1

Question of the Week / Re: QotW - 11.03.27 - Where is gravity the strongest?

« on: 22/03/2011 23:49:20 »

Its got be on the surface as all the mass is behind you. It could be added to if the sun and moon were behind you as well.

I guess this question has been covered by that blooming Dr Cox already.

2

Just Chat! / How should we answer Questions

« on: 20/08/2009 00:07:25 »

I have a fair idea of the answer before I post a question as I've already googled it. This forum would die if everybody just googled things. I'm just looking for people that have a bit more insight on things, it doesn't matter if it is actually factual and the humour angle is actually better for me.

3

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Why aren't there more sharks?

« on: 19/08/2009 22:37:45 »

Why aren't there more sharks?

It seems to me that they have an ample food source and no natural preditors. They are at the top of the food chain and are so well developed the seas should be overrun with them yet they seem very rare.

Dolphins seem to be in the same boat and they are all over the place.

So why are there so few sharks?



A Shark.

4

Just Chat! / Re: Photos from your day – any subject

« on: 05/08/2009 23:22:57 »

The exam results arrived today.



I think she is smiling.

5

General Science / What is the best position for a garden nozzle for maximum throw?

« on: 01/08/2009 23:23:37 »

45 degrees is the answer unless the earth's curvature comes into play

6

Just Chat! / Re: Photos from your day – any subject

« on: 01/08/2009 22:52:57 »

I saw this shop in Pitlochry, what sort of fool would go into a shop like this?

7

General Science / What is the best position for a garden nozzle for maximum throw?

« on: 31/07/2009 15:25:49 »

Could you not just connect up a hose and vary the angle to see how far it goes?

8

Just Chat! / Re: Photos from your day – any subject

« on: 27/07/2009 23:13:10 »

I still have several skin suits. I had one on at the weekend as i'm doing a 50 mile charity ride, a mere formality to somebody like me.

Anyway, today ...

9

Just Chat! / Re: Photos from your day – any subject

« on: 25/07/2009 00:16:23 »

I've been watching the Tour all week, did anybody else notice this moment...



...during the time trial?

10

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Why do people insist that NASA made up the Moon landings?

« on: 25/07/2009 00:01:22 »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wym04J_3Ls0

Nasa could have saved some money and just watched Mythbusters.

Ir would be cheaper to send people to the moon than go to all the bother of faking it...they would have to pay people to hush up the whole thing so it would cost a fortune.

11

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / What did I see?

« on: 24/07/2009 23:45:58 »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0OIxzFJiKY

The ISS can often be viewed from the earth and is the brightest thing around other than the sun and the moon.

12

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / How do you weigh an astronaut?

« on: 24/07/2009 23:35:39 »

I'm sure this was asked before and there was a special chair they sat in that was a basically an inertia balance.

http://www.iki.rssi.ru/mirrors/stern/stargaze/Smass.htm there is a bit about it here.

13

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / What did I see?

« on: 24/07/2009 00:00:16 »

The flares and satellites are only visable at dusk and dawn, not in the middle of the night. The flares are very short lived I believe as its just the sun reflecting off a big solar panel.



An iridium satellite.

14

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / How do you weigh an astronaut?

« on: 23/07/2009 23:54:13 »

is this an inertia balance thing again?



I remember these things from school, they were at waist hight and positivly dangerous in hands of a schoolboy.

15

General Science / What is the optimum angle for a solar panel?

« on: 15/07/2009 00:38:55 »

I have noticed the way that the council put up solar panels nilly willy. They seem to just point them at the sun when they put them up.

However, there must be an optimal angle to get the most out of them. I live at 56 degrees north, but if I positioned my mole deterent at 34 degrees then it would only be most efficent at mid day.

There are a huge number of factors to consider...seasonal things, thickness of the atmosphere when the sun is round to the west, the fact that sun might go behind the solar panel.



being delivered next Tuesday.

How do you calculate the best angle?

16

Physiology & Medicine / Why do my eyes adjust to the dark quickly?

« on: 30/06/2009 23:53:05 »

I have one eye that can see better in the dark than the other. One eye is like an infra red camera and sees really well in the dark, but it's only b&w. The other eye sees in colour, but I can't pick out the toilet when I am doing a wee.

17

Technology / Do I Need To Turn Off Individually Or can I Just Turn The Surge Thingy Off ?

« on: 30/06/2009 23:47:29 »

Its a 'surge protector'...go figure.

18

General Science / Mathmatical scenario hurting my brain.

« on: 30/06/2009 23:44:03 »

Could you not make a hexagonal garden?

19

Just Chat! / It is poop a scoop week. Have you scooped your poop?

« on: 25/06/2009 00:28:17 »

I was at a BBQ a couple of weeks ago and a lab pooped in the garden. The dog then got excited with all the people around and then suddenly ate all its own poop...job done.

20

General Science / Question about 100-metre sprint (too complex to fit here as question)

« on: 17/06/2009 23:43:47 »

you are born with fast twitch muscels...and that's it. You can tweak this with training...but if you are not born a sprinter you will never be one.

Usain Bolt, 9.77 tonight and he was slow out of the blocks so he will probably beat the world record again this year.

I'm starting to think the false start rule has something to do with this, Usain was expecting the usual one false start and didn't push hard...but when it didn't happen, he had lost time.