The speed of the extension or contraction of a person's shadow at sunrise and sunset is investigated. It is found that even though the Sun's light always moves at speed c, the speed of a person's shadow is not only unexpectedly complex, but can be faster than c without violating Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity. Specifically, during sunset, the shadow's speed approaches the speed of light but never exceeds it. During sunrise, however, the shadow's speed can exceed that of light. Surprisingly, a person's shadow even bifurcates at sunrise, with one part moving away, while another part approaches. The case for a person standing on a flat plane is first analyzed, but discussion is given about how shadows would change on a uniform sphere of varying radius.

This research investigates charge interactions and electric fields in the wakes formed by trailing solar wind plasma behind airless bodies. Using the Colorado Solar Wind Experiment facility, an insulating plate was immersed in a high-energy flowing plasma with beam ions ranging from 100 to 800 eV. A Langmuir Probe and emissive probe were used to characterize plasma density and potential distributions throughout the wake region at various distances from the plate. The results reveal the plasma sheath effects on the wake formation and the presence of a possible electrostatic double layer across the wake. Additionally, the experiment was extended to simulate the solar wind flowing over lunar craters in polar regions and at terminator. The variation of the associated electric field with the crater depth is investigated. This research aims to enhance the understanding of the plasma charging environment and its effect on dust charging and mobilization on the lunar surface to improve the safety of astronauts and technology during lunar exploration.

From brewing your morning coffee or warming up leftovers in the microwave to keeping your cell phone cool or your car from overheating, heat transfer shapes our daily routines, often without us even realizing it. Efficient heat transfer systems are crucial in various industries, ranging from engineering to energy production, to ensure optimal performance and resource utilization. Traditional experimental analysis methods often employ a single-factor-at-a-time approach, which may overlook interactions among multiple variables, leading to inaccuracies and inefficiencies. This study utilizes a novel approach to optimize heat transfer efficiency in water heating systems by integrating factorial design and finite element analysis. Leveraging factorial design, we systematically explore multiple factors simultaneously to uncover interactions and intricacies influencing heat transfer performance. Using Fusion 360 3D CAD, we develop detailed heatsink models, followed by finite element analysis in COMSOL Multiphysics to simulate heat transfer dynamics. Our interdisciplinary approach not only identifies key factors affecting heat transfer efficiency but also offers insights into subtle nuances often overlooked by traditional methods. By bridging experimental analysis with computational modeling, this research contributes to advancing water heating technology and offers a cost-effective and time-saving methodology for optimizing heat transfer systems.