How long is a piece of string?

[funkyrobot]

I have been reading a few books related to topic of this program lately. I have been trying to get my head around the theory (well an understandable minute level of theory) of quantum mechanics, atoms, particles etc. I must admit it facinates me.

As the info I have been reading is still fresh in my mind I actually understood (a bit) where the profs were coming from on this program. Quite informal end entertaining, much better than the reality bullst that seems to fill the channels nowadays!

[Saddle bum]

Very good and Alun Davies fitted in well.

That physics teacher was quite frenetic.

My brain still hurts, though.

[dave_s13]

Can anyone point me in the direction of some reading material that might just allow me to begin to understand quantum mechanics.

Bear in mind I have a basic understanding of physics and no understanding of pure mathematics, or any desire to learn that weird $hit

[Caruso]

How wide is a cloud? would have been a question people could have related to better... i.e. the edges are more obviously dispersed.

[Frankeh]

Watching it at the moment. The physics teacher is mental. I think I would have topped my self if i had her at school.

[varsas]

dave_s13 said:

Can anyone point me in the direction of some reading material that might just allow me to begin to understand quantum mechanics.

Bear in mind I have a basic understanding of physics and no understanding of pure mathematics, or any desire to learn that weird $hit

I learnt from this book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quantum-Mechanics-Alastair...

and also 'Physics' by Ohanion (which appears to be out of print? and is/was expensive)

There is a 'dummies' book as well, might be worth a try. There must be a good book that takes you on the journey of how quantum physics came about...talking about the journey from newtowneon universe -> einstein etc? It's a good story...

[RizzoTheRat]

Incredible Sulk said:

EDLT said:

Comb-over-pony-tail had the most annoying laugh I've ever heard.

How True. When I heard him I thought it was Dr. Evil..................

I've been watching too many episodes of Armstrong and Miller, as soon as I saw the pony tail I wanted to throw up

Some interesting bits in the program but it would be nice to see one that goes on to a slightly higher level.

[Strangely Brown]

dave_s13 said:

Can anyone point me in the direction of some reading material that might just allow me to begin to understand quantum mechanics.

Bear in mind I have a basic understanding of physics and no understanding of pure mathematics, or any desire to learn that weird $hit

Take a look at the "Uncle Albert" series of books by Russell Stannard.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-ali...

[Dracoro]

Spacekadet said:

I always thought it was twice as long as half its length

No, you've got it all wrong.

It's half as long as it's twice it's length.

[Marf]

Dracoro said:

Spacekadet said:

I always thought it was twice as long as half its length

No, you've got it all wrong.

It's half as long as it's twice it's length.

No no no, its twice as long as it is from its end to its middle.

[him_over_there]

http://www.ted.com/talks/clifford_stoll_on_everyth...

EVERY school should have a Clifford Stoll teaching physics / science.

[Frankeh]

Wow... Just seen the pony tail.. WHHHYYY. His face would suit no hair fine.

[B19GRR]

Easiest way to understand Quantum physics is to refer to the childrens story 'Jack and Jill':

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.
No they didn't as by applying quantum physics they could be in two places at the same time so they were already up the hill and the pail of water was already at the bottom of the hill and nobody got hurt in the process. All hail quantum physics.

The end.

Cheers,
Rob

[RizzoTheRat]

him_over_there said:

http://www.ted.com/talks/clifford_stoll_on_everyth...

EVERY school should have a Clifford Stoll teaching physics / science.

Fantastic, never heard of him before, I'll be looking up some more of his lectures.

[Dracoro]

RizzoTheRat said:

him_over_there said:

http://www.ted.com/talks/clifford_stoll_on_everyth...

EVERY school should have a Clifford Stoll teaching physics / science.

Fantastic, never heard of him before, I'll be looking up some more of his lectures.

Assuming it's the same guy (must be?), read his book, the Cuckoo Egg. It's a good read, esp for IT types but non-IT people will appreciate it as there's a lot of plain English (the guy didn't start off as a nerd so that would explain it). I won't give away "too" much of it but he discovered a big hacking thing (involving miliarty computers, serious stuff etc.). He was only asked to investigate it as a side task to finding out why some accounts were 75 cents out!!

[Morningside]

Marf said:

Dracoro said:

Spacekadet said:

I always thought it was twice as long as half its length

No, you've got it all wrong.

It's half as long as it's twice it's length.

No no no, its twice as long as it is from its end to its middle.

You are ALL wrong. Its greater than its width.

[Marf]

Morningside said:

Marf said:

Dracoro said:

Spacekadet said:

I always thought it was twice as long as half its length

No, you've got it all wrong.

It's half as long as it's twice it's length.

No no no, its twice as long as it is from its end to its middle.

You are ALL wrong. Its greater than its width.

What if its a really short piece of string??

Heres my theory in algebraic form, where S=strings length

S=(S/2)*2

[RizzoTheRat]

No, no no, you're all wrong!

Assume you have 2 bits of string the same length
Call one length a and the other length b

Now we know that a = b
therefore:
a^2 = ab
a^2 - b^2 = ab-b^2
(a-b)(a+b) = b(a-b)
a+b = b

Substitute a for b (they're the same length remember):
b+b = b
2b = b

Therefore the pice of string is double it's own length

[Marf]

[obviousjoke]2b or not 2b, that is the question[/obviousjoke]

Edited by Marf on Friday 20th November 17:32

[Halb]

Saddle bum said:

Very good and Alun Davies fitted in well.

That physics teacher was quite frenetic.

Indeed...loved this show...thought it was quite funny how the experts went up scale in weirdness.
Pure MAtch prof...moderately weird
Physics lady...starting to get off her rocker (thought she was gonna attack Davies when she closed the curtain)
Qunatum Mechanics man...batst bonkers laughed at all his own quantum stuff...ace!

dave_s13 said:

Can anyone point me in the direction of some reading material that might just allow me to begin to understand quantum mechanics.

Bear in mind I have a basic understanding of physics and no understanding of pure mathematics, or any desire to learn that weird $hit

The Unadulterated Cat
The Science of Discworld