Ask a physicist anything. (2)

[catzrfluffy]

My Christmas pudding pwns that any day.

So it has evolved over time from figgy pudding to soggy pudding?

They stopped using figs because they were too expensive.


Sounds like a stupid question, but how come hot air rises?

 

[Cabal]

Sounds like a stupid question, but how come hot air rises?

It's rarer (i.e. less dense, not harder to find), so the hot air and cold air separate out into layers like oil and water. (Roughly speaking, they actually blend together at the boundary and that's how convection currents are set up)

 

[Doveaman]

Xmas questions are just as fun as physics questions .

What's Xmas?

and

What's Christmas?

and

What's the difference?

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Sounds like a stupid question, but how come hot air rises?

Because it's less dense, and fluids will tend to separate out into density layers.

What's Xmas?

and

What's Christmas?

and

What's the difference?

They're exactly the same. 'X' is a very old abbreviation of 'Christ', since it's the first letter in the Greek rendition of the word (Χριστός, Christos, meaning 'anointed one'). So, 'Xmas' is just shorthand for 'Christmas', 'Xian' is shorthand for 'Christian', and so on.

Some silly people think it's an evil atheist plot to remove Christ from everything, even language. Even a cursory glance at the history of the term shows that this is anything but the case.

 

[canehdianhotstuff]

What's Xmas?

and

What's Christmas?

and

What's the difference?

There is no difference. "X" in Greek stands for "Chi". ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ is the Greek for Christ.

 

[Cabal]

Some silly people think it's an evil atheist plot to remove Christ from everything, even language. Even a cursory glance at the history of the term shows that this is anything but the case.

That said, whoever coined the term "Winterval" needs beats.

 

[catzrfluffy]

How many physicists does it take to change a lightbulb?

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Will it snow at Christmas?

I'll beseech the gods and supplicate myself to them, but snow is a fickle business.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

How many physicists does it take to change a lightbulb?

Two: one to change the lightbulb, and another to take the credit .

 

[catzrfluffy]

Why doesn't the physicist ask us a question?

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Where's the furthest place in the world you've been? Was it cool?

Furthest from where?
The furthest I've been from my house is when I went on holiday to Prague. Absolutely amazing city.
What about you?

 

[canehdianhotstuff]

How many physicists does it take to change a lightbulb?

It depends on the room size--you need to fill the room first with blindfolded scientists. Then, upon a signal, they all remove the blindfolds and look toward the general area of the 'old' bulb. Then, when the waveform collapses, whoever is closest to the newly 'congealed' bulb, grabs it and without blinking, makes the change. Also, this procedure may require one additional physicist to remove a dead cat from the room.

 

[catzrfluffy]

Furthest from where?

The furthest I've been from my house is when I went on holiday to Prague. Absolutely amazing city.
What about you?

I used to like it when I could say "Devon", it was amusing.

I've been to Majorca, it was alright, beautiful scenery, they have these little drystone walls going on for ages all the way up nearly vertical hills, I still wonder how and when then got there The olive tree groves are like mystical paintings. Also saw a really old tree, it was a sapling during the Battle of Hastings. And I got to pick my own lemons, I had them on pancakes, they're really sweet off the tree. Also went to the beach etc etc. Why is there always an aquarium?

It depends on the room size--you need to fill the room first with blindfolded scientists. Then, upon a signal, they all remove the blindfolds and look toward the general area of the 'old' bulb. Then, when the waveform collapses, whoever is closest to the newly 'congealed' bulb, grabs it and without blinking, makes the change. Also, this procedure may require one additional physicist to remove a dead cat from the room.

LOL That provided many amusing pictures.

 

[Cabal]

How many physicists does it take to change a lightbulb?

One, but only for bulbs on a frictionless surface and placed in a vacuum.

 

[Chesterton]

Furthest from where?

Damn Einstein. Ever since him you can never get a straight answer about anything.

 

[pgp_protector]

Damn Einstein. Ever since him you can never get a straight answer about anything.

How do you define straight if space time is curved where you are?

 

[dunjunn]

Xmas questions are just as fun as physics questions .

LoL yah
this is a cool thread btw

 

[Chesterton]

How do you define straight if space time is curved where you are?

A straight answer is an answer which doesn't require a preliminary question.

Or, any answer which I actually understand.

 

[Chesterton]

I think he is the smartest man who ever lived, and a testament to what evolution can fashion.

Why are Einstein's ideas called "theories" and Newton's ideas called "laws"? If they're all supported by math, they should each be either absolutely true or not, right?

 

[pgp_protector]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT2sQ7KIQ-E