3071: Decay Chain - Revision history

BobcatInABox at 14:28, 19 April 2025

2025-04-19T14:28:35Z

BobcatInABox at 14:18, 19 April 2025

2025-04-19T14:18:28Z

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@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ==Explanation==
 This comic is a play on nuclear {{w|decay chains}}, the series of radioactive disintegrations that the nuclei of unstable atoms undergo. Example diagrams of such nuclear decay chains can be seen {{w|Decay_chain#Thorium_series|here}}. This comic suggests that as iPhone model iterations get higher (and typically, though not entirely, larger and [https://www.plug.tech/blogs/news/how-much-does-iphone-weigh heavier]), they, similarly to heavier chemical elements, become unstable and susceptible to decay into lesser models. Some isotopes of atoms decay into other isotopes, releasing particles in the process. This process is generally dictated by the number of the positively charged protons in an atomic nucleus, which dictate its chemical identity, and the neutrons, which keep the protons in as stable a clump as possible. Particular isotopes, increasingly so for heavier atoms, are known to be subject to one or more modes of {{w|nuclear decay}} in order to attain a more stable and simpler form, including by several such steps. This comic humorously explores how it would work if iPhones decayed similarly. This is absurd, as iPhones are large objects that do not suddenly and drastically change form.{{Citation needed}} (Although, almost all matter on Earth, including iPhones, contain ''some'' atoms that are radioactive and exhibit nuclear decay, mixed with a non-radioactive majority.)
@@ Line 26: / Line 25: @@
 ==Transcript==
 [A flowchart with arrows leading from a circle with the words "iPhone 16 Pro Max", to circles with other iPhone names, eventually leading to a circle with the words "iPhone 7". All of one iPhone number are on the same level (e.g. iPhone 16 Pro Max is on the same level as iPhone 16 Plus, and iPhone 15 Pro is on the same level as iPhone 15).]

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 {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
-[A flowchart with arrows leading from a circle with the words "iPhone 16 Pro Max", to circles with other iPhone names, eventually leading to a circle with the words "iPhone 7"]
+[A flowchart with arrows leading from a circle with the words "iPhone 16 Pro Max", to circles with other iPhone names, eventually leading to a circle with the words "iPhone 7". All of one iPhone number are on the same level (e.g. iPhone 16 Pro Max is on the same level as iPhone 16 Plus, and iPhone 15 Pro is on the same level as iPhone 15).]
 :[Caption below the panel:]

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==Explanation==
 {{incomplete|Created by an iPhone 6 that used to be an iPhone 13 - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
-This comic is a play on nuclear {{w|decay chains}}, the series of radioactive disintegrations that the nuclei of unstable atoms undergo. Example diagrams of such nuclear decay chains can be seen {{w|Decay_chain#Thorium_series|here}}. This comic suggests that as iPhones model iterations get higher (and typically, though not entirely, larger and [https://www.plug.tech/blogs/news/how-much-does-iphone-weigh heavier]), they, similarly to heavier chemical elements, become unstable and susceptible to decay into lesser models. Some isotopes of atoms decay into other isotopes, releasing particles in the process. This process is generally dictated by the number of the positively charged protons in an atomic nucleus, which dictate its chemical identity, and the neutrons, which keep the protons in as stable a clump as possible. Particular isotopes, increasingly so for heavier atoms, are known to be subject to one or more modes of {{w|nuclear decay}} in order to attain a more stable and simpler form, including by several such steps. This comic humorously explores how an iPhone would decay if decaying worked similarly, which is absurd as iPhones are large objects that do not suddenly and drastically change form.{{Citation needed}} (Although, almost all matter on Earth, including iPhones, contain ''some'' atoms that are radioactive and exhibit nuclear decay, mixed with a non-radioactive majority.)
+This comic is a play on nuclear {{w|decay chains}}, the series of radioactive disintegrations that the nuclei of unstable atoms undergo. Example diagrams of such nuclear decay chains can be seen {{w|Decay_chain#Thorium_series|here}}. This comic suggests that as iPhone model iterations get higher (and typically, though not entirely, larger and [https://www.plug.tech/blogs/news/how-much-does-iphone-weigh heavier]), they, similarly to heavier chemical elements, become unstable and susceptible to decay into lesser models. Some isotopes of atoms decay into other isotopes, releasing particles in the process. This process is generally dictated by the number of the positively charged protons in an atomic nucleus, which dictate its chemical identity, and the neutrons, which keep the protons in as stable a clump as possible. Particular isotopes, increasingly so for heavier atoms, are known to be subject to one or more modes of {{w|nuclear decay}} in order to attain a more stable and simpler form, including by several such steps. This comic humorously explores how it would work if iPhones decayed similarly. This is absurd, as iPhones are large objects that do not suddenly and drastically change form.{{Citation needed}} (Although, almost all matter on Earth, including iPhones, contain ''some'' atoms that are radioactive and exhibit nuclear decay, mixed with a non-radioactive majority.)
 The iPhones in the comic undergo two different types of decay, which mirror two types of nuclear decay:

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 The iPhones in the comic undergo two different types of decay, which mirror two types of nuclear decay:
 * In {{w|alpha decay|alpha (''α'') decay}} (vertically downwards, in the diagram) the model number changes from a higher one to a model two steps lower, except for the step involving the iPhone X which apparently exists instead of a "9" model. This is equivalent to the change in {{w|atomic number}} when two protons, together with two neutrons, leave the nucleus in the form of a helium ion (He<sup>2+</sup>), known as an alpha particle. The atomic number of such atoms reduces by two and the {{w|mass number}} reduces by four (that held by the departing He<sup>2+</sup>). No evidence is given as to how the respective masses of the phones ''actually'' changes in this analogy.
-* In {{w|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_decay|beta minus (''β''<sup>-</sup>) decay}} (a rightward-and-upward step) the iPhones undergo a version upgrade, but also the removal of a brand name modifier (usually denoting additional features included within the same model range), leaving them closer to that new range's most basic model. In elements, the effective conversion of a neutron into a proton and a free electron raises the atomic number by one by transforming a neutral particle to a positive one via emission of a small negatively charged {{w|beta particle}} (an electron), leaving the mass only slightly decreased. The decay step from the iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 14 Plus, which is missing a symbol, is clearly one of the ''β''<sup>-</sup> decay steps.
+* In {{w|Beta_decay#β−_decay|beta minus (''β''<sup>-</sup>) decay}} (a rightward-and-upward step) the iPhones undergo a version upgrade, but also the removal of a brand name modifier (usually denoting additional features included within the same model range), leaving them closer to that new range's most basic model. In elements, the effective conversion of a neutron into a proton and a free electron raises the atomic number by one by transforming a neutral particle to a positive one via emission of a small negatively charged {{w|beta particle}} (an electron), leaving the mass only slightly decreased. The decay step from the iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 14 Plus, which is missing a symbol, is clearly one of the ''β''<sup>-</sup> decay steps.
 The specific reason for the decay chain stopping at iPhone '''7''' is unknown. A possible reason for this is because lithium, which is often used in phone batteries, has the stable isotope lithium-7. "Stable" may refer to the usability of the device in terms of whether or not it still receives security updates, but the iPhone 6s also received the [https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100 latest security patch] as of the time this comic was published. Apple has [https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67911517 paid significant compensation] regarding one of their business practices of intentional obsolescence. Alternatively, [[Randall]] may be suggesting that models up to iPhone 7 were highly reliable, but that models beyond that have become ever more problematic - this would mirror the case of radioactive decay, where it is the higher numbered elements that are unstable.

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 The iPhones in the comic undergo two different types of decay, which mirror two types of nuclear decay:
 * In {{w|alpha decay|alpha (''α'') decay}} (vertically downwards, in the diagram) the model number changes from a higher one to a model two steps lower, except for the step involving the iPhone X which apparently exists instead of a "9" model. This is equivalent to the change in {{w|atomic number}} when two protons, together with two neutrons, leave the nucleus in the form of a helium ion (He<sup>2+</sup>), known as an alpha particle. The atomic number of such atoms reduces by two and the {{w|mass number}} reduces by four (that held by the departing He<sup>2+</sup>). No evidence is given as to how the respective masses of the phones ''actually'' changes in this analogy.
-* In {{w|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_decay#%c3%9f−_decay|beta minus (''β''<sup>-</sup>) decay}} (a rightward-and-upward step) the iPhones undergo a version upgrade, but also the removal of a brand name modifier (usually denoting additional features included within the same model range), leaving them closer to that new range's most basic model. In elements, the effective conversion of a neutron into a proton and a free electron raises the atomic number by one by transforming a neutral particle to a positive one via emission of a small negatively charged {{w|beta particle}} (an electron), leaving the mass only slightly decreased. The decay step from the iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 14 Plus, which is missing a symbol, is clearly one of the ''β''<sup>-</sup> decay steps.
+* In {{w|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_decay|beta minus (''β''<sup>-</sup>) decay}} (a rightward-and-upward step) the iPhones undergo a version upgrade, but also the removal of a brand name modifier (usually denoting additional features included within the same model range), leaving them closer to that new range's most basic model. In elements, the effective conversion of a neutron into a proton and a free electron raises the atomic number by one by transforming a neutral particle to a positive one via emission of a small negatively charged {{w|beta particle}} (an electron), leaving the mass only slightly decreased. The decay step from the iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 14 Plus, which is missing a symbol, is clearly one of the ''β''<sup>-</sup> decay steps.
 The specific reason for the decay chain stopping at iPhone '''7''' is unknown. A possible reason for this is because lithium, which is often used in phone batteries, has the stable isotope lithium-7. "Stable" may refer to the usability of the device in terms of whether or not it still receives security updates, but the iPhone 6s also received the [https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100 latest security patch] as of the time this comic was published. Apple has [https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67911517 paid significant compensation] regarding one of their business practices of intentional obsolescence. Alternatively, [[Randall]] may be suggesting that models up to iPhone 7 were highly reliable, but that models beyond that have become ever more problematic - this would mirror the case of radioactive decay, where it is the higher numbered elements that are unstable.