Ask a physicist anything. (3)

[Doveaman]

Well shiver my timbers, look at that!

Maybe you should move to Pennsylvania.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Maybe you should move to Pennsylvania.

I always thought Pennsylvania was in Eastern Europe somewhere, with Transylvania, Romania, and the rest. Turns out it's an entire state in the US! Crazy yanks

 

[Tinker Grey]

Hey, watch it! I was raised there. Besides how bad could a place be if it is the home of Hershey's chocolate? (Though, of course, it is also the home of the "The Office".)

 

[Steffenfield]

BBC NEWS | Technology | Novel fridge cools with sound

Wow!

I guess I should have Googled my question first.

That's too cool!!! (stupid pun) *lol*

 

[Targ]

Hey, watch it! I was raised there. Besides how bad could a place be if it is the home of Hershey's chocolate? (Though, of course, it is also the home of the "The Office".)

Maybe for the American version, but its true home is Slough.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Right you are!

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Maybe for the American version, but its true home is Slough.

I know it makes me a traitor to HM, but I prefer the US version! Steve Carell does a better Ricky Gervais than Ricky Gervais.

Plus, the US version has John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer playing Jim and Pam. Talk about eye-candy

 

[Targ]

I know it makes me a traitor to HM, but I prefer the US version! Steve Carell does a better Ricky Gervais than Ricky Gervais.

I agree!

 

[Steffenfield]

Is a tachyon beam of light possible?

If so, would a computer need to be able to process information faster than the speed of light (whatever that means) to be able to interpret the possible analog message that was sent backwards in time?

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Is a tachyon beam of light possible?

No; a tachyon is a particle that moves faster-than-light, which means, according to special relativity, it moves backwards through time. Personally, I see this sort of thing as an over-extension of relativistic mechanics, just as you can get 'negative time' in classical mechanics.

If so, would a computer need to be able to process information faster than the speed of light (whatever that means) to be able to interpret the possible analog message that was sent backwards in time?

No, it would just be a normal machine. The only interesting part would be the ability to detect (and decipher) tachyon beams.

 

[Steffenfield]

Here's one that I actually thought of submitting to Mythbusters...

Is it possible to survive a tidal wave by swimming underneath it instead of running and screaming?

 

[Cabal]

Here's one that I actually thought of submitting to Mythbusters...

Is it possible to survive a tidal wave by swimming underneath it instead of running and screaming?

If you can swim against it enough that you can avoid being slammed into a wall or some rocks, then sure.

 

[Targ]

Here's one that I actually thought of submitting to Mythbusters...

Is it possible to survive a tidal wave by swimming underneath it instead of running and screaming?

Are you volunteering to test this theory?

 

[Assyrian]

Too much turbulence, too much debris churning around, and the big problem with a tsunami is the length of the wave.
It isn't your ordinary wave shape
__┌─┐____
────└─┘
but is much longer
__┌──────────┐─────── ───__
─────────────└──────────┘
Stick with running and screaming.

 

[Doveaman]

Ask a physicist anything.

What would cause the earth's gravity to become weaker or stronger than it is presently?

 

[Inept]

Too much turbulence, too much debris churning around, and the big problem with a tsunami is the length of the wave.
It isn't your ordinary wave shape
__┌─┐____
────└─┘
but is much longer
__┌──────────┐─────── ───__
─────────────└──────────┘
Stick with running and screaming.

Is it possible to survive a tidal wave by swimming underneath it instead of running and screaming?

 

[Biologist]

What would cause the earth's gravity to become weaker or stronger than it is presently?

A decrease or increase in mass.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

What would cause the earth's gravity to become weaker or stronger than it is presently?

A change in density, either by adding or removing mass, or condensing or expanding the current mass. The Earth could have the gravitational sheer of a black hole... if it were squished to the size of a tennis ball.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Here's one that I actually thought of submitting to Mythbusters...

Is it possible to survive a tidal wave by swimming underneath it instead of running and screaming?

You'd probably end up being caught in the waves and held under for years (OK, maybe a minute). Water is drawn back and up and over in a tidal wave, and the human body is unlikely to get around it; try and swim through it, and the current will mock you and tease you for your feebleness. Tidal waves are the bullies of the sea.

 

[Steffenfield]

So if you're out in the ocean, and you've got your scuba gear and junk, a tidal wave is approaching, don't even bother deep sea diving?

Just scream... would that be the best one could do? *lol*