1119: Undoing
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
| − | The comic is a play on regenerative energies and the way they transform the natural resources (wind, sun, water) into electricity. | + | The comic is a play on regenerative energies and the way they transform the natural resources (wind, sun, water) into electricity. It may also be a continuation of Randall's mistrust of modern electric windmills (see [[556|comic #556: Alternative Energy Revolution]]). |
The alt text is a reference to the very bad efficiency of solar panels (roughly 20-25%) and light bulbs (20-30%). Thus instead of only 80% loss of energy, which is either not converted to electricity or converted into heat) it's actually far more. | The alt text is a reference to the very bad efficiency of solar panels (roughly 20-25%) and light bulbs (20-30%). Thus instead of only 80% loss of energy, which is either not converted to electricity or converted into heat) it's actually far more. | ||
Revision as of 11:39, 10 October 2012
| Undoing |
 Title text: I've been sneaking out at night and installing lamps on the underside of every photovoltaic panel I can find. Sure, there are upwards of 80% losses, but I prefer to think of them as nearly 20% gains. |
Explanation
The comic is a play on regenerative energies and the way they transform the natural resources (wind, sun, water) into electricity. It may also be a continuation of Randall's mistrust of modern electric windmills (see comic #556: Alternative Energy Revolution).
The alt text is a reference to the very bad efficiency of solar panels (roughly 20-25%) and light bulbs (20-30%). Thus instead of only 80% loss of energy, which is either not converted to electricity or converted into heat) it's actually far more.
Thus the undoing done by the character is quite less effective than the common "Undo" function known from computers.
Transcript
add a comment!Discussion
- I always though that if you put a forest of windmills on top of hill the damage of ecosystem done by the building is enough. Adding the fact about wind used for propagating ... damn, windmills are almost as unecological as solar plants on fields ...
- Seriously, how can anyone who things ecologically be AGAINST nuclear power? -- 89.177.52.2 08:19, 12 October 2012 (UTC)
At first I thought this should be more of a Blackhat trick, but since he seems to think he is creating good in the world by restoring, it makes sense that it is Cueball--70.166.209.171 14:35, 10 October 2012 (UTC)
Am I the only one who is also entertaining the possibility that the fan setup in the picture is not acting with, but rather counteracting the wind, which is turning the windmill that supplies it power? I understand that the alt-text makes it seem like Munroe's thinking about 'making up' for our interference with insolation (and presumably wind, water etc.) patterns. But, if we're going to bring in logic here, EVERYTHING falls apart :D I had a little fun trying to model what kind of a dynamic equilibrium the hitherto described windmill-fan arrangement would settle into. 123.238.25.42 17:13, 10 October 2012 (UTC)
I believe you are... The fan's blowing to the right... The wind came from the left... 184.88.110.135 21:35, 18 October 2012 (UTC)Robert
- Indeed, the first thing that comes to mind is the "fan blowing into the sails" arrangement you sometimes see in cartoons, but I don't think that's what's going on here.CityZen (talk) 17:58, 10 October 2012 (UTC)
It's even more fun to do to condoms.
--SuspendedPhan (talk) 18:50, 10 October 2012 (UTC)
- What the hell is "rotational" energy?!
- Although "rotational" energy exists (it is a verbal shorthand for kinetic energy that exists due to a rotating mass), what we actually have here is rotational power, another verbal shorthand for mechanical power transmitted by a rotating object working against a load. Also, Cueball has not disconnected the turbine from the generator but the generator from its electrical load (battery charger or electrical grid tie-in, perhaps).--174.138.205.139 13:20, 13 October 2012 (UTC)
