StarTalk Radio Things You Thought You Knew – Force, Heat, & Speed
21 snips
Nov 18, 2025 Dive into the fascinating world of force, pressure, heat, and temperature! Learn how a small spotter can assist a heavy lifter through balanced forces. Discover why coffee feels hotter than the ocean but holds less heat energy. Neil explains how pressure influences everyday life, from snowshoes to tornadoes. Plus, explore how our bodies perceive acceleration and why car design affects the driving experience. Buckle up for a thrilling ride through the science of motion!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Force Causes Acceleration
- Force causes changes in motion and equals mass times acceleration (F=ma).
- Balanced forces can be large yet produce no acceleration, only imbalance causes motion.
Reduce Area To Increase Pressure Or Avoid Sinking
- Spread your weight over a larger area to reduce pressure and avoid sinking.
- Sharpen blades to reduce contact area and increase cutting pressure with less force.
Pressure Multiplies Over Area
- Small pressure differences across a large area create huge total forces on structures.
- Tornadoes and explosions destroy walls by unbalanced pressure acting over the house surface.