Parabolic BeautyFermi Questions

Column Editor: John Adam, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

2025

Lock n’ love by John Adam
The Physics Teacher 63, 299 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0225181

A question of transparency by John Adam
Phys. Teach. 63, 215 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0216437

Suntan (and other solar trigonometric functions) by John Adam
The Physics Teacher63, 129 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0210890

Golden spirals everywhere? by John Adam
The Physics Teacher 63, 76 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0209517

2024

From T to Y by John Adam
The Physics Teacher 62, 797 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0205977

 Sky smiley face by John Adam.
The Physics Teacher 62, 687 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0205625

Pigeon strike! by John Adam
The Physics Teacher 62, 622 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0198844

Shadow hands by  John Adam.
The Physics Teacher 62, 543 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0178537

Refracting UFOs by John Adam
The Physics Teacher 62, 403 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0168101

Cats, dogs, and roll waves by John Adam
The Physics Teacher 62, 317 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0167973

Earthquakes and seismic waves by John Adam
The Physics Teacher 62, 238 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0201922

Earthquakes and seismic waves: Solutions for Fermi Questions, March 2024 by John Adam
The Physics Teacher 62, A238 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0165482

Snow spheres and ice cubes by John Adam
The Physics Teacher 62, 156 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0167776

The weighty words of Lord Rayleigh by John Adam.
The Physics Teacher 62, 74 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0167568

2023

“Density” of light and pi by John Adam
The Physics Teacher 61, 814 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0177596

Ellipses, leaves, and solar crescents by John Adam
The Physics Teacher. 61, 716 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0177595

Dental Floss, Calculus, and Jail by John Adam.
The Physics Teacher 61, 634 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0166996

Not your typical Tower of Sauron by John Adam
The Physics Teacher 61, 539 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0166995

Another angle on perspective 
The Physics Teacher 61, 412 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0142530

Of mice,* humans, and flies
The Physics Teacher 61, 307 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0142425

Exploding haystacks
The Physics Teacher 61, 236 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0141360

Oscillating icebergs
The Physics Teacher 61, 158 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0139708

Shrub sphericity
The Physics Teacher 61, 93 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0016767

2022

Drop in the bucket? The Physics Teacher 60, 796 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0015306.

Horizontal air mass by John Adam The Physics Teacher 60, 716 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0015013

Cloud Ripple Pattern The Physics Teacher 60, 611 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0014306

Rock paintings by John Adam
The Physics Teacher 60, 521 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0013863

Question 1: Space telescope; Question 2: JWST2
The Physics Teacher 60, 390 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0010399

Question 1: Dinosaur killer crater; Question 2: Graduation speeches
Larry WeinsteinThe Physics Teacher 60, 302 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0009997

Question 1: Ketchup packets; Question 2: Dog hair
The Physics Teacher 60, 228 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0009693

Question 1: Wrapping; Question 2: Stair climbing
The Physics Teacher 60, 155 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0009432

Question 1: Snow volume; Question 2: Longbow arrow velocity
The Physics Teacher 60, 73 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0009118

2021

Question 1: Falling on a BMW; Question 2: Recycling contact lenses
The Physics Teacher 59, 727 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0007415

Question 1: Chess moves; Question 2: Cat litter
The Physics Teacher 59, 669 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0006930

Question 1: Rising water level; Question 2: Popping many pimples
The Physics Teacher 59, 583 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0006469

Question 1: Cell phone gold; Question 2: Food for thought
The Physics Teacher 59, 509 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0006147

Question 1: Box jump force; Question 2: Frisbee dogs
The Physics Teacher 59, 366 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0004890

Question 1: Blooming trees; Question 2: Human energy
The Physics Teacher 59, 299 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0004166

Question 1: Flat screens; Question 2: Volleyball travel
The Physics Teacher 59, 217 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0003673

Question 1: Light bulb photons; Question 2: Light bulbs
The Physics Teacher 59, 141 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0003477

Question 1: Water for energy; Question 2: Mask elastic
The Physics Teacher 59, 75 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0003027

2020

Question 1: Basketball dribbling; Question 2: Honeybee fuel
The Physics Teacher 58, 683 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0002747

Question 1: Human flight; Question 2: Arm flapping
The Physics Teacher 58, 599 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0002389

Question 1: Coffee consumption; Question 2: Active volcanoes
The Physics Teacher 58, 521 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0002080

Question 1: Lightning strikes; Question 2: Print a book
The Physics Teacher 58, 442 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0001851

Question 1: Animal excrement; Question 2: Traffic signal power
The Physics Teacher 58, 363 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5145541

Question 1: Body temperature; Question 2: Toilet paper
The Physics Teacher 58, 279 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5145481

Question 1: Mountainous tides; Question 2: Nail clippings
The Physics Teacher 58, 217 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5145424

Question 1: Plowing snow; Question 2: Wasted food
The Physics Teacher 58, 139 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5144804

Question 1: Car flip; Question 2: A mole of people
The Physics Teacher 58, 69 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5141981