Editing 809: Los Alamos
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic refers to the {{w|Manhattan Project}} at {{w|Los Alamos, New Mexico}}, where in 1945 their development of the first nuclear weapon had progressed to the point that they were going | + | {{incomplete|Who is Steve? He must be a part of the Manhattan Project. Or he just is a fictive person. This needs an explain.}} |
+ | This comic refers to the {{w|Manhattan Project}} at {{w|Los Alamos, New Mexico}}, where in 1945 their development of the first nuclear weapon had progressed to the point that they were going explode "The Gadget" at {{w|Trinity Site}}. There was genuine concern that some unexpected result was possible, including the scenario about the atmosphere igniting. The scientists were almost certain that it would either work as expected, or just be a dud, but were unable to rule out several other scenarios. The test proceeded, and it worked as expected. | ||
− | The joke part at the end is a reference to a common {{w| | + | The joke part at the end is a reference to a common {{w|Mnemonic}} device for basic {{w|Trigonometric}} functions, namely identifying the relationships of ''sine'', ''cosine'', and ''tangent'' with respect to the lengths of a right triangle's edges: '''s'''in = '''o'''pposite over '''h'''ypotenuse, '''c'''os = '''a'''djacent over '''h'''ypotenuse, and '''t'''an = '''o'''pposite over '''a'''djacent (in other words, SOH CAH TOA.) "Steve" becomes concerned by the seriousness of the situation, and wants to make sure that he has not made a mistake on stuff that should be ''very'' elementary to a scientist in his position. |
− | + | "Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds." – {{w|Robert Oppenheimer}}, Lead scientist on bomb project, quoting Hindu scripture after the successful test. | |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[ | + | :[Three stick figures stand in front of a few graphs and scientific looking pictures. One of them has hair.] |
:Los Alamos, 1945... | :Los Alamos, 1945... | ||
:Cueball: We have a decision. If we've done our math right, this test will unleash heaven's fire and make us as gods. | :Cueball: We have a decision. If we've done our math right, this test will unleash heaven's fire and make us as gods. | ||
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:Cueball: But it's possible we made a mistake, and the heat will ignite the atmosphere, destroying the planet in a cleansing conflagration. | :Cueball: But it's possible we made a mistake, and the heat will ignite the atmosphere, destroying the planet in a cleansing conflagration. | ||
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:Steve: Wow. Um. Question: Just to double-check— although I'm 99% sure— | :Steve: Wow. Um. Question: Just to double-check— although I'm 99% sure— | ||
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:Steve: Is it "SOH CAH TOA" or "COH SAH TOA"? | :Steve: Is it "SOH CAH TOA" or "COH SAH TOA"? | ||
:Cueball: ''Oh, for the love of...'' can someone redo Steve's work? | :Cueball: ''Oh, for the love of...'' can someone redo Steve's work? | ||
:Hairy: I don't want to do the test anymore. | :Hairy: I don't want to do the test anymore. | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]] | ||
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[[Category:Math]] | [[Category:Math]] | ||
[[Category:Physics]] | [[Category:Physics]] | ||
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