Images Dated 24th January 2005

Physics experiment

Physics experiment. Screen display of the output from a physics experiment. The experiment involves monitoring changing position with time. The graph shows the position of an object (given as distance in metres) plotted against time (in seconds). The output is a wave of decreasing amplitude. Motion of this sort is seen in a damped oscillator, such as a mass bouncing on a spring, or the swinging of a pendulum. The gradient of the graph shows the velocity of the object. The velocity is zero at the peaks (the high points of a swinging pendulum) and at a maximum in between (the low point of the swing of a pendulum)

© ANDREW LAMBERT PHOTOGRAPHY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Sperm whale and giant squid

Sperm whale and giant squid. Computer artwork of a sperm whale (Physeter catodon, or macrocephalus, left) hunting a giant squid (Architeuthis sp., at right). Sperm whales can reach 18 metres in length and giant squid can be up to 10 metres long. Sperm whales are toothed whales (teeth seen in lower jaw), though the teeth are thought to be used in aggression between males, rather than eating. Sperm whales dive deep (over 1000 metres) to hunt their main prey, giant squid. The squid can defend itself with suckers and sharp beak, and scars are found on whales from these defences. However, the giant squid is rarely seen, most often found in a sperm whale's intestines or washed up on a beach

© CHRISTIAN DARKIN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Electrical batteries

Electrical batteries. Collection of electrical batteries. Batteries are chemical systems designed to store and slowly release electrical energy. The batteries seen here are mostly dry, though the car battery (large one at the back) is an example of a wet battery (one that uses liquid chemicals). Some batteries can be recharged (one at lower right) by using electricity to restore the chemical balance. Batteries use a wide variety of chemicals, ranging from nickel, cadmium and zinc to lithium, lead and acids. They can also vary widely in size, down to the small batteries that are used in watches and other small electrical devices (bottom centre)

© ANDREW LAMBERT PHOTOGRAPHY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY