BASET - Belal Aset of Texas

23/08/2025

Birthday celebrations? GO!

Today we celebrate the 92nd birthday of the legendary Gene Kranz. Best known for his work in Mission Control during Apollo 13, Kranz's NASA career began in 1960 during the Project Mercury missions and continued into the Shuttle era.

📷 Kranz at the Flight Director console in May 1965

23/08/2025

In the world of physics, there are many notable names that have helped shaped theories and question discoveries all in the quest to better understand the world and the universe. One man that deserves attention is a Russian-born American cosmologist and theoretical physicist and he is our second "scientist of the day" today. (2nd article for the day)

It's death anniversary of , one of the foremost advocates & developers of the big-bang theory - - -

(Scientist of the Day - 19 August)

Gamow devoted most of his time to science research in his early years but during the middle and latter parts of his career, he spent more time teaching and authored several popular science books, starting with “Mr. Tompkins in Wonderland” in 1939 (The Mr Tompkins series of books), "One Two Three... Infinity". Some of his books are still in print up until today, more than 50 years after they were first published - a testament of how relevant his books are in presenting the fundamental principles of science and mathematics.

His notably works:-

1) He discovered a theoretical explanation of alpha decay by quantum tunneling.
2) He invented the liquid drop model and the first mathematical model of the atomic nucleus.
3) He worked on radioactive decay, star formation, stellar nucleosynthesis and Big Bang nucleosynthesis (which he collectively called nucleocosmogenesis), and molecular genetics.

The famous 'αβγ paper' was created by Gamow with his PhD student and . Formally titled "The Origin of Chemical Elements", it was published in the April 1948 issue of .

Now, we are on WhatsApp and on X also —

On WhatsApp, https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VamplmN9cDDUX2CiaR3V

On X, https://x.com/CosmoAstrophy

23/08/2025

23/08/2025

What is Projectile Motion?

Projectile motion is a type of motion where an object moves in a curved path under the influence of gravity, after being projected from an initial point with some initial

Characteristics:
1. Curved trajectory: The path of the projectile is a parabola.
2. Constant horizontal velocity: The horizontal component of velocity remains constant.
3. Accelerated vertical motion: The vertical component of velocity changes due to gravity.

Important Equations:
1. Range: R = (v0^2 * sin(2θ)) / g
2. Maximum height: h = (v0^2 * sin^2(θ)) / (2g)
3. Time of flight: T = (2 * v0 * sin(θ)) / g

Variables:
v0 = initial velocity
θ = angle of projection
g = acceleration due to gravity

Applications:
1. Throwing a ball
2. Firing a projectile
3. Launching a rocket

Key Concepts:
1. Independence of horizontal and vertical motion
2. Effect of gravity on vertical motion
3. Importance of initial velocity and angle of projection

23/08/2025

The Beauty of Mathematics | Triple Integral

23/08/2025

What is the Second Kepler’s Law of Planetary Motion?

Definition:
Kepler’s Second Law, also called the Law of Equal Areas, states that a line joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal intervals of time.

Explanation:
This law means that planets move faster when they are closer to the Sun (perihelion) and slower when farther from the Sun (aphelion). The change in speed ensures that the area swept in a given time is always the same, maintaining balance in orbital motion.

Imagine:
Picture the Earth orbiting the Sun. In January (closer to the Sun), it moves faster, while in July (farther away), it moves slower. But in both cases, the triangular area swept out in one month is equal.

In simple terms:
Planets speed up when near the Sun and slow down when far away, but they sweep out equal slices of area in the same time.

Formula (area rate):
dA/dt = constant = (1/2) r²ω

Where:
• A = area swept
• r = distance from Sun
• ω = angular velocity

Key Points:
• Orbits are not uniform in speed.
• Speed increases near the Sun (perihelion).
• Speed decreases far from the Sun (aphelion).
• The rate of area swept is always constant.

Examples:
• Earth moves faster in January (closer to the Sun) than in July.
• Comets speed up drastically near the Sun and slow down when far away.
• Mercury, with its elliptical orbit, shows strong variation in speed.

Applications / Relevance:
• 🪐 Astronomy – predicting planetary speeds
• 🚀 Space missions – planning slingshots and flybys
• 🛰 Satellite orbits – adjusting speed at perigee and apogee
• 🌌 Cosmology – orbital mechanics of stars and galaxies
• 📚 Education – explains non-uniform orbital motion

Question:
Why do planets move faster near the Sun?

Answer:
Because the Sun’s gravitational pull is stronger when the planet is closer, increasing its orbital speed to conserve angular momentum.

23/08/2025

23/08/2025

Built for deep space. Tested with astronauts.🚀

On this week’s , Chris Edelen, acting vehicle integration office manager for NASA’s Orion Program, discusses the spacecraft built to take the Artemis II astronauts around the Moon. https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/houston-we-have-a-podcast/artemis-ii-the-orion-spacecraft/

23/08/2025

23/08/2025