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Author Topic:   Counter-Intuitive Science
Tanypteryx
Member
Posts: 4344
From: Oregon, USA
Joined: 08-27-2006
Member Rating: 5.9


Message 16 of 182 (599741)
01-10-2011 11:14 AM


In junior high, our science teacher did the experiment of putting ice water in a bell jar and pumping it down. No one in the class predicted it would boil.

Tactimatically speaking, the molecubes are out of alignment. -- S.Valley
What if Eleanor Roosevelt had wings? -- Monty Python
You can't build a Time Machine without Weird Optics -- S. Valley

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 17 of 182 (599747)
01-10-2011 11:53 AM
Reply to: Message 15 by Jon
01-10-2011 11:08 AM


jon writes:
That I exist.
Your intuition/common sense tells you that you do not exist?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 15 by Jon, posted 01-10-2011 11:08 AM Jon has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 18 by Jon, posted 01-10-2011 12:21 PM Panda has replied

  
Jon
Inactive Member


(1)
Message 18 of 182 (599748)
01-10-2011 12:21 PM
Reply to: Message 17 by Panda
01-10-2011 11:53 AM


Your intuition/common sense tells you that you do not exist?
Well that's not what I said...

Check out No webpage found at provided URL: Apollo's Temple!
Ignorance is temporary; you should be able to overcome it. - nwr

This message is a reply to:
 Message 17 by Panda, posted 01-10-2011 11:53 AM Panda has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 19 by Panda, posted 01-10-2011 12:32 PM Jon has not replied
 Message 20 by Iblis, posted 01-10-2011 12:33 PM Jon has not replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 19 of 182 (599750)
01-10-2011 12:32 PM
Reply to: Message 18 by Jon
01-10-2011 12:21 PM


Jon writes:
Panda writes:
Your intuition/common sense tells you that you do not exist?
Well that's not what I said...
...but you are too much of a tosser to clarify what you meant.
*nods*

This message is a reply to:
 Message 18 by Jon, posted 01-10-2011 12:21 PM Jon has not replied

  
Iblis
Member (Idle past 3896 days)
Posts: 663
Joined: 11-17-2005


(1)
Message 20 of 182 (599751)
01-10-2011 12:33 PM
Reply to: Message 18 by Jon
01-10-2011 12:21 PM


Well that's not what I said...
The fuck it isn't.
Dr A writes:
Much of science is counter-intuitive ... What are your favorite examples?
You respond
That I exist.
Even if it does end up qualifying in some sense, you are still a pretentious ass for posting it, because the mere fact of having to dig into some gay philosophical bullshit to get whatever old rotten meat might be there means it doesn't qualify for the detailed qualifiers.
Dr A writes:
One could talk here about relativity or quantum theory, but there are examples that are easier to grasp and equally counter-intuitive at first glance. For example, the world being round. (I can still recall my own incredulity when my mother told me about that one.) Or the fact that large stars burn through their fuel faster than small ones.
Socrates is praying for icewater right now.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 21 of 182 (599753)
01-10-2011 12:35 PM
Reply to: Message 20 by Iblis
01-10-2011 12:33 PM


Iblis writes:
Even if it does end up qualifying in some sense, you are still a pretentious ass for posting it, because the mere fact of having to dig into some gay philosophical bullshit to get whatever old rotten meat might be there means it doesn't qualify for the detailed qualifiers.
Thank you for providing the eloquence I am currently lacking.

This message is a reply to:
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Granny Magda
Member
Posts: 2462
From: UK
Joined: 11-12-2007
Member Rating: 4.0


Message 22 of 182 (599755)
01-10-2011 12:37 PM
Reply to: Message 9 by jar
01-09-2011 8:50 PM


Floating Cannonball
Hi jar,
If you think that ice floating is counter-intuitive, try watching a cannonball floating in mercury.
I believe the scientific explanation for this is that the cannonball weighs the same as a duck.
Mutate and Survive

On two occasions I have been asked, — "Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?" ... I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question. - Charles Babbage

This message is a reply to:
 Message 9 by jar, posted 01-09-2011 8:50 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 23 by Larni, posted 01-10-2011 12:39 PM Granny Magda has seen this message but not replied
 Message 24 by Panda, posted 01-10-2011 12:40 PM Granny Magda has seen this message but not replied
 Message 25 by jar, posted 01-10-2011 12:45 PM Granny Magda has seen this message but not replied
 Message 29 by arachnophilia, posted 01-10-2011 5:09 PM Granny Magda has not replied

  
Larni
Member (Idle past 164 days)
Posts: 4000
From: Liverpool
Joined: 09-16-2005


Message 23 of 182 (599756)
01-10-2011 12:39 PM
Reply to: Message 22 by Granny Magda
01-10-2011 12:37 PM


Re: Floating Cannonball
I believe the scientific explanation for this is that the cannonball weighs the same as a duck.
Or witches. May we burn her?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 22 by Granny Magda, posted 01-10-2011 12:37 PM Granny Magda has seen this message but not replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 24 of 182 (599757)
01-10-2011 12:40 PM
Reply to: Message 22 by Granny Magda
01-10-2011 12:37 PM


Re: Floating Cannonball
Granny Magda writes:
I believe the scientific explanation for this is that the cannonball weighs the same as a duck.
We should burn the cannonball as a witch!!
My physics teacher filled a large tray with mercury and floated various chunks of metal in it.
Even in front of your own eyes it still looks 'all wrong'.

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jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 25 of 182 (599759)
01-10-2011 12:45 PM
Reply to: Message 22 by Granny Magda
01-10-2011 12:37 PM


Re: Floating Cannonball
Or that an iron boat floats in water.

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

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 Message 22 by Granny Magda, posted 01-10-2011 12:37 PM Granny Magda has seen this message but not replied

Replies to this message:
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CosmicChimp
Member
Posts: 311
From: Muenchen Bayern Deutschland
Joined: 06-15-2007


Message 26 of 182 (599760)
01-10-2011 12:57 PM
Reply to: Message 15 by Jon
01-10-2011 11:08 AM


I may know what you mean, it is as if you're standing in front of the TV with the winning lotto numbers on the bon in your hand. You're examining the probabilities associated with your being here; am I right?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 15 by Jon, posted 01-10-2011 11:08 AM Jon has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 27 by Jon, posted 01-10-2011 2:35 PM CosmicChimp has seen this message but not replied

  
Jon
Inactive Member


Message 27 of 182 (599777)
01-10-2011 2:35 PM
Reply to: Message 26 by CosmicChimp
01-10-2011 12:57 PM


I may know what you mean, it is as if you're standing in front of the TV with the winning lotto numbers on the bon in your hand. You're examining the probabilities associated with your being here; am I right?
Given all the near infinite ways reality could have played out that did not involve me existing, I'd say yes. Life is certainly one of those 'winning lotto numbers' things!
Jon

Check out No webpage found at provided URL: Apollo's Temple!
Ignorance is temporary; you should be able to overcome it. - nwr

This message is a reply to:
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Blue Jay
Member (Idle past 2698 days)
Posts: 2843
From: You couldn't pronounce it with your mouthparts
Joined: 02-04-2008


Message 28 of 182 (599792)
01-10-2011 4:02 PM


I seem to have preferences for foods that are bad for my health, while I do not like foods that are good for my health.
Intuitively, it seems like evidence that the universe is playing a mean joke on me.

-Bluejay (a.k.a. Mantis, Thylacosmilus)
Darwin loves you.

  
arachnophilia
Member (Idle past 1344 days)
Posts: 9069
From: god's waiting room
Joined: 05-21-2004


Message 29 of 182 (599799)
01-10-2011 5:09 PM
Reply to: Message 22 by Granny Magda
01-10-2011 12:37 PM


Re: Floating Cannonball
splashing mercury. now there's a bright idea.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 22 by Granny Magda, posted 01-10-2011 12:37 PM Granny Magda has not replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


(1)
Message 30 of 182 (599816)
01-10-2011 8:17 PM


that liquid helium flows uphill out of a beaker
Chemistry | HowStuffWorks
quote:
Just below its boiling point, liquid helium behaves much like other liquids with low boiling points. In this state, it is known as helium I. However, when chilled several degrees below its boiling point, liquid helium enters a second state and is known as helium II. Helium II has some very unusual properties, among which are the lowest viscosity (resistance to flowing) of any liquid; the ability to flow uphill; and the capability of penetrating tiny passages where no other liquid can flow.
Enjoy

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
Rebel American Zen Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.


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