iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

If you look at astronomy textbooks, it's pretty much impossible to show the trajectory of the Earth and moon around the Sun. Does the moon orbit the Sun or Earth? #physics #astronomy rjallain.medium.com/why-do-textb...

rjallain.medium.com

Why Do Textbooks Lie About the Moon’s Orbit Around the Earth?

Everyone knows about the Sun, Earth and moon. As the Earth rotates on its axis, the Sun moves through the sky and this defines a day. The…

5142

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

yes, it would have been a better picture - but I think you made the right choice.

020

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

#physics video - solving a particular solution of the 3 body problem. Equal mass stars moving in a circle. youtu.be/82ItQEntMrw

youtu.be

Physics Problem: Solution for the 3 Body Problem

YouTube video by Dot Physics

352

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I'm working my way through Matter and Interactions for class. Here is chapter 5 summary - finding forces by looking at motion (circular motion included). #physics youtu.be/7yQFZGVyslA

youtu.be

Physics Review: Chapter 5 Finding Forces From Motion

YouTube video by Dot Physics

032

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Since we are talking about the simple harmonic motion problem in intro #physics - this mass falling through the Earth hole is a fun #gravity problem. youtu.be/U5WTdt4CWMI

youtu.be

Physics Problem: How long would it take to fall through a hole in the Earth?

YouTube video by Dot Physics

292

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

New #physics video - how do we know that we can model the gravitational field due to the Earth as a point mass at the center? Here's a numerical model breaking the Earth into 1000 smaller pieces with #python #vpython youtu.be/tu2zAs3erFo

youtu.be

Python Physics: Gravitational Field of the Earth as a Bunch of Point Masses

YouTube video by Dot Physics

051

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

For my #physics class, I used the following progression of problems involving a falling object to lead them into numerical calculations with #python #vpython youtu.be/LuSUkvCgGW0

youtu.be

Python Physics: Modeling the Motion of an Object Near the Earth

YouTube video by Dot Physics

081

Reposted by Rhett Allain

phyphox project @phyphox.org · 07/09/2026

We just released phyphox v1.2.1. Highlights: Spectroscopy, flashlight stroboscope, improved tone generator, updated xls to xlsx and an all new phyphox.org/docs/, which now also holds the full changelog at phyphox.org/docs/referen....

1137

Reposted by Rhett Allain

Jennifer Ouellette @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Meet the 2026 Ig Nobel Prize winners: designing the perfect splash-free urinal; using mosquito proboscises to “necroprint” tiny nozzles; studying composition rates of buried cotton underwear; and the aerodynamics of a healthy nose-blow, and other highlights. arstechnica.com/science/2026...

arstechnica.com

Meet the 2026 Ig Nobel Prize winners

The annual award ceremony features miniature operas, scientific demos, and "24/7" lectures.

13111

Reposted by Rhett Allain

Bree Barnett Dreyfuss @barnettdreyfuss.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

🎢🧪I recently visited a local new physics teacher's room and she inherited a LOT of stuff. It made me reflect on when I moved into physics classrooms and had to sort through other people's equipment. It can be daunting so I wrote this guide: breebarnettdreyfuss.blogspot.com/2026/08/phys...

breebarnettdreyfuss.blogspot.com

Physics Teacher Inheritance

Stuff for teaching Physics lasts a long time. We don't have as many consumable materials as Chemistry and Biology; probably only Geology tea...

4194

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

#physics questions can have layers like onions. Here's a fun one - which weighs more, 44 gram block of copper or 44 gram block of plastic? medium.com/@rjallain/wh...

medium.com

Which Weighs More: 44g of Copper or 44g of Plastic?

Physics questions are fun. Here’s my question.

371

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

trinket is dead, long live trinket. Check this out - now that trinket #python is on @gopicup.bsky.social , you can use matplotlib AND vpython together in a browsers. It's kind of awesome. Here's how to make an equipotential and vector field plot. #physics youtu.be/e07TjUeeAdk

youtu.be

Python Physics: The New Trinket with Matplotlib

YouTube video by Dot Physics

082

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

I'm excited to see #spider-man #BrandNewDay, so of course I had to #physics it. Here is my analysis of the strength of his web based JUST on one swing. It's a good example of a "real world" problem for class. rjallain.medium.com/analyzing-th...

rjallain.medium.com

Analyzing the Physics of Spider-Man’s Web in Brand New Day

Yes, I’m a huge fan of Spider-Man — but also a fan of physics. So, it’s just great to use a scene from the Spider-Man: Brand New Day…

241

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Oh, this is so embarrassing to be college faculty in Louisiana. They are putting up the 10 commandments in all of the classrooms on campus. Before you know, we will be required to teach young Earth theory or something.

July 20, 2026

In accordance with Louisiana state statutes, the university will be installing "In God We Trust" and Ten Commandments posters in all classrooms across campus.

Louisiana Revised Statute 17:262(A)(2) requires public postsecondary institutions to display the national motto, "In God We Trust," in each classroom. Additionally, Louisiana Revised Statute 17:2124(B)(1) requires the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom at public postsecondary institutions. These statutes specify the required content and minimum display standards for the posters.

To ensure consistent compliance with state requirements, standardized posters will be installed in all university classrooms before the fall semester.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as Southeastern fulfills its obligations in accordance with Louisiana laws.

150

Reposted by Rhett Allain

Denali @denali.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Husband just came in to tell me that since the assassination of Abraham Lincoln every American president has been alive at the same time as Herbert Hoover.

Bill and Ted in the parking lot of the circle K in full Whoa

713107616

Reposted by Rhett Allain

Dr Dan Jones @hookean.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

The Physics Teaching Resource Finder now has over 10,000 resources! All sorted by age, topic and subtopic #iTeachPhysics #Science 🧪 www.drjonesphysics.com/physics-reso...

0137

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

After 16 years, I finally re-made my "what if everyone on Earth jumped" calculation. Here's the #physics video youtu.be/0KSc4NISCuE

youtu.be

Physics Problem: Recoil Speed of the Earth if Everyone Jumped at the Same Time

YouTube video by Dot Physics

151

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

New #physics video - how high would the #mythbusters need to drop Buster to reach terminal velocity? Real world physics with #python. youtu.be/b5qwUEUQpVY

youtu.be

Python Physics: MythBusters dropping Buster to Terminal Velocity

YouTube video by Dot Physics

020

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

there is SO MUCH #physics stuff here. It's overwhelming (in a good way)

021

Reposted by Rhett Allain

Dr Dan Jones @hookean.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Introducing the Physics Teaching Resource Finder. Over 5,000 ideas for teaching, sorted by topic. Please share if you find it useful! 🙂 #iTeachPhysics #Science 🧪 www.drjonesphysics.com/physics-reso...

68935

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

What happens when you pull down on a spring scale and then add an extra mass? This fun #physics problem is a great way to think about tension and springs. rjallain.medium.com/can-you-solv...

rjallain.medium.com

Can You Solve This Fun Spring Scale Problem?

It started off with a fun (and slightly tricky) physics question. The original question was about a string connected to a spring scale. But…

040

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Is @markrober the real #MacGyver? Maybe. This awesome video shows how to steal a car (don't steal cars) that use a key fob. Also seen in MacGyver season 2 episode 9 (CD-ROM + Hoagie Foil). youtu.be/h0EGCnBjTVk?...

youtu.be

I Outsmarted Pro Car Thieves

YouTube video by Mark Rober

100

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

If you have an iOS device, there's also the ThermalMaster P3 (I really like this one). It doesn't have the dual IR/visible camera but it does have adjustable focus. It's still great. Use code THERMALBF10 thermalmaster.com/zuroruijub

thermalmaster.com

Thermal Master P3, PCB Thermal Camera

Thermal Master P3 is the best thermal imaging camera for PCB repair, featuring 512×384 X³IR resolution and 1mA leakage detection to find micro-faults with precision.

010

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

I think that every #physics department needs at least one infrared camera. There's a great deal on the @thermalmaster P4 (for android). It's on sale! Use discount code: THERMALBF10 thermalmaster.com/products/the...

121

Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Ug. My mic was messed up (and I didn't check) for my #spiderman #physics video - I had to redo it. youtu.be/83CyXjJC1VE

youtu.be

Spider-Man Physics: Calculating Swing Speed

YouTube video by Dot Physics

011