Physics Commons^™

The Physics Of A Space Elevator, Trevor Hamer

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

A space elevator is a hypothetical device consisting of a long cable attached to the surface of the earth that extends upward into space. Its purpose is to provide a tether on which a vehicle could be lifted up into orbit, greatly reducing the cost of space travel. This project explains the physical forces acting on the elevator along with the kinds of materials required to keep such a cable intact. It also examines different design aspects, as well as potential problems facing the construction and usage of the elevator, and whether or not it is something we should expect …

Thermophysical Characterization Of Potential Spacecraft Target (101955) 1999 Rq36, Joshua P. Emery Phd, Yanga R. Fernández Phd, Michael S. P. Kelley Phd, Carl Hergenrother Bsc, Julie Ziffer Phd, Dante Lauretta Phd, Michael J. Drake Phd, Humberto Campins Phd

USM Physics Program

We report on thermal emission measurements of 1999 RQ36 from Spitzer. The derived size is in agreement with radar measurements, and we find a moderately high thermal inertia and homogeneous surface properties.

Nuclear Spectra Of Comet 28p Neujmin 1, Humberto Campins Phd, Julie Ziffer Phd, Javier Licandro, Noemí Pinilla-Alonso Phd, Yanga R. Fernández Phd, Julia De León Phd, Thais Mothé-Diniz Phd, Richard P. Binzel Phd

USM Physics Program

We present visible and near-IR spectra of the nucleus of comet 162P/Siding Spring (also known as 2004 TU12) obtained in 2004 December, while it had no detectable coma. This is the third object observed to have intermittent cometary activity even when relatively close to the Sun. The spectra show no strong features in this wavelength range. This paucity of deep absorptions is common among low-albedo asteroids and the few comet nuclei observed in this spectral region. Marginal spectral structure is observed in the visible spectrum, and beyond 2 μm the flux from the nucleus is dominated by thermal emission. We …

Nuclear Spectra Of Comet 162p/Siding Spring (2004 Tu12), Humberto Campins Phd, Julie Ziffer Phd, Javier Licandro, Noemí Pinilla-Alonso Phd, Yanga R. Fernández Phd, Julia De León Phd, Thais Mothé-Diniz Phd, Richard P. Binzel Phd

USM Physics Program

We present visible and near-IR spectra of the nucleus of comet 162P/Siding Spring (also known as 2004 TU12) obtained in 2004 December, while it had no detectable coma. This is the third object observed to have intermittent cometary activity even when relatively close to the Sun. The spectra show no strong features in this wavelength range. This paucity of deep absorptions is common among low-albedo asteroids and the few comet nuclei observed in this spectral region. Marginal spectral structure is observed in the visible spectrum, and beyond 2 μm the flux from the nucleus is dominated by thermal emission. We …

Measuring Boltzmann's Constant Using Video Microscopy Of Brownian Motion, Paul Nakroshis, Matthew Amoroso, Jason Legere, Christian Smith

USM Physics Program

Boltzmann's constant k was measured by observing the Brownian motion of polystyrene spheres in water. An inexpensive monochrome CCD camera and video card were used to create a video of the spheres' motion. After preprocessing the images, custom routines were used to examine the video and to identify and track the particles from one frame to the next. From the mean squared displacement of the particles versus time, we extracted the value of k from the slope, assuming that the drag force on an individual sphere is well modeled by Stokes' law.

Report Of The State Nuclear Safety Advisor Submitted To The Governor And 120th Legislature As Of January 15, 2001, Paula M. Craighead

Maine Collection

Report of the State Nuclear Safety Advisor submitted to the Governor and 120th Legislature As of January 15, 2001

Paula M. Craighead, State Nuclear Safety Advisor, Executive Department, Maine State Planning Office, Augusta, Maine, 2001.

Contents: Introduction and Executive Summary / I. Maine Yankee Decommissioning / II. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS) / III. Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) / IV. High Level Radioactive Waste / V. Transport Routes and Safety Response / VI. Shipments / VII. Status of Federal and State Legal and Administrative Proceedings / References and Resources / Glossary

The Effects Of A Mandatory Early Shutdown Of Maine Yankee, Maine State Planning Office

Maine Collection

The Effects of a Mandatory Early Shutdown of Maine Yankee

Maine State Planning Office - Richard Silkman, Director (September 1987).

Contents: Introduction / Legal Issues / Economic Issues / Health and Environmental Issues / Conclusions / Appendices

Maine Yankee Shutdown Assessment: A Report To Governor Joseph E. Brennan, Maine State Planning Office

Maine Collection

Maine Yankee Shutdown Assessment: A Report to Governor Joseph E. Brennan

Maine State Planning Office, Maine Office of Energy Resources, Maine Public Advocate

Executive Department - May 1986

Contents: Legal Process / Decommissioning Constraints and Costs / Public and Economic Costs and Benefits / Apprendices