Physics for fun!

[menelmacar]

That's right! A thread dedicated to Physics, and the fun obtained thereof!

I study Physics because I enjoy it so I figure it's a recreation thing!

To start the ball rolling:
What are posters feelings on zero-point-fields? More specifically inertia as a Zero-point-field Lorentz force?

Any and all physics questions, pet theories etc. welcome. I'm a fan of quantum mechanics more specifically, but hey, Einstein had his moments!

[AV]

zeros are only good in front of the decimal point in your salary, that's my opinion

Here is a fun fact for you: china is planning to build the largest power station in the world where millions of little chinese in silk robes will slide down a glass tube



PS: quantum mechanics is not physics, it's pure math... but at least now we know why you are all hazy when it comes to atmospheric physics

[menelmacar]

quantum mechanics is not physics, it's pure math... but at least now we know why you are all hazy when it comes to atmospheric physics

Actually, quantum mechanics is the only branch of physics left that has any influence on the real world.
Televisions: cathode ray tubes.
X-ray machines
Mobile telephones.
Microwave ovens.
ad nauseum

Yes the word mechanics implies a branch of maths, but stick quantum on it and you've got a branch of physics! The theory is worked out through maths but so are all physics theories!!!
If you want to write off Pauli, Bohr, Planck, Dirac, Einstein, Schrodinger et al. as mere mathematicians then be my guest...
Maths is just a branch of physics.
Chemistry is just a branch of physics.
There's a joke there, but I can't remember who said it...

Anyways: If it was pure math then please explain:

The double-slit experiment
Davisson-Germer experiment
Stern–Gerlach experiment
EPR paradox
Popper's experiment
Schrodinger's cat
Or even Einstein's mouse!!!
The last two are pretty much philosophy...

On saying all this, feel free to discuss the math side of things, I enjoy that too!!!

[AV]

If you want to write off Pauli, Bohr, Planck, Dirac, Einstein, Schrodinger et al. as mere mathematicians then be my guest...

I do, I did... thanks for the hospitality

Maths is just a branch of physics.
Chemistry is just a branch of physics.
There's a joke there, but I can't remember who said it...

Three scientists were asked to predict the outcome of a race and were given a budget of $100,000. After a month they were asked to show there work

Veterinarian:
I conducted a thorough study of the anatomy of a horse and compiled definitive database showing how weight, muscle strength, lung volume, and temperament of the horse can determine the outcome of the race…

Statistician:
- I have collected data on all horse races in human history and can predict the outcome knowing the how horses in a given race ran in previous races

Physicist:
- Can you give me another $500,000?
- Where you able to achieve at least something?
- Of course, I have already designed a model predicting the behavior of a sphere-like horse in vacuum

On saying all this, feel free to discuss the math side of things, I enjoy that too!!!

Nnnaah, as you know I'm into atmospheric physics... most of the math there you can do on the back of an envelope

[menelmacar]

I do, I did... thanks for the hospitality

Really... Wow! That's a strong viewpoint! While I do respect anyone that can take such an extreme point of view against some of the greatest minds the world has produced, espescially with those minds differing so much in opinion, I can't take you at face value! I will try my best however! You either know what you're talking about or are very very niave...

Three scientists were asked to predict the outcome of a race and were given a budget of $100,000. After a month they were asked to show there work

Not quite the joke I was thinking of...
But while were on the subject:
The experimentalist comes running excitedly into the theorist's office, waving a graph taken off his latest experiment. 'Hmmm,' says the theorist, 'That's exactly where you'd expect to see that peak. Here's the reason (long logical explanation follows).' In the middle of it, the experimentalist says 'Wait a minute', studies the chart for a second, and says, 'Oops, this is upside down.' He fixes it. 'Hmmm,' says the theorist, 'you'd expect to see a dip in exactly that position. Here's the reason...'



[/quote]Nnnaah, as you know I'm into atmospheric physics... most of the math there you can do on the back of an envelope [/quote]

AH SO! It all becomes clear... Tis the modern fad you're interested in... Carry on at your leisure!

[AV]

Really... Wow! That's a strong viewpoint! While I do respect anyone that can take such an extreme point of view against some of the greatest minds the world has produced, espescially with those minds differing so much in opinion, I can't take you at face value! I will try my best however! You either know what you're talking about or are very very niave...

That's what i thought when i was in collage. I always thought physics was the most difficult of three (math and chemistry being the other two)... Loved quantum mechanics because it was the easiest with all the math. Brings back fond memories... if only life could be as simple and beautiful as Schroedinger equation.

AH SO! It all becomes clear... Tis the modern fad you're interested in... Carry on at your leisure!

Whatever, let's agree to disagree.

How old are you?

[AV]

Here is another one:

A chemist, a physicist, a mathematician, and a linguist were asked to measure the height of a tower with a help of a barometer

The chemist measured the pressure at the bottom and the top of the tower and determined that its height is between 0 and 100 meters

The physicist dropped a barometer from the top of the tower, measured the time of the fall and calculated that the tower height is between 60 and 70 meters

The mathematician measured the height of the barometer, the length of barometer’s shadow, the length of the tower’s shadow, calculated the tangent and determined that the tower height is between 63 and 64 meters

The linguist sold the barometer, bought a bottle of whiskey and with it went to talk to the tower superintendent, who eventually told him that the tower height is 63.40 m

[.銕.]

Nice.

A cunning linguist, that one.

I heard the economist just assumed he already knew the height and planned accordingly.


Okay, how about we play with obscure quotes from the world of physics next:

1) God would not play Andrew Dice Clay

2) melenmacar, stop telling Einstein what to do!


name the physicist and win kilopascal points

[AV]

Nice.

A cunning linguist, that one.

Judging by his ways he could have been an anthropologist too

I heard the economist just assumed he already knew the height and planned accordingly.

Nice one, I should add it to the story!

Here is more:

A biologist, a physicist and a mathematician are traveling through New Zealand… Passing by a farm that see a black sheep

The biologist: Look, there are black sheep in New Zealand

The physicist: No, it would be correct to say that there is at least one black sheep in New Zealand

The mathematician: No gentlemen, the only inference we can made is that there is at least one sheep in New Zealand and it is black at least from one side

[menelmacar]

A biologist, a physicist and a mathematician are traveling through New Zealand… Passing by a farm that see a black sheep

An oldy but a goody! I like that one!

[menelmacar]

1) God would not play Andrew Dice Clay

2) melenmacar, stop telling Einstein what to do!


name the physicist and win kilopascal points

I have the most misspelled name on the internets (sic)!

You could have gone with Melon Maker or someit like that!

[menelmacar]

That's what i thought when i was in collage. I always thought physics was the most difficult of three (math and chemistry being the other two)... Loved quantum mechanics because it was the easiest with all the math. Brings back fond memories... if only life could be as simple and beautiful as Schroedinger equation.

Life is as simple as that! The quantum world applied to the macrocosm is beautiful... It's the root of Hermeticism and other mystic beliefs... As above so below etc. etc.

Whatever, let's agree to disagree.

Hence I said carry on. I'm in no mood to discuss such things on this or any other thread.

Moving on!

By the way, the only reason I didn't post a "science" thread is that chemistry and biology are often open to ethics debates... Physics usually isn't. But feel free to discuss chemistry if you find that easier to grasp!

[AV]

The quantum world applied to the macrocosm is beautiful... It's the root of Hermeticism and other mystic beliefs... As above so below etc. etc.

Me said that?

Hence I said carry on. I'm in no mood to discuss such things on this or any other thread.

hehehehe
cos you don't understand or don't have the machinery to argue?

But feel free to discuss chemistry if you find that easier to grasp!

Darlink, I've passed the age when I need to grasp something in collage-level science... Good luck with physics, i'm happy for you... hope you still like it 10 years on

[menelmacar]

Me said that?



hehehehe
cos you don't understand or don't have the machinery to argue?



Darlink, I've passed the age when I need to grasp something in collage-level science... Good luck with physics, i'm happy for you... hope you still like it 10 years on

Whoops, I'll adjust that!!!

I just don't want the thread to be locked when the nuts arrive...

No, you're what you said I was. Now I will post a hundred quotes from the same source instead of providing a link. Also, how about these ten simplistic graphs that prove I'm right and you're wrong and ugly...

Ad nauseum...
Feel free to start another GW thread and I will be happy to join in!

Collage is an art form... What's "collage-level science"? Is that where some hack non-scientist copies and pastes some hack ideas to make a nice theory that the plebs understand? Like GW science?

Ooohhh!

(Sorry to call you on that, but you've written that twice in this thread. Once I can ignore, but when you're trying to prove superior intelligence, I feel it my civic duty!)

[.銕.]

Collage is an art form... What's "collage-level science"? Is that where some hack non-scientist copies and pastes some hack ideas to make a nice theory that the plebs understand? Like GW science?

Ooohhh!

I think you meant GP Science.

Funny, though, the P and the W are not even close to each other on my keyboard............

[AV]

I think you meant GP Science.

Funny, though, the P and the W are not even close to each other on my keyboard............

He meant global warming...

menelboy,

it's climate change, not global warming!
there is no global warming

[AV]

I just don't want the thread to be locked when the nuts arrive...

I kinda hoped they won’t look here... there is nothing to attract their attention in the title of this thread.

Collage is an art form... What's "collage-level science"?

It's a combination of college science and the linguistic soup that’s in my head. English is my third language... Heheheh isn’t that the nicest excuse ever

Is that where some hack non-scientist copies and pastes some hack ideas to make a nice theory that the plebs understand? Like GW science?

Don’t you start me on scared things, schatz!

Feel free to start another GW thread and I will be happy to join in!

Neeeehhh…. Not until LN gets banned… You are welcome on expats, seriously

Once I can ignore, but when you're trying to prove superior intelligence, I feel it my civic duty!

Intellectual superiority? God forbid… Old age maybe but not superiority.
I am the dumbest in my family and I was in the lowest third of my high school class… It’s all a matter of comparison.

I’ve paid my dues to science… Passed the graduation exams and never looked back again. Can’t say that those who went the science road were happier… Out of all the classmates who trained in physics only about 10% are actually still doing physics. If all you’ve got by the age of 28 is a useless PhD, even if it is from MIT or Cambridge, it depresses.


What exactly are you actually studying?

[menelmacar]

He meant global warming...

menelboy,

it's climate change, not global warming!
there is no global warming

I concur most whole-heartedly. I'm glad we agree on something... May I quote a portion of that to suit my own needs in future debates? Yes, yes I may!

[AV]

I concur most whole-heartedly. I'm glad we agree on something... May I quote a portion of that to suit my own needs in future debates? Yes, yes I may!

words should not be taken out of context

[menelmacar]

I kinda hoped they won’t look here... there is nothing to attract their attention in the title of this thread.

Here's hoping!

It's a combination of college science and the linguistic soup that’s in my head. English is my third language... Heheheh isn’t that the nicest excuse ever

To that I tip my hat! You generally have excellent spelling... Like I said, I was loathe to do it but it clicked so well with the lame joke that I had to go for it!

Don’t you start me on scared things, schatz!

I'm not sure if you think I was trying to scare you, or was being scared by you... But now I'm scared!

Neeeehhh…. Not until LN gets banned… You are welcome on expats, seriously

I may take you up on that... Can we rant and rave til our hearts content?

Intellectual superiority? God forbid… Old age maybe but not superiority.
I am the dumbest in my family and I was in the lowest third of my high school class… It’s all a matter of comparison.

I’ve paid my dues to science… Passed the graduation exams and never looked back again. Can’t say that those who went the science road were happier… Out of all the classmates who trained in physics only about 10% are actually still doing physics. If all you’ve got by the age of 28 is a useless PhD, even if it is from MIT or Cambridge, it depresses.

Couldn't agree more! Fair fu.cks to you!

What exactly are you actually studying?

De Nada! I'm not in college! This is physics for fun! I read physics books and articles in my spare time.

I have no physics beyond 1 year of a repeated final year of school. I did a 2 year course in that 1 year! We have a "Leaving Cert" in Ireland for the final two years of school. The exam results are what get you in to college. You do 7-8 subjects and pick your best 6. I was 17 leaving school so I repeated for the extra year, 18 is legal drinking age, and for a lady!!!

During that final year I basically spent my time arguing with the teacher over the nature of gravity and other such "facts". From this I realised I had an interest in physics, that's all there is to it!

[menelmacar]

What are your other languages may I ask?

[AV]

I may take you up on that... Can we rant and rave til our hearts content?

Yeap! And there are no trolls...

De Nada! I'm not in college! This is physics for fun! I read physics books and articles in my spare time.

Dang, if you can get from this



to this



with what you learned in high school, that is very impressive… may be you should do something about your love of physics then…

I always thought the only fun thing about physics was the physicists… and that’s about it Chemistry was fun through, you could blow up stuff ad nausea… we had our own recipe for permanganate volcano, used to zest it up with raw magnesium for a bigger bang… one time it was so big the ash went up as high as the ceiling and covered the whole classroom… took us two hours to clean it up

I was 17 leaving school so I repeated for the extra year, 18 is legal drinking age, and for a lady!!!

You mean you gotz boobs????

What are your other languages may I ask?

My mother tongue and Russian. I used to know German but I forgot most of it by now.

So, what do you do besides studying physics in your free time?

[menelmacar]

Yeap! And there are no trolls...



Dang, if you can get from this



to this





with what you learned in high school, that is very impressive… may be you should do something about your love of physics then…

I didn't learn anything quite like that in school no...
All in that spare time I was talking about! I had planned to go to college as a mature student, which I would qualify for next year, but twas not to be!

I always thought the only fun thing about physics was the physicists… and that’s about it Chemistry was fun through, you could blow up stuff ad nausea… we had our own recipe for permanganate volcano, used to zest it up with raw magnesium for a bigger bang… one time it was so big the ash went up as high as the ceiling and covered the whole classroom… took us two hours to clean it up

We weren't allowed such extravagancies at our school... It was all theory theory theory!!! With some lab work, but nothing like making volvanoes!!!

You mean you gotz boobs????

No no!!! I can see how that may have mislead! Part of the reason I repeated a year was for a lady!!! I'm all male to the best of my knowledge!

My mother tongue and Russian. I used to know German but I forgot most of it by now.

Mother tongue being? Polish? Three is very impressive! I have two fluencies and a couple of dodgy ones!!!

So, what do you do besides studying physics in your free time?

Well I'm preparing for marriage actually! Long story short, met a J-girl in NZ, followed her home, and we've been travelling over and back ever since!
Work wise I manage a record store at home, for the last three years!

[AV]

I didn't learn anything quite like that in school no...

Ah, then i understand why you disagreed when I said quantum mechanics was pure math... Here is the solution:

http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teachin...es/node27.html

It may look scary but mathematically it is extremely simple - multiply, substitute. multiply, substitute and you get the Schroedingers equation. The only physics in the solution is that you need to use Heisenberg uncertainty principle for one of the substitutions, but that is also just a formula.

Even 15 years on, it still looks amazingly beautiful in its purity and utter simplicity.

All in that spare time I was talking about! I had planned to go to college as a mature student, which I would qualify for next year, but twas not to be!

You are too young to quit dreams of going to college, you should do what you wanted to do, have fun, learn something interesting... Plus in Ireland isn’t as expensive as in some other places. I’m sure your girlfriend would agree, it’s your common future after all.

I personally never really had to use the science stuff that I learned but the learning itself was pure joy and the mental equilibristics in the end was quite helpful in other things. It’s worth it, really, not matter what you choose to study.

We weren't allowed such extravagancies at our school... It was all theory theory theory!!! With some lab work, but nothing like making volvanoes!!!

I can imagine. We were given liberties unknown to others... you won't believe me if I told you we did it all without any supervision... it was just me and two other boys. I mean the teacher knew we were there, she just let us play as long as we told her approximately what we were going to do.

No no!!! I can see how that may have mislead! Part of the reason I repeated a year was for a lady!!! I'm all male to the best of my knowledge!

I see, sorry!

I have two fluencies and a couple of dodgy ones!!!

Your second being Japanese?
Edit: or Gaelic?

[menelmacar]

Ah, then i understand why you disagreed when I said quantum mechanics was pure math...

Oh but that's not very exciting at all at all!!! I'm more into the repercussions on the real world. How these guys came up with those equations and how baffled by them they were! Most of the math is beyond me, although I am also a math fan!

You are too young to quit dreams of going to college, you should do what you wanted to do, have fun, learn something interesting... Plus in Ireland isn’t as expensive as in some other places. I’m sure your girlfriend would agree, it’s your common future after all.

Long long stories involved all round... Housing, deaths, visas, tales of woe, epic stuff really! College is off the cards at the moment! But I figure you're also never too old to go to college!!!
You're right about Ireland though, all of my good friends have gone to college and it's even easier and cheaper as a mature student! I actually went for a year... But that's also a long story involving more woe!

Your second being Japanese?
Edit: or Gaelic?

Gaeilge is right! Believe me, I would much prefer if it was Nihongo!

[kalphakomega]

Yeap! And there are no trolls...



Dang, if you can get from this



to this



with what you learned in high school, that is very impressive… may be you should do something about your love of physics then…

Schrodinger's equation in its simplest form is as follows

HUn=EnUn

Were

H = Hamiltonian operator which equals to that of the second equation above.

Un = the wave function

En = the corresponding eigenvalues corresponding to the wave function.

The eigenvalue is usually the most examined case in a extremely general experiment, because the other wave funtion is usually known or irrelevent.


Schrodingers equation can be used for a wide array of concepts, but from what I learned so far you can use it to examine potential wells, potential barriers, the tunnel effect, and to create a model of a steady state hydrogen atom.

All pretty simple, just a butt load of math especially the hydrogen model. The model also what helps to prove the idea of the quanta.

All in all the Schrodingers equation does not yield literal values but rather probabilistic models, because we can never know the exact position or momentum of an electron at any given moment because to observe is to alter data.

I'm planning to be a physicist someday, but for now i'm moving to Japan to try and get into the University of Tokyo someday. I still firmly believe I'll reach that point unless I change somewere along the way.


Also my favorite quote ever is

"All science is either physics or stamp collecting" -Ernest Rutherford