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GoggleFox rrrrrrrrr from Acadia, yo. Since: Jul, 2009
rrrrrrrrr
#1: Jun 26th 2010 at 1:49:42 PM

This seems as good a spot as any for us to talk shop. Ask questions, get answers, point out new and interesting papers, consider new research, talk about cool demonstrations and how to go about building them...

The possibilities, as they say, are endless.

Sakamoto demands an explanation for this shit.
Runic from Here and Now Since: Apr, 2010
#2: Jun 26th 2010 at 7:05:24 PM

Like, science and science only, or physics, etc included?

"Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time..."
GoggleFox rrrrrrrrr from Acadia, yo. Since: Jul, 2009
rrrrrrrrr
#3: Jun 26th 2010 at 7:20:31 PM

The question doesn't really make sense. Physics is a science.

Sakamoto demands an explanation for this shit.
Runic from Here and Now Since: Apr, 2010
#4: Jun 26th 2010 at 7:30:51 PM

Eh, nevermind..

"Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time..."
GoggleFox rrrrrrrrr from Acadia, yo. Since: Jul, 2009
rrrrrrrrr
#5: Jun 26th 2010 at 7:54:34 PM

Hmm... should I start off by, say, digging up demonstrations of electromagnetic effects? Ring cannons and Tesla coils, that sort of thing?

Sakamoto demands an explanation for this shit.
Ozbourne Part-Time Omen of Death from if it fits, I sits (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Crazy Cat Lady
Part-Time Omen of Death
#6: Jun 26th 2010 at 8:09:45 PM

Ooh, science. The sciences were pretty much my best subjects in school, especially biology and chemistry.

Anyway, I am on kind of a "dry ice is awesome" kick right now. Not just because it looks cool and mad science-y, but it's just interesting to me. I wish I could get my hands on some (er, not literally get my bare hands on it, you know what I mean.)

Stupid doomed timeline...
GoggleFox rrrrrrrrr from Acadia, yo. Since: Jul, 2009
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#7: Jun 26th 2010 at 8:12:36 PM

Well, yes. While you can, I wouldn't recommend prolonged contact. :p

Any substance that sublimates at room temperature is pretty neat, really.

Sakamoto demands an explanation for this shit.
Runic from Here and Now Since: Apr, 2010
#8: Jun 26th 2010 at 8:12:59 PM

Non-Newtonian fluids are fun.

Ooblik!

Also, There's this one liquid that turns into a spiky solid when an electromagnetic field is introduced...

"Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time..."
Eriksson Since: Dec, 1969
#9: Jun 26th 2010 at 11:13:55 PM

Ferrofluids. They are awesome.

Deboss I see the Awesomeness. from Awesomeville Texas Since: Aug, 2009
I see the Awesomeness.
#10: Jun 26th 2010 at 11:14:16 PM

Is a ring cannon the same thing as a coil or Gauss gun?

Fight smart, not fair.
Runic from Here and Now Since: Apr, 2010
#11: Jun 26th 2010 at 11:18:59 PM

Yeah, Ferrofluid.

It's cool..

"Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time..."
newtonthenewt Since: Jul, 2009
#12: Jun 26th 2010 at 11:29:05 PM

YOU GOT FERROFLUID AND YOU GOT A MAGNET
FERROFLUID'S GOT MAGNETIC PROPERTIES BUT DON'T YOU GRAB IT
FERROFLUID MADE OF IRON
MAGNETIC IS THE FIELD

YOU GOT FERROFLUID AND YOU GOT A MAGNET
IF FERROFLUID STARTS TO MOVE IT'LL GET SPIKED UP
SPIKE UP MADE OF STEEL
FERROFLUID SHAPED LIKED DRILL

DON'T PUT FERROFLUID ON A PLATE
IT'LL USE MAGNET TO ESCAPE
IT'LL JUMP RIGHT UP AND DANCE AROUND
AND THEN THEY'LL CALL IT AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTT

FERRRROOOOOOO FLUUUUUIIIIIIDDDDD
FERRRROOOOOOO FLUUUUUIIIIIIDDDDD \

edited 26th Jun '10 11:29:28 PM by newtonthenewt

She's playing with fire! He's not ready for Nibbly Pig!
GoggleFox rrrrrrrrr from Acadia, yo. Since: Jul, 2009
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#13: Jun 27th 2010 at 8:12:16 AM

Deboss: Yes, I believe so. Coil of wire in a column, put a ring down around the column to the base, then turn on the magnet slowly and cut power quickly.

The resulting change in field rockets the ring upwards. How fast depends on how conductive the material is. Copper works better than aluminum.

edited 27th Jun '10 8:12:51 AM by GoggleFox

Sakamoto demands an explanation for this shit.
Deboss I see the Awesomeness. from Awesomeville Texas Since: Aug, 2009
I see the Awesomeness.
#14: Jun 27th 2010 at 8:26:54 AM

Nope, slightly different principle. Coil/gauss guns use a solenoid.

Fight smart, not fair.
GoggleFox rrrrrrrrr from Acadia, yo. Since: Jul, 2009
rrrrrrrrr
#15: Jun 27th 2010 at 8:29:37 AM

Solenoid = coil of wire. I'm sorry? The primary difference is that the solenoid is outside on a gauss gun, and inside on a ring cannon. Here I'll get a video if I can.

Edit: Found one.

There were an awful lot of these that didn't demonstrate just how far the ring flies up. By the way, aluminum rings will fly much farther when nitrogen-cooled.

edited 27th Jun '10 8:38:44 AM by GoggleFox

Sakamoto demands an explanation for this shit.
Deboss I see the Awesomeness. from Awesomeville Texas Since: Aug, 2009
I see the Awesomeness.
#16: Jun 27th 2010 at 9:06:35 AM

Okay, yeah, my head's a little fuzzy right now. I thought it was using something else. I know we've got a host of them under Rail Gun.

Fight smart, not fair.
BlackHumor Unreliable Narrator from Zombie City Since: Jan, 2001
#17: Jun 27th 2010 at 8:05:23 PM

...my physics teacher did that once.

I'm convinced that our modern day analogues to ancient scholars are comedians. -0dd1
MetaFour AXTE INCAL AXTUCE MUN from a place (Old Master) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
AXTE INCAL AXTUCE MUN
#19: Jul 2nd 2010 at 6:07:00 PM

Rhetorical question: On broadleaf plants, which side of the leaves do aphids prefer to feed on?

Answer: The majority of aphids feed on the bottom. This gives them shade, protection from rain, protection from the honeydew excreted by the aphids on the leaves above, and the raised veins on the leaf underside give a measure of protection from getting knocked off when leaves brush against each other in the wind.

Another question: On pecan trees, which side of the leaves do the aphids prefer to feed on?

Another answer: There are three aphid species normally found on pecans. Two of them, the black-margined aphid and the yellow pecan aphid, feed almost exclusively on the leaf bottoms. The third—and most economically important—species, the black pecan aphid, is funny: the adults prefer the bottoms, but the nymphs are split evenly between the top and bottom. This is not something that's been noted in the literature, but something I've observed and documented myself.

So the big question: Why do black pecan aphid nymphs feed on the tops of the leaves? That's what I'm currently trying to find out.

edited 2nd Jul '10 6:08:15 PM by MetaFour

I didn't write any of that.
Penguin4Senate Since: Aug, 2009
#20: Jul 3rd 2010 at 1:41:56 PM

Can predators see the nymphs on the top of the leaves? /clueless

MetaFour AXTE INCAL AXTUCE MUN from a place (Old Master) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
AXTE INCAL AXTUCE MUN
#21: Jul 3rd 2010 at 11:19:57 PM

The leaf tops are a relatively enemy-free space. In fact, that's my hypothesis for what's going on.

The predators responsible for the most aphid mortality are the lady beetles and lacewings. The literature I've found so far says that these and other arthropod predators primarily forage on the leaf bottoms. My own observations are consistent with this.

On the other hand, there are some aphid-attacking parasitoid wasps that search the leaf tops.

edited 3rd Jul '10 11:21:46 PM by MetaFour

I didn't write any of that.
GoggleFox rrrrrrrrr from Acadia, yo. Since: Jul, 2009
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#22: Jul 8th 2010 at 3:57:54 PM

Vaguely related, but very cool art inspired by biology: in video form.

Sakamoto demands an explanation for this shit.
Tzetze DUMB from a converted church in Venice, Italy Since: Jan, 2001
TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apacalypse. from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
#24: Jul 8th 2010 at 4:21:27 PM

Anyone been keeping some tabs on the U.S. Navies rail gun weapon project?

Who watches the watchmen?
Wicked223 from Death Star in the forest Since: Apr, 2009
#25: Jul 8th 2010 at 4:24:54 PM

Of course the humans had to be represented by war. We've never done anything else, amirite?

But still, that was very impressive.

edited 8th Jul '10 4:25:17 PM by Wicked223

You can't even write racist abuse in excrement on somebody's car without the politically correct brigade jumping down your throat!

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