BurnSim ($39) is a solid rocket motor ballistic simulation program (Windows only) now in its third version. In a nutshell, input your motor, nozzle and propellant characteristics and BurnSim calculates the Kn (kilonewton) through the burn and predicts estimated chamber pressure and motor performance. Once your motor design is in BurnSim, you can tweak the […]
There’s a Cloud Appreciation Society. Who knew? Lots of pictures, art, poetry, science, folk lure, discussion, etc. Cloud books, too (The Cloudspotter’s Guide). The Cloud Appreciation Society [Thanks, Patti!] Related: The wonder, science, and how-tos of snowflakes
Lenore, of Evil Mad Scientist Labs, glimpses the pattern that connects in a spool of monolithic capacitors: These capacitors… exhibit the opposite spirals of phyllotaxis that are probably most familiar from the face of a sunflower. Who knew capacitors could be so lovely? Electronic Phyllotaxis
More fun with maglev (and LN2). Magnetic Levitation [Thanks, Patti!] Related: Make stuff float, with the magnetic levitation kit Superconducting Maglev train models Diamagnetic levitation on a jar lid
From the MAKE Flickr photo pool Flickr member Pocket-sized breadboarded a solar/magnetic pendulum as seen in the BEAM book – JunkBots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels The self-sufficiency of solar power can really up the fun-factor in these builds – Magnetic Pendulum on Flickr This site explains the project a bit more, and highlighting it’s […]
Wonderful collection of illustrations from science books of the mid-20th century. Vintage Science Flickr Pool [via]
Planetarium makers do awesome work, even building “home-domes” for exhibition – The Home Planetarium Association welcomes all those who build small planetariums for home, school, museum, or other personal use. A quarterly newsletter is produced; This includes collecting toy planetaria, operating older or small professional units, or just fondly remembering childhood trips to planetariums around […]
