Ghaben,+Michael

Helium Balloons

After my radical views on sugar, someone clearly thinks that reading an article and commenting on it is a better use of time than surfing the web. What a meanie...In the article I read under duress, the given example of a helium balloon to explain buoyancy, there are a few important things that are extremely important – both to physics and chemistry that are universal to many disciplines of science. One of these principles is how molecules interact, and how gravity directly affects density, even in microscopic changes. This is extremely important to our measurements, especially if high precision is required. As previously discussed within this class, measurements are required for discussion of chemical interactions and understanding chemical behavior. Without a proper understanding of buoyancy and how it can affect weight, such measurements would be difficult, if not impossible. In addition, an understanding of buoyancy is required to understand why two chemicals may not mix. For example, we intuitively know that two liquids with very different buoyancy’s won’t mix. The heavier of the two fluids will proceed to sink in the other. However, this also affects how reactions within multiple fluids may carry out. If there are three fluids, and you want to react the two with a greatest difference, a reaction my not be carried out. Perhaps most importantly, however, is the effect it has upon every day mechanics. Buoyancy is required to understand why we don’t simply float up into the sky, or why a helium balloon is affected differently by centrifugal force. Although buoyancy is a concept that is extremely important to all disciplines of science, it does not take a page long equation to understand. It is a basic principle of physics that explains how two fluids interact, and how a great many behaviors of matter will interact.

OK. A bit rambling but the major points are outlined. 5 stars. MW

Sugar an Unusual Explosive

When I read this article, I was completely taken aback. When we look at the pure devastation that could be cause by such a simple item, sugar, it must be seen as a threat to our very well being. Through this, I must say that I want a bill through congress to ban all sugar in the United States! Thats right, BAN IT. THATS RIGHT. BLOW IT UP. WASTE IT. END SUGAR....

Now, on a more serious note....

Sugar as an explosive is a very serious thing. While it is tasty goodness, these companies clearly need to take more safety precautions to prevent buildup of sugar on machines. Whether or not it is cheaper for them is irrelevant-it has begun to cost people their lives, and it is now time for either state or federal governments to increase safety regulations on sugar processing plants. Although sugar is, like most things we work with in a lab, a solid, it is still easily combustible if it is dust in air; this explosion is a grim reminder of what kind of safety precautions we should take while working with even the most benign sounding chemicals in the lab. This article is also very relevant to our class because it shows how dangerous a benign chemical (or food) can be under the right circumstances. Besides the fact that this is relevant to lab safety, it can also be seen how important the knowledge of why this plant exploded is important to our understanding of the natural world and how and why reactions can occur. Up until this article, I primarily thought of reactions of either "taking place" or "not" as opposed to this thought of how surface area affects both how quickly and how reactive combustion can be. As the article states, very rapid combustion can occur in dust particles because of the exposure to the amount of oxygen in the air. This is also vital to our understanding of how a soluble solution in reacts with a solid or other aqueous, as both of these circumstances rely on fluid mechanics to determine just how much and how quickly reactions will take place.

Michael, Funny and insightful! 5 huge stars! MW

Where do elements come from?

Stars create elements during supernova; some stable. Unstable elements decay to stability in microseconds creating element clouds, traveling galaxies to create planets and sometimes life.

Michael, Cool! 5 stars. MW

Coin Chemistry Article

When I read the coin chemistry article, I really had no idea what to expect. To be quite honest, this was the most interesting article I have read in a long time. I never knew or understood exactly why Canadian coins never worked in vending machines, and now, knowing they are magnetic, I think that I admire the bus driver who managed to amass such a large fortune using magnets to attract coins with a certain composition.

Perhaps what I found most interesting, however, was how coins evolved over time. I knew that at one point coins were gold and silver, and how they continually changed over time. I also knew that they were more valuable melted once than their coined value and were changed because of that too. However what was the most interesting part about the history of how coins evolved was exactly how the metal compositions changed. Slowly more durable alloys comprising of significant knowledge of chemistry and metallurgy were developed and were used and to prevent corrosion from occurring on coins. I also never understood exactly how coins that have typically had the monikers of "gold" or "silver" are now nickel or brass plated for cost reduction. Even though it wasn't covered in the article I really like the concept of how coins can appreciate in value significantly because of the most trivial reasons, such as the example of the 1943 copper penny and the price tag on a $0.01 piece can be valued in excess of $100,0000.

Michael, Looks like you got quite a lot of information out of this article. Well done! 5 stars! MW

I found the fact that the kilogram slowly loses its mass, and, more interestingly, just how slowly it loses its mass. Considering it loses the weight of only one fingerprint over this long a period of time, I find it amazing just how slowly atoms separate from one another. Even more interestingly than that, I find it cool that modern instruments are capable of measuring that little of a difference to the variance of a single atom. I wonder if, at one point, it will become relatively cheap technology that is capable of carrying out measurement as precise as that which the body who determines the mass of a kilogram does.With that idea in mind I also wonder what exactly are the necessities in common practice for measurements that precise to the everyday person-although we choose to define the relationship of a single atom to the kilogram, it is very rarely necessary. When you look at the lives of most people, I don't see where measurements that small may come into play (perhaps with the exception of computers and the weight of the smallest components within it). What is likely more important about this is how the "new&qProxy-Connection: keep-alive Cache-Control: max-age=0 t; kilogram will be defined in relation to the various branches of science. I think that the new kilogram will not be determined based on anything more than that of the chosen science that requires it more. Looking at the choice of an idea that is compared more favorable to quantum mathematics or chemistry is a hard one-and I certainly would not want to be the personal making that decision. Either way, you are going to have angry chemists tossing deadly acid at you or physicists shooting star wars ray blasters at you. One way or another you lose.

Michael, Interesting! Let's hope nothing turns violent! 5 stars. MW

Crude Oil

Before watching this video, I had no idea how oil was "made"-all i knew was that it was found in the ground (or ocean) and then went to a gas pump, where you bought it. I never had known that there were so many so many different hydrocarbons, how they were condensed (or that they were, for that matter). In addition, I had never known that the longer the molecule, the higher the boiling point, although this provides some useful insight into why different molecules boil at different temperature. What I wonder is if there is a way to speed up this process, as it appears as though the actual distillation process takes the most time to complete. Seeing as distillation is not 100% accurate, it leads me to question exactly how different grades of oil are made, such as premium and regular. Are they just different hydrocarbons or are they simply oils that have gone through the process multiple or longer times? What I found most interesting about this article is just how much we broke down this process of refinement. I've heard of how moonshine was distilled and how it was a process, although when I heard of distillation I had no idea of what the process was, and did not understand just how much of a quantitative process distillation (and refinement) is. What I am curious about, is if the oil industry collapses, what will happen to all of it? Will it simply be used for plastics and the many other uses?

Michael, WOW! You have alot of questions and good insights! I know they blend the fractions and put in additives to make the different octane #'s for gasoline. I think the oil business will be around for a long time even if we don't just burn the stuff since it is used as a raw material for som many things. 5 stars! MW

Motion Sensors

Although I knew how these sensors work before reading this article, I found this very informative. What I like about these kinds of sensors is how you can "fool" them. I remember this Burn Notice episode (great show, go look it up) where Michael had to break into a security firm with top of the line motion sensors and IR guns and they managed to "block" their heat from the sensor by using some kind of insulated foil. What I found interesting about this is how simple these devices are-while still being quite difficult to manufacture on the small scale. I don't think that anybody thinks of this in the respect at what is really going on behind that piece of glass behind the magical door opener, just that it does open. And yes, I am one of those people who jumps around like a fool in front of grocery stores. What I think is really cool is how almost all of our articles have dated back to the same common recurring theme-technology. Sure, they are measuring fundamental principles, but they are all based off the concept of technology and how it is changing science. Note-When I say technology, I mean computerized/automated technology. You can see a fine example in all these sensors of how integrated it has become within our lives. I am typing this on a computer where nanometers separate transistors on the processor, and within the motion sensor the same goes. Everything, much like these sensors, move forward at the rate of technology. Its amazing that all of this goes on inside of a little glass box outside of Wal-Mart when you walk and you don't give it a second thought.

Michael, Impressive reflections on these devices. 5 stars. MW