Where does the Earth end? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore the Karman Line, LED light bulbs, banking turns and other things you thought you knew.
How do we measure the extent of gaseous objects? We take a deep dive into measurement precision and the Karman Line. How high up does the atmosphere go? What is the diameter of the sun? We break down different ways we could choose to measure Earth’s atmosphere. Does Earth’s atmosphere really extend 100km out?
Discover the science behind LED light bulbs. What is the difference between light and heat? We explore the light spectrum from infrared to UV. Should a light bulb be able to get hot? How do LED lights save so much energy compared to an incandescent bulb?
Why doesn’t your water spill when you’re on an airplane? You’ll learn the physics of what’s going on when an airplane banks. Speed, turn radius, centripetal force: find out why things stay so normal on an airplane when it turns. Why don’t spaceships need to bank turns? Plus, a quick Star Trek versus Star Wars debate. All that and more on another Things You Thought You Knew Episode of StarTalk!
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About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
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00:00 - Measuring the Atmosphere
02:44 - How High Does the Atmosphere Go?
06:08 - The Karman Line
09:30 - Diameter of the Sun
11:26 - Oxidizing Fuel in Space & Other Ways of Measuring
14:52 - Light & Heat
17:32 - Why Do LED Light Bulbs Not Get Hot?
21:48 - Watts vs. Lumens
23:59 - Black Light & Phosphorescence
25:30 - Banking Turns & Gravity Vectors
30:10 - Turning without Turning
31:20 - Turning in Space