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| | | date = July 22, 2022 | | | date = July 22, 2022 |
| | | title = Physics Cost-Saving Tips | | | title = Physics Cost-Saving Tips |
| − | | image = physics_cost_saving_tips.png | + | | image = physics cost saving tips.png |
| | | titletext = I got banned from the county fair for handing out Helium-2 balloons. Apparently the instant massive plasma explosions violated some local ordinance or something. | | | titletext = I got banned from the county fair for handing out Helium-2 balloons. Apparently the instant massive plasma explosions violated some local ordinance or something. |
| | }} | | }} |
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| | ==Explanation== | | ==Explanation== |
| − | This is another one of [[Randall|Randall's]] [[:Category:Tips|Tips]], this time with a series of Physics Cost-Saving Tips. It also continues the previous [[2648: Chemicals]] comic's jocular theme of tricks to supposedly save money based on misinterpretations of science.
| + | {{incomplete|Created by a FAUX VECTOR - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
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| − | It suggests four ways to reduce costs or provide something for free for physicists to save money on their research. For instance getting free electrons from a conductor or replacing regular {{w|helium}} with {{w|Isotopes_of_helium#Helium-2_(diproton)|helium 2}}. None of these would provide any real advantages even when possible to implement, and could even be very dangerous, see below in the [[#Table of tips|table]]. Obtaining money from physics experiments was also described in [[2007: Brookhaven RHIC]].
| + | This comic continues the previous comic [[2648: Chemicals]]'s theme of tricks to supposedly save money based on misinterpretations of science. Here is a list of "cost-saving tips" which would seem to reduce a cost or provide something for free, allowing physicists to save money in their experiments. |
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| − | In the title text, Randall claims to have been banned from the county fair for handing out helium-2 balloons because of the instant massive explosions caused by its radioactive decay (that helium-2 decays fast is mentioned in the comic, with a joke suggestion to use it quickly). He jokes that the balloons violated a local ordinance. {{w|Gas balloon|Helium balloons}} are often given out at county fairs and similar events, but they are filled with {{w|helium-4}} and therefore inert (a very small part will be {{w|helium-3}}, 2 ppm). A balloon filled with helium-2 is a practical impossibility because of its nanosecond half-life. Assuming a 12-inch diameter balloon at 1 atmosphere of pressure, the balloon-bomb would have a yield of roughly 17 {{w|TNT equivalent|tons of TNT equivalent}}.
| + | The prefix "pseudo-" refers to something that is an inauthentic variation of something else. Fakes are usually cheaper than their original brand-name product, while often working just as well, so the comic implies a {{w|pseudovector}} could be a less expensive substitute for a real vector. On the contrary, pseudovectors, or axial vectors, are distinct alternatives to ordinary polar vectors, the former usually being involved with rotation or physical effects that share properties with rotation, similar to the relationship between angles and lengths. Pseudovectors are formed from the {{w|cross product}}s of polar vectors, and while similar to polar vectors, there is no physical meaning to their direction, only their magnitude. For example, {{w|angular velocity}} is described by a pseudovector {{w|Normal (geometry)|normal}} to the {{w|plane of rotation}}. |
| − | {{cot|[[User:SqueakSquawk4|Calculations]]}}
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| − | {{User:SqueakSquawk4}} <!-- SqueakSquawk4 prefers this not be subst:ed -->
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| − | {{cob}}
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| − | The smallest nuclear bomb, the {{w|W54}}, had a yield of between 10 and 1,000 tons of TNT. The largest conventional bomb, the {{w|GBU-43/B MOAB}}, has a yield of roughly 11 tons. The {{w|2020 Beirut explosion}} was roughly equivalent to 500 tons. So, while the helium-2 balloon bomb would be larger than all conventional bombs, it would still be smaller than most nukes. Handing out what are effectively small atomic bombs at a county fair would not go down well with any surviving local authorities,{{Citation needed}} so merely being banned is a very mild punishment. Criminal charges such as mass murder and terrorism would be more likely if it weren't for the absurd impossibility of the scenario.
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| − | The title text is likely also a pun, as the word "{{w|Local ordinance|ordinance}}" means a local law, and the very similar sounding word "[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordnance ordnance]" means artillery and other explosive weapons, which the balloon would qualify as.
| + | {{w|Fourier analysis}} can decompose any periodic function into a series of {{w|sine wave}}s. A {{w|square wave}} can thereby be represented as the sum of an infinite series of sine waves. However, the sine waves are not removed or separated individually, so such a {{w|Fourier transform}} does not produce a "supply of valuable" sine waves for practical uses in any tasks other than analysis |
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| − | ===Table of tips===
| + | Chemical elements are identified by the number of positive protons in each atomic nucleus, which is also equal to the number of negative electrons in the shell (unless the atom is ionized) that dictates most of their chemical behaviour. {{w|Isotopes}} are variants of the element with different numbers of neutral neutrons in the nucleus where the potential chemical reactions are practically identical under most circumstances. The comic suggests that the neutrons don't serve any useful purpose so, if you're purchasing matter by weight, you can save money by buying isotopes with no neutrons at all. In reality, the right number of neutrons are needed to keep the atom stable, and atoms with too many or too few neutrons will decay more quickly than the common isotopes. The image shown is Helium-2, an {{w|Isotopes of helium|isotope of helium}} with a half-life of less than a nanosecond. It decays into two protons, releasing a large amount of energy — hence the explosion mentioned in the title text. |
| − | {| class="wikitable"
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| − | |-
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| − | ! scope="col" |Cost-Saving Tip
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| − | ! scope="col" |Explanation
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| − | |-
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| − | |Try replacing regular vectors with pseudovectors whenever possible
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| − | |[[File:Torque animation.gif|frame|right|Relationship of pseudovectors {{w|torque}} ('''τ''') and {{w|angular momentum}} ('''L''') to "regular" Euclidean vectors {{w|Position (vector)|position}} ('''r'''), {{w|force}} ('''F'''), and linear {{w|momentum}} ('''p''') in an oscillatory rotating system. Not shown is the {{w|centripetal force}} of the spoke's {{w|Tension (physics)|tension}}, a Euclidean vector towards the axle proportional to linear momentum, converting it to angular momentum.]]
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| − | The prefix "pseudo-" refers to an inauthentic variation of something. Fakes are usually cheaper than their original brand-name product, while often working just as well, so the comic implies a {{w|pseudovector}} could be a less expensive substitute for a regular vector. On the contrary, pseudovectors, or axial vectors, are distinct from regular {{w|Euclidean vector}}s, which have a magnitude and direction (velocity, for example). Pseudovectors are usually being involved with rotation or physical effects that share properties with rotation, similar to the relationship between angles and lengths. Pseudovectors are formed from the {{w|cross product}}s of Euclidean vectors, in three dimensions, and while similar to Euclidean vectors, there is no physical meaning to their specific direction, only their magnitude and portions of their position. For example, {{w|angular momentum}} is described by a pseudovector, labeled '''L''' in the comic, {{w|Normal (geometry)|normal}} to the {{w|plane of rotation}}, originating from the center of rotation, with magnitude equal to the angular velocity of rotation '''ω''' multiplied by the {{w|moment of inertia}} '''I'''. (The comic's diagram is drawn according to very uncommon {{w|Right-hand rule#Coordinates|left-handed coordinates}} instead of the standard {{w|right-hand rule}}. Randall is right-handed.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1tcyEo2tQk&t=28s])
| + | Helium balloons are often given out at county fairs and other similar events. However, these are usually Helium-4, and therefore inert. If a balloon was filled with helium-2, as the title text suggests, the results would be rather explosive. Handing out what are effectively bombs at a county fair would likely not go down well with local authorities, and therefore being banned from the fair is a very light punishment. Anyone who did this in real life would likely face criminal charges, such as Reckless Endangerment or even Attempted Murder. |
| − | |-
| + | |
| − | |A square wave can be broken down into an infinite supply of valuable sine waves
| + | {{w|Charge carrier|Free}} {{w|electron}}s are electrons which are not tightly bound to specific atoms, so are ably to ''move'' freely, such as in {{w|conduction band}}s of {{w|metallic bond}}s. Randall interprets "free" in a different sense: "costing nothing". The charges free electrons carry are electric, not monetary as implied by this pun. |
| − | |{{w|Fourier analysis}} can decompose any periodic function into a series of {{w|sine wave}}s. A {{w|square wave}} is equal to the sum of an infinite series of sine waves. However, the sine waves are not removed or separated individually, so such a {{w|Fourier transform}} does not produce a "supply" of sine waves for practical use in any tasks other than analysis, and as abstract mathematical objects are exempt from the laws of supply and demand ({{w|File:Munitions_T-shirt_(front).jpg|most of the time}}),
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| − | |-
| + | Getting money from science experiments like this was also mentioned in [[2007: Brookhaven RHIC]] |
| − | |Cut waste by buying lighter isotopes that don't have any dead-weight neutrons
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| − | |Chemical elements are identified by the number of protons in each atomic nucleus, equal to the number of electrons in their shell (unless the atom is ionized), which dictates most of their chemical behavior. {{w|Isotopes}} are variants of the element with different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus, among which chemical behavior is usually nearly identical. The comic suggests that the neutrons don't serve any useful purpose, so, in theory, if purchasing an element by weight, and its isotopes have the same price per unit weight, then you can save money by buying isotopes with no neutrons at all. In reality, the cost per unit weight for material containing a larger concentration of normally rare isotopes, such as {{w|heavy water}} or {{w|enriched uranium}}, is much higher than the cost of material containing isotopes in their ordinary proportions. (An exception is {{w|depleted uranium}}, which costs less than regular uranium because it is a byproduct of the production of enriched uranium.) In addition, a certain range of neutron quantity is needed to keep atoms stable, as atoms with too many or too few neutrons will decay more quickly than the common isotopes. The image shown is helium-2, an {{w|Isotopes of helium|isotope of helium}} which has a half-life of less than a nanosecond. It decays into two ionized hydrogen atoms, releasing a large amount of energy—hence the explosions mentioned in the title text.
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| − | |-
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| − | |Conductors are a great source of free electrons (may carry charges)
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| − | |{{w|Charge carrier|Free}} {{w|electron}}s are electrons that are not tightly bound to specific atoms so [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGUteH93xNo they can move freely,] such as in {{w|conduction band}}s of the {{w|metallic bond}}s throughout the iron ingot depicted in the comic. Randall interprets "free" in a different sense, meaning no cost. The charges free electrons carry are electric, not monetary as implied by the pun. Ordinary matter usually contains electrons, but although the {{w|dielectric}} layer of a {{w|capacitor}} can collect electrons, it is not easy to store pure electrons, as they repel each other. When a {{w|Solution (chemistry)|solution}} has free electrons, it becomes {{w|alkaline}} ({{w|Base (chemistry)|basic}}) and corrosive. Randall has [https://what-if.xkcd.com/140/ explained the problems] with collecting a large number of electrons before.
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| − | |}
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| | ==Transcript== | | ==Transcript== |
| − | :[The comic shows four rows each with a drawing and an explanation text belonging to each drawing. They alternate between having the drawing on the left and the right side. Above the first row is a large header:]
| + | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
| − | :<big>Physics Cost-Saving Tips</big>
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| | | | |
| − | :[The first row has a drawing of a diagramatical spinning disc, at an angle. It is identified with an 'I', with a dotted axial arrow labelled 'L' and a rotational movement labelled 'ω' (small omega). | + | :[Title] |
| − | :I | + | :Physics Cost-Saving Tips |
| − | :L
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| − | :ω
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| − | :[To the right of the diagram is this text:] | + | :[A diagramatical spinning disc, at an angle] |
| | + | :[It is identified with an 'I', with a dotted axial arrow labelled 'L' and a rotational movement labelled 'ω' (little omega)] |
| | + | :[It sits on the left, and to the right of this is text...] |
| | :Try replacing regular vectors with pseudovectors whenever possible | | :Try replacing regular vectors with pseudovectors whenever possible |
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| − | :[The second row shows a square wave with three maxima between four minima. Below the central maxima and the two nearby minima are five arrows pointing down (two bending left two right one straight down). Each arrow points to one of five sine waves below the square wave, in three rows, with different wavelengths. The one with the shortest wavelength is the top left, then the wavelength becomes longer for the one to the right and even longer for each of the next two, in the next row with the final very long wave with longest wavelength at the bottom, with the straight down arrow pointing to that. The long waves at the bottom has the same frequency as the square wave.] | + | :[A square wave with three maxima (between four minima), and arrows pointing down into a collection of five sine waves of different wavelengths] |
| − | | + | :[One of the waves having the same frequency as the square wave and the rest of them are of shorter lengths with more peaks and troughs] |
| − | :[To the left of the waves is this text:] | + | :[It sits on the right, and to the left of this is text...] |
| | :A square wave can be broken down into an infinite supply of valuable sine waves | | :A square wave can be broken down into an infinite supply of valuable sine waves |
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| − | :[The third row shows two atomic models. The left containing two protons (white with a "+" sign), two neutrons (black) and orbited by two electrons (white with a "-" sign, small outlines, dotted orbits/movement lines). The right model is drawn similarly but without the black neutrons.] | + | :[Two atomic models] |
| − | :+ +
| + | :[The left containing two protons (white with a "+" sign), two neutrons (black) and orbited by two electrons (small outlines, dotted orbits/movement lines), labelled below with the text of superscript atomic weight and element symbol] |
| − | :- -
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| − | :+ +
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| − | :- -
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| − | | |
| − | :[The atoms have labels below and there is an extra message for the second model:]
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| | :<sup>4</sup>He | | :<sup>4</sup>He |
| | + | :[The right model has just the two protons and the two electrons, labelled below with the text of an atomic weight and elemental symbol, and some subtext within brackets] |
| | :<sup>2</sup>He | | :<sup>2</sup>He |
| − | :<small>(Decays fast- use quickly)</small> | + | :(Decays fast - use quickly) |
| − | | + | :[Both models sit on the left of the comic, and to the right is text...] |
| − | :[To the right of the models is this text:] | |
| | :Cut waste by buying lighter isotopes that don't have any dead-weight neutrons | | :Cut waste by buying lighter isotopes that don't have any dead-weight neutrons |
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| − | :[The fourth row shows a flat rectangular bar, drawn in perspective with a scattering of four small circles with "-" sign inside them and ten lines looking like parts of circles, all on the top face towards the far end.] | + | :[A flat rectangular bar, drawn in perspective with a scattering of dots/small circles on the top face and on the forward-facing one the label] |
| − | :- - - - | + | :Iron |
| − | | + | :[An arrow points to the dots, from the text...] |
| − | :[A bending arrow goes from a label above the bar and points to one of the circles. And on the forward-facing side of the bar there is a label.] | + | :Free electrons |
| − | :Arrow: Free electrons
| + | :[It sits to the right, and there is text to the left...] |
| − | :Label: Iron
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| − | | |
| − | :[To the left of the bar is this text:] | |
| | :Conductors are a great source of free electrons | | :Conductors are a great source of free electrons |
| | :(May carry charges) | | :(May carry charges) |
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| | {{comic discussion}} | | {{comic discussion}} |
| − |
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| | [[Category:Tips]] | | [[Category:Tips]] |
| | [[Category:Physics]] | | [[Category:Physics]] |
| | [[Category:Chemistry]] | | [[Category:Chemistry]] |
