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Posts archive for: June, 2009
  • FAQ: What energies are in the “empty space” that makes up more than 99.999% of the Universe?

    Dr. GURU speaks,

    Energies are invisible interactions/forces which pass between matter, molecules, and sub-atomic particles. Energy is neither created nor destroyed, only converted into other forms.

    Energy is carried by different types of Fundamental Particles called Bosons. They have the unique feature of being able to co-exist in the same space, as long as they have the same energy.

    The other Fundamental Particles are called Fermions (Quarks and Leptons), which make up Matter. Protons and Neutrons both consist of three Quarks. An Electron is a single Lepton. An Electron is therefore classified as a Fundamental Particle in its own right.

    Energies can be classified into 4 groups:

    -    The Strong Nuclear Force keeps the Neutrons and Protons together in the Nucleus of an Atom (connecting Quarks to form “Hadrons”). It is the strongest of the forces, but only acts in these very small ranges of 10-15m. Its Boson is the Gluon.

    -    The Electromagnetic Force keeps Electrons in their orbits around a Nucleus and Atoms together in a Molecule. It is x100 weaker than the Strong force, but has an infinite range. Its Boson is the Photon, which carries energy, in varying strengths, as part of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. Moving an Electric Charge creates a Magnetic Field. Moving a Magnetic field creates an Electrical Current. A Magnetic object creates its Field from tiny Electrical Currents in its matter at the Atomic level (Ions). An Electrically Charged object creates its own Electric Field. Magnetism is therefore created by the movement of Charge, what we can call Electricity. The two Fields run perpendicular to one another. The higher the frequency, shorter the wave-length, the greater the energy. Ultra-Violet light, X-rays and Gamma radiations are powerful enough to throw Electrons off from their orbits (Ionizing). This gives rise to health risks such as Cancer.

    -    The Weak (Nuclear) Force acts between Quarks and Leptons. Its strength is only 10-11 that of the Electromagnetic force and 10-13 that of the Strong force. It is stronger than the force of Gravity, although it only acts in the short range of 10-18m. Its Bosons are the W and Z Boson. These decay to produce Fermions, which continue to radioactively decay into smaller-mass Quarks and Leptons. This decay heats our planet from the inside out and allows the Sun to shine. It is used in Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, and in Carbon-14 Dating.

    -    The attractive Gravitational Force of Matter and Dark Matter, and the repulsive force of Dark Energy. These are the weakest of forces, but have an infinite range. Their effect is only noticeable when dealing with Astronomical Masses. We have not found a Boson for Gravity, yet we have already named it the “Graviton”. Dark Energy is not carried by Bosons.

    Dark Energy makes up 70% of the total Mass-Energy of the Universe. The rest is 25% Dark Matter and only 5% normal Matter.

    “Dark Matter” is thought not to consist of Fermions (Electrons, Protons and Neutrons). It does not absorb, refract, reflect, or emit any radiation. It only interacts with Matter on a Gravitational level.

    “Dark Energy” acts only as the opposing force to Gravity. Some have called Dark Energy Einstein’s missing "Cosmological Constant". However, it is not in static equilibrium with Gravity. Dark Energy is what is driving the increasing rate of expansion of the Universe. This expansion has been most noticeable during the last half of the Universe’s 15 billion year existence.

    The Electromagnetic and Weak forces have been unified into the “Electro-Weak force” at the huge temperatures (1015 Kelvin). At even higher temperatures (1027 Kelvin) the Strong force would become unified, and at the highest temperatures (1032 Kelvin), found at the very start of the Big-Bang, Gravity would eventually become unified. This is the Unified Field Theory.

    Despite these big leaps forward, we must not forget that we have yet little understanding of what Dark Matter or Energy is. We have not unified the Strong force with the Electro-Weak force. We have not found the elusive “Higgs Boson”, which would produce the “Higgs field” needed to explain Mass. We are still far from achieving a Unified Field Theory...the “Equation of Everything”.

    The GURU must now sleep.

  • FAQ: How small is an atom?

    Dr. GURU speaks,

    An atom is around 10-10m (an angstrom) in diameter. This is equivalent to 0.1 nanometre.

    10-10m = 1 / 1010m = 1/10000000000m = 0.0000000001m

    The nucleus of an atom is only 10-15m wide. This makes it 100,000 times smaller.

    Atoms of different elements have different sizes. Caesium has the largest atom at 0.5 nanometres. Hydrogen has the smallest atom at 0.05 nanometres. The Hydrogen molecule (H2) is only 0.15 nanometres wide. This means that a molecule can be smaller than an atom.

    The volume of a spherical atom is given by the equation:

    V = πd3 / 6

    If we use an average diameter of 1 angstrom...

    V = 3.14159 x 0.00000000013 / 6 = 5.235983333-31m3

    The diameter of our planet Earth is around 12,000km. To aid with visualization this can be written as 1.2 x 107m, or to round down, 107m.

    If an atom was the size of the World, its’ nucleus (being 100,000 times smaller) would only span 100m.

    An atom, and thus all molecules, our physical world and the Universe, is at least 99.999% empty space. Exemption is given to Neutron Stars and Pulsars, which are only 10-30km wide, and Black Holes.

    You cannot see through lead or a concrete wall, despite it being mostly empty space, because the wave-length of visible light is around 5 x 10-7m. This is in the range that will interact with the atoms and molecules in the lead or concrete, being refracted, absorbed, and reflected. None will manage to pass straight through. Gamma radiation has a wavelength of around 10-12m (a picometre). It is too small and fast to interact with a concrete wall or even a thin sheet of lead, and passes straight through. Radio-waves have a wavelength of around 103m (a kilometre). They are too large and slow to interact with thin concrete walls or sheets of lead, and also pass straight through. Both gamma radiation and radio-waves will be absorbed and refracted by greater thicknesses of lead, concrete and earth.

    You can see through glass because it has a very random and spaced molecular structure, allowing a lot of visible light to pass straight through the gaps. This is also why you can see through most liquids and gases. Moreover, clear glass has relatively few electrons with energy levels that absorb or refract visible light. If you had an extremely thick block of glass it would refract a lot of the light and would be impossible to see through.

    You cannot see directly through diamonds because their carbon atoms are regularly arranged into a compact tetrahedral lattice. Their electrons also refract a lot of the light, changing its path as it passes through.

    The GURU must now sleep.

  • FAQ: How can I learn useful mathematics quickly? Lesson #4

    Dr. GURU speaks,

    Temperature Conversions:

    Kelvin = Celsius + 273.15
    0 Kelvin = Absolute Zero

    0ºC = 32ºF
    100ºC = 212ºF
    Celsius = (Fahrenheit – 32) x 100/180
    Fahrenheit = Celsius x 180/100 + 32
    Fahrenheit – 32 = Celsius x 180/100
    Fahrenheit – 32 = Celsius x 9/5

    Volume Conversions:

    1 Table-spoon = 3 Tea-spoons
    1 Pint = 32 Table-spoons
    1 Litre = 2.1133764210983674 Pints
    1 Gallon = 3.78541178 Litres
    1 Cubic-foot = 7.480519488424058 Gallons

    Area Conversions:

    1 square meter = 10.76391 square feet
    1 acre = 4046.8564224 square meters
    1 hectare = 2.4710538 acres
    1 square mile = 258.998811 hectares
    A Foot-ball pitch is 1.8 acres
    An American foot-ball pitch is 1.3 acres

    The GURU must now sleep.

  • A Broken Man (Story)

    Dr. GURU speaks,

    A couple walk into a busy pub. Around them draughts are downed and the spirits have God’s speed. They get their drinks and sit down.

    A group of blokes sit next to them on the table and a conversation ensues. With merriment, the rounds go round.

    Later on, the man excuses himself to go to the toilet. One of the blokes, having got friendly with the woman, seizes his chance and asks her if she has a boyfriend. "No. He's just a friend" she replies. "Jack-Pot" he thinks..."All I need now is to get this pesky friend out of the way". So he gets one of his mates to keep the "friend" pre-occupied.

    After a few minutes the man starts to head back to his woman, but is stopped in his tracks..."Why don't you stay here for a little longer. Besides, my mate is looking after her". The man now gets concerned..."Look here, she's my girlfriend!" he spurts out. "She says she's not, so get the hint!". Enraged by what is happening the man screams out "Don't you guys dare touch her". There is a punch-up, and the man gets beaten up and chucked out of the pub.

    The woman is oblivious to what has transpired, and continues drinking and laughing with the new bloke. She then gets a tap on the shoulder from one of the barmaids and is told that the man she came in with has been involved in a fight and has been barred from the pub. The woman is furious that the man has embarrassed her in her local drinking-hole and in front of her new friends. She doesn't want to waste a good night out and definitely doesn't want to spend the night with her out-of-control "boyfriend", and so decides to stay out.

    Meanwhile, the man is slouched on a corner-street with broken bones and a bloody face. He picks himself up and goes to her house to see if she is OK and to explain what has happened.

    By this time the woman has started to head home. Her new friend has offered to walk with her and she has gratefully accepted. On the way home she tells him of all her woes. They hold hands throughout and she is comforted. At her door she hugs and kisses her new friend. Thankful for being so well looked-after she exchanges telephone numbers with him. The boyfriend has been waiting round the corner all night for her, only to see her hand-in-hand and arm-in-arm with another man. He walks away a truly broken and defeated man.

    The next day, still not-having heard from his girlfriend, he goes to her house. On his way there he spots her with the new man having coffee. Dejected and sullen he limps home and wonders what he has done wrong.

    The next day he comes to her house again. She is not there. He is used to her running away, and decides to go to the coffee-shop to find her. She is there, but with another man. He does not know this man. There are many men whom are close to her. This may be just another friend, but he does not know. Plucking up courage, he approaches them and says hello. "I am"..."a friend" she finishes the sentence. The man, not wanting to cause a scene, complies.

    Later that night, the two speak on the phone and the woman says "You know you are still my boyfriend". With a broken heart and broken bones the man replies "I know".

    The GURU must now sleep.

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