Anvita Gaviola

I want to share my personal experience because I wish someone had told me this years ago. I used to take painkillers like candy during my period, until I ended up in the ER with kidney issues from overuse.

What I learned the hard way:

1. Cyclical use is key - take them only during the worst days, not the entire period
2. Different painkillers work for different people - I discovered that naproxen works better for me than ibuprofen
3. Timing matters - if you wait until the pain is severe, you need higher doses

When to see a doctor: - If pain prevents you from normal activities - If you need more than the recommended dose - If pain lasts more than 3 days - If you experience unusual symptoms like heavy bleeding or fever

My gynecologist eventually prescribed mefenamic acid which is specifically for menstrual pain and works much better for me than OTC options. She explained that prescription options often have better targeted action with fewer side effects when used correctly.

The bottom line: Occasional use of OTC painkillers is generally safe, but if you're relying on them heavily every month, please talk to a healthcare provider. There might be better solutions for your specific situation.

This is a brilliant question that puzzled scientists for centuries! The Moon doesn't fall to Earth because it's actually constantly falling toward Earth but moving sideways so fast that it keeps missing.

Think of it this way: if you throw a ball horizontally, it follows a curved path to the ground. If you throw it faster, it goes further before hitting the ground. Now imagine throwing it so incredibly fast that the curve of its fall matches the curve of the Earth - it would never hit the ground because the Earth curves away beneath it. That's essentially what's happening with the Moon!

The physics behind it: - Gravity pulls the Moon toward Earth - The Moon's orbital velocity (about 1 km/second!) gives it enough sideways motion - These two factors balance perfectly, creating a stable orbit

The Moon is actually falling toward Earth at about 0.0027 m/s², but its tangential velocity keeps it in orbit. This is what we call free fall - the same sensation astronauts feel in the International Space Station.

It's the same principle that keeps artificial satellites in orbit, just at a much larger scale. Pretty amazing when you think about it!

Activation energy is a fundamental concept in chemistry that explains why some reactions happen easily while others need a push. Here's a simple explanation:

Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required to start a chemical reaction. Think of it like pushing a boulder over a hill - you need to put in energy to get it to the top before it can roll down the other side.

Key points: - It's often represented as Eₐ in equations - Measured in kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol) - The higher the activation energy, the slower the reaction at a given temperature

Everyday examples: - Paper burning has high activation energy - you need a match to provide the initial energy - Iron rusting has lower activation energy - it happens slowly at room temperature - Digesting food has activation energy lowered by enzymes in your body

The famous Arrhenius equation describes how reaction rates depend on activation energy and temperature. This is why heating things often makes reactions go faster - you're providing more molecules with the needed activation energy.

I remember my chemistry teacher using the "hill analogy" - reactants are at the bottom of one hill, products at the bottom of another, and activation energy is the energy needed to climb to the top between them!