The Boffins Portal Team 
Light energy and chemical energy can be considered opposites in one respect: light energy cannot be stored while chemical energy can be stored for later use. Energy is said to be interchangeable from one form to another. If light energy could be changed into chemical energy, this can be a brilliant way to stockpile reserves …
How do our visual senses organize stimuli and make meaning of our complex world? A group of German psychologists in the early 20th century introduced the principle of continuity which tries to explain how vision is used to perceive and process elements in our surroundings. Continuity is the idea that people view stimuli (i.e., objects) …
There are three classes of levers—the class is determined by where the load, fulcrum, and force are located. For second-class levers, the load is usually located between the fulcrum and the force. The closer the location of the load to the fulcrum, the easier it is to lift the load. On the flip side, the …
DEFINITIONS: Functions are mathematical relationships where each input (from a set called the domain) corresponds to exactly one output (from a set called the range), while relations allow multiple outputs for an input. EXPLANATION: Relations are defined as sets of ordered pairs. Ordered pairs are values that go together. This means that if one value …
In government, business, or military operations, it is usually useful to be able to recognize and distinguish different geographical regions on the map. One way of doing this is through vernacular regions or perceptual regions. A vernacular region is an area defined according to people’s perception of the region, as opposed to demarcation borders. Residents …
DEFINITION: An inclined plane is a simple machine that reduces the force needed to lift an object by allowing it to move up or down along a sloped surface, altering the effort required. EXPLANATION: Have you ever experienced the thrill of a roller coaster ride? All that giddy feeling of lightness as it moves up …
DEFINITION: A wheel and axle is a simple machine composed of a wheel attached to a smaller axle, enabling the transfer of force to accomplish tasks like lifting or moving objects more efficiently. EXPLANATION: When most people think of machines, they think of complex machines consisting of various components. However, all these complex machines are …
Levers are simple machines that are a part of our everyday lives. The basic structure of a lever consists of a beam that is balanced on a support or fulcrum. Levers can be grouped into three categories: First class, second class, and third class. The difference between the three classes of levers depends on the …
Before studying nonlinear relationships, you likely were introduced to linear relationships. This introduction gives you a much simpler way of creating and using predictive models. However, without studying nonlinear relationships, much of the world around us would not be understood. That is because most physical and statistical situations in the real world are nonlinear and …
Points can be described as positions represented by dots to indicate exact location. They can be contrasted from other geometric structures like lines, curves, or 3D objects. Unlike them, a point has no dimensions such as height, size, or volume. Therefore, we can only describe the position of a point but we can’t describe its …