spookylukey's New Writeups

Gravity (idea)

2004-03-13T22:52:50Z

This is quite a helpful way to memorise the history of theories of gravity, and is astonishingly accurate for a limerick.

A Brief History of Gravity

It filled Gallileo with mirth
To watch his two rocks fall to Earth.
He gladly proclaimed,
"Their rates are the same,
And quite independent of girth!"

Then Newton announced in due course
His own law of gravity's force:
"It goes, I declare,
As the inverted square
Of the distance from object to source."

But remarkably, Einstein's equation
Succeeds to describe gravitation
As spacetime that's curved,
And it's this that will serve
As the planets' unique motivation.

Yet the end of the story's not written;
By a new way of thinking we're smitten.
We twist and we turn,
Attempting to learn
The Superstring Theory of Witten!

(Written by Bruce Elliott, published by The American Physical Society, reproduced with permission)

Why matter cannot reach the speed of light (idea)

2002-05-31T16:45:33Z

The mass of a particle does not increase as its speed increases. This concept comes from trying to fit the relativistic equations for momentum to the Newtonian equations, which you can't do.

According to Einstein, the momentum of an object moving at speed v is:

p = γ m v

where γ = 1/sqrt(1-v²/c²). Trying to fit this to Newton's expression for it gives the result that rabidcow quotes. Although this works for 1-D motion, if you accelerate the particle in any other direction but parallel to v, you need to change the mass in a different way (for a example a factor of γ³ is needed if you accelerate perpendicular to the motion). The variable mass concept is a helpful idea at first, but only works in very limited conditions, and will get you into trouble if you try to apply it further.

Hence the reason an object cannot be accelerated…

Jesus Christ (person)

2002-05-06T23:02:41Z

Also known as:

A

Adam, the Last (1 Corinthians 15:45)
Advocate (1 John 2:1)
All and in All (Colossians 3:11)
Almighty (Revelation 1:8)
Altogether Lovely One (Song of Songs 5:16)
Amen (Revelation 3:14)
Anchor (Hebrews 6:19)
Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9-11 with Revelation 1:13-16)
Angel (of the Lord) (Genesis 16:9-14; Genesis 48:16)
Anointed, His (Psalm 2:2). See also Messiah.
Apostle of our profession (Hebrews 3:1)
Arm of the Lord (Isaiah 53:1)
Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8; Revelation 21:6)
Author

and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)
of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9)

B

Balm of Gilead (Jeremiah 8:22)
Beginning (Colossians 1:18)
Begotten (Revelation 1:5)
Beloved (Ephesians 1:6)
Bishop of your…

What they don't know can't hurt them (idea)

2001-05-15T17:06:38Z

This common saying, if taken seriously, casts radical light on much of modern society. Just think of the ramifications in these areas, which are by no means exhaustive:

Those medical operations that restore sight or hearing to people who would otherwise have been impervious to innumerable dangers -- from being knocked down while crossing the street to being mauled by wild animals. We can only conclude that hippocratic oath is a farce, and surgeons are motivated by unrestrained diabolical envy.
Assination attempts based on poision. Clearly Rasputin was the norm, while in all successful cases the plan must have been leaked to the all-too-informed victim.
The use of screening for cancer, or virtually any test for disease. This practice must be avoided at all costs!
Virus checkers: on the basis of the above maxim, these are clearly a complete waste of time, and, due to human forgetfulness in their use, may even be a

…

The Purple Cow (idea)

2001-05-01T20:36:46Z

A question 'bout a purple cow
Brings up another matter
What colour, pray, would be the steak
When sitting on the platter?

I'm afraid I don't know the author, let me know if you do.

speling checker (idea)

2001-05-01T20:29:22Z

A slightly longer version of this poem is common (with a number of variations):

I have a spelling chequer,
It came with my pea sea,
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye cannot sea.
When eye strike a quay, right a word,
I weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar wright
It shows me strait aweigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
I nose bee fore two late
And eye can put the error rite
Its rarely, rarely grate.
I've run this poem threw it
I'm shore your pleased two no,
Its letter perfect in it's weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.
--Unknown

And this one is even longer (and better IMHO):

An Owed to the Spelling Checker

I have a spelling checker
It came with my PC
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye can knot sea.
Eye ran this poem threw it,
Your sure reel glad two no.
Its vary polished…