Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 3]

[Shakermaker]

drivin_me_nuts said:

Why does walking around objects such as lakes in a clockwise direction feel 'wrong', yet walking around in an anticlockwise direction feels better.

Does it? Are you sure that isn't just you?

Although, there are some people out there who claim that we are pre disposed to walk in a certain direction given free choice. Something I've seen quoted when relating to things such as supermarket/shop layout and where to place the highest=value goods to ensure people are naturally drawn towards them.

But no idea if it is true or not.

At a guess, if you were to arrive at a lake, to walk anti-clockwise around it, you will make a right turn to begin with, and most people are right-handed? Even though you'll be doing a whole load of turning left, if you walk straight up to it, you'll have to do a right to begin with. Maybe its that?

[The Don of Croy]

drivin_me_nuts said:

Why does walking around objects such as lakes in a clockwise direction feel 'wrong', yet walking around in an anticlockwise direction feels better.

Other direction in southern hemisphere?

[WD39]

popeyewhite said:

singlecoil said:

popeyewhite said:

singlecoil said:

Your woosh is for when you didn't understand what I said.

Consider your next serve returned with backspin.

You'd misread my serve and not make the return.

I wouldn't need to, you'd serve it straight into the net

So you wouldn't be returning the serve then. Make your mind up!

Advantage...nobody

[Jonboy_t]

Does the weather move or is it just the movement of the earth that changes it? Or something else?

What i mean is, if the earth stood still for a day, would the same cloud be over the same place for the whole day?

[Sheets Tabuer]

The earths rotation is what causes the weather, there are many elements at play like localised gravity of gas, convection, water saturation point as on Venus but for the earth the coriolis effect has the most influence.

[StevieBee]

Jonboy_t said:

Does the weather move or is it just the movement of the earth that changes it? Or something else?

What i mean is, if the earth stood still for a day, would the same cloud be over the same place for the whole day?

Both. Weather is created when air moves from high pressure to low pressure but that only happens through the rotation of the earth. If the earth didn't move, the high and low pressure air would eventually even out so the whole world would get one 'weather'. It's called the Coriolis effect.

(PS: Daughter's just graduated - Environmental Weather Sciencey Stuff!)

[deeen]

StevieBee said:

Both. Weather is created when air moves from high pressure to low pressure but that only happens through the rotation of the earth. If the earth didn't move, the high and low pressure air would eventually even out so the whole world would get one 'weather'. It's called the Coriolis effect.

(PS: Daughter's just graduated - Environmental Weather Sciencey Stuff!)

Too simplistic. The heat from the sun matters; even if the Earth did not rotate there would be giant convection currents. Also other effects from evaporation, etc.

[grumpy52]

Why when we drive on the left do most people when in the services try to walk on the right ?
Also why is there always a cluster of females waiting in the middle of the walk way blocking the entrace to the toilets ? And why do they look at you as if you have just asked them for anal if you ask them to let you by ?

[anonymous-user]

grumpy52 said:

Why when we drive on the left do most people when in the services try to walk on the right ?
Also why is there always a cluster of females waiting in the middle of the walk way blocking the entrace to the toilets ? And why do they look at you as if you have just asked them for anal if you ask them to let you by ?

They do that everywhere, not just the toilets

[DJFish]

grumpy52 said:

Why when we drive on the left do most people when in the services try to walk on the right ?
Also why is there always a cluster of females waiting in the middle of the walk way blocking the entrace to the toilets ? And why do they look at you as if you have just asked them for anal if you ask them to let you by ?

Isn't it something to do with the side of your brain that controls movement?
It's the reason shops put special offers etc on the right as you walk in, and the reason people will generally run to the right in a panic.

[anonymous-user]

Say a car was involved in a fatal accident and ended up properly mangled, what would happen to it other than be crushed? What would happen after the police retrieve it etc, and would it ever be sold on? E.g copart

[JustinF]

allroad one said:

Say a car was involved in a fatal accident and ended up properly mangled, what would happen to it other than be crushed? What would happen after the police retrieve it etc, and would it ever be sold on? E.g copart

I work opposite a recovery firm who deal with the south eastern section of the M25, they often have the managled remains of serious and fatal incidents and there's often a police forensics van on site. The more serious ones can be there for months and are crushed once the coroners report and any insurance liabilities are handled.

[ben5575]

If I got liposuction on my love handles, it would permanently remove the 'fat cells' for the areas that got sucked. Once they're gone, they're gone, so if I ate ste, I wouldn't (couldn't) put on weight (fat) there. Does this mean that I would just put on fat elsewhere; ass, moobs, heart etc?

Obviously I'm not looking to get lipo, but just wondering why I don't see people skinny people with big jowls?

[glazbagun]

ben5575 said:

If I got liposuction on my love handles, it would permanently remove the 'fat cells' for the areas that got sucked. Once they're gone, they're gone, so if I ate ste, I wouldn't (couldn't) put on weight (fat) there. Does this mean that I would just put on fat elsewhere; ass, moobs, heart etc?

Obviously I'm not looking to get lipo, but just wondering why I don't see people skinny people with big jowls?

You already have so many fat cells so if you eat lots they'll fill up. If you start eating like a pig your body will produce even more fat cells as are required. So taking out a chunk of your fat cells would make a change, but eventually they'd be replaced if you kept eating badly. You might just end up looking a bit disproportioned for a typical fatty.

[wildone63]

When a washing machine finishes a cycle why does it take 2-3 minutes for the door to unlock?

[DervVW]

wildone63 said:

When a washing machine finishes a cycle why does it take 2-3 minutes for the door to unlock?

To make sure all the water has drained out. Otherwise you'll get a wet floor. I expect it doesn't take that long to drain, but someone numpty would no doubt be claiming for compo on that one occation it takes longer than say 30 seconds and they flood the kitchen/utility whatever

[djc206]

Don't most washing machines have a bi metal strip that needs to cool down?

[227bhp]

wildone63 said:

When a washing machine finishes a cycle why does it take 2-3 minutes for the door to unlock?

It's a very good question and i've never heard or read a good answer apart from 'Safety reasons' and 'just in case something goes wrong'.
Which aren't very satisfying. When the machine ends its cycle you should be able to open the door, it's already stopped spinning and water was drained away ages ago.

[anonymous-user]

JustinF said:

allroad one said:

Say a car was involved in a fatal accident and ended up properly mangled, what would happen to it other than be crushed? What would happen after the police retrieve it etc, and would it ever be sold on? E.g copart

I work opposite a recovery firm who deal with the south eastern section of the M25, they often have the managled remains of serious and fatal incidents and there's often a police forensics van on site. The more serious ones can be there for months and are crushed once the coroners report and any insurance liabilities are handled.

Ah, do they ever get sold however?

[MissChief]

allroad one said:

JustinF said:

allroad one said:

Say a car was involved in a fatal accident and ended up properly mangled, what would happen to it other than be crushed? What would happen after the police retrieve it etc, and would it ever be sold on? E.g copart

I work opposite a recovery firm who deal with the south eastern section of the M25, they often have the managled remains of serious and fatal incidents and there's often a police forensics van on site. The more serious ones can be there for months and are crushed once the coroners report and any insurance liabilities are handled.

Ah, do they ever get sold however?

I suppose it depends. if the driver just had a heart attack and died at the wheel with minor damage to the car I'm sure it would be Cat C/D depending on the damage. However with modern safety I doubt any car where the driver or passengers have died would be in a condition where it could be re-sold.