceti, a sperm oil. It is a white, waxy substance consisting of various esters of fatty acids used for making candles, ointments and cosmetics. It has no relation to sperm, the male gamete.
Read More »Why is a new clock timed 10:10?
I personally think that the 10:10 position (sometimes 10:12 or 10:08) was adopted for pictures of clocks and watches because it is symmetric and looks better. Today the symmetric positions are both aesthetic and customary. Other symmetric hand positions are also used, but not as frequently. Examples include 8:20, 8:18, and 2:50. Reviewing some Seth Thomas clock catalog illustrations, I …
Read More »Why is a diesel engine more efficient than the petrol engine?
The diesel engine is more efficient than the petrol engine because of its greater thermal efficiency. This means that the ratio of the work done by the engine to the amount of heat supplied is higher. Since the heat in this case comes from fuel-oil, it is not possible to convert all the heat energy in the fuel into useful …
Read More »Why is a blunderbuss so called?
Blunderbuss probably derives its name from the German donder buchse, ‘thunder gun’. The gun was built with a bell-shaped barrel – wider at the muzzle than the breech. This amplified the noise of the explosion. The weapon was loaded with a number of small balls and it was thought that the bell-mouth would cause the shot to spread. But it …
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