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How does the Earth revolve around the Sun? - Aryan from Reading. Why do waves come on shore from the Ocean? - Jasveer from Reading. What would happen if there was no Moon? - Hector from Lewes. What is gravity made of? - Rymsha from Reading.

2/21/2018

 
​The reason the Earth revolves around the Sun is to do with what we call centripetal force. The Earth, believe it or not, is trying to move in a straight line. The force of the Sun's gravitational pull however keeps trying to pull it in. This results in a circular path round the Sun. It’s the same as when you play swing ball, except in that case it’s the string keeping the ball from shooting off.

On a similar subject Jasveer wanted to know Why do waves come on the shore from the Ocean? And
a Hector from Lewes wanted to know what would happen if there was no moon.
Well, we can combine these two as the tides are partially controlled by the moon. As the moon
circles the earth, the water in the ocean is pulled up towards it by the moons own gravity. Then as
the moon moves by, that water sloshes back down again and onto the shores of the Earth. If there
was no moon, that wouldn’t happen so much. There would still be smaller tides as the water in the
oceans bulges out as the Earth spins on its axis. But, also, there would be no more eclipses and
because the tides act as a brake, the Earth would spin faster so our days would be shorter.

Rymsha was wondering what gravity is made of. Blimey, that’s a huge question. As big as the
universe in fact because everything exerts a gravitational effect on everything else. The more
massive it is, the stronger the pull. Gravity is one of the fundamental forces that pervae the whole
universe. It’s known as a ‘weak nuclear force’. Its weak as it acts over distance, but slowly. There
are ‘strong nuclear forces’, such as the bonds between atoms. If you where, to say, drop a melon
from the top of a tall building gravity would take a good few seconds to accelerate it to its top speed
but when that melon hits the ground, the bonds between those atoms that form the ground stop it
almost instantly (and it splats). As to what it’s made of, no one is totally sure. Many scientists are
searching for what they call gravitons a quantum particle that’s been around since the big bang.
There are many theories as to how gravity works but Albert Einstein put it in what I think is the best
way. If you have a huge rubber sheet and put a selection of balls of different masses on it, the most
massive will make the biggest dip in the sheet and the smaller ones would roll towards it.

All these questions answered by Steve Evans.

We do an experiment that shows this well in our Space and Star Force shows, where you take a large stretchy plastic sheet, place the Sun at the centre and then spin a ball around it to represent matter curving around the fabric of space time. Here's a picture!
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    Our team of Scientists...

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    Lydia Samuel  
    As Director
     of Blast Science and a Primary Science Teacher for more than 15 years, Lydia has answered unending questions about Science from hundreds of children for over a decade and has a wealth of Primary Science classroom experience. She has a particular passion for Wizard Science, Chocolate Science and all things Gross!
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    Tom Holloway
    ​is a Primary Science Teacher and Space Enthusiast. Alongside being a full time teacher he runs Star Gazing evenings, is a Science Advisor, has established a Darwin Garden in his school in Caterham and won Primary Science Teacher of the Year in 2013/14. Watch the video here!
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    Steve Evans
    ​has recently joined Blast Science as a performer after working for several years at Herstmonceux Observatory. He knows a huge amount about physics, chemistry, space and.... Star Wars! So can answer all your intergalactic questions..
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    Keita Lynch 
    has helped Sussex 'stay curious' by coordinating the Brighton Science Festival for three years.  She's passionate about sharing science in simple 
    and engaging ways; without all the big words. 
    Keita's also a keen supporter of campaigns 
    like Let Toys Be Toys that encourage toy makers and retailers to stop limiting children's imagination by branding things for 'girls' or 'boys'. Astronaut suits and dinosaurs for all!
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    Dr Sarah Newnham
    I am 26 and have a degree and PhD in biochemistry. I enjoy learning new things and have spent 7 years at university studying and experimenting with molecules and microorganisms. I mainly like to play with bacteria and get them to do new things and produce different chemicals.  I also enjoy helping with Science projects in schools and enthusing children about my subject.
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    Dr Matt Edwards 
    Dr Matt decided to become a doctor when he ran out  of his own scabs to pick. He used to work in Accident and Emergency in Brighton,  pulling broken bones back into place and sewing up cuts. He now works in Brisbane, Australia as a Family doctor. This involves cutting out lots of funny lumps and sticking his fingers in every hole that people have. In his time he has been covered in every body juice you can think of, and once juggled with three hearts. Ask him anything about bodies and Gross Science.
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    Jonathan Brown 
    (Engineer at Ricardo) Had a strange fascination with all things mechanical from an early age and would often spend time 'fixing' his Dad's car without telling his Dad first. Rarely did it end happily, so of course he decided to continue this into a career than now spans almost 2 decades of designing engines for big names the world over. Having studied Mechanical Engineering at university he has been working since at a world leading technology consultancy, principally creating models and simulations of engines big and small for everyone from McLaren to Volvo. These days you're as likely to find him on a ship or looking at a tidal turbine, but it's still engines that keep him running.
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    Ivan Teage
    Ivan is a experienced all-round scientist. He studied astrophysics after a childhood of being obsessed with going to the moon, and now works at the Natural History Museum in London using technology to explain Science to young and old audiences. Ivan is interested in the science of music and is keen to help people understand the natural world, how it works, and what it has to offer. He is looking forward to your questions about nature, space, music, sound & the meaning of life.
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    Alex Nicholls
    With A-levels in Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Physics and Chemistry he went to Uni to read Nuclear Physics, but in the end switched to Law. He nevertheless retained a great interest in Science and has an encyclopedic general knowledge about nearly everything. Alex is also the linchpin of the Blast Science props dept but helps out answering complicated questions about Science for light relief from complicated carpentry. 

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