Editing 2539: Flinch
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
+ | {{incomplete|Created by a WOUNDED POSTMED STUDENT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
− | [[Cueball]] is performing [https://youtu.be/4a0FbQdH3dY?t=1518 a common | + | [[Cueball]] is performing [https://youtu.be/4a0FbQdH3dY?t=1518 a common demonstration of conservation of energy] to a group of bystanders with different science backgrounds: A bowling ball hung on a pendulum. He asks if they'll flinch after the ball is released and swings toward them on its return arc. Black Hat sets up a bowling ball pendulum in [[1670: Laws of Physics]], but sets it up improperly on purpose in an attempt to hurt Cueball. |
− | [[Megan]] | + | The first bystander, a physicist ([[Megan]]) understands the principles of the experiment and claims she won't flinch. She knows that, as long as it's just ''released'' (as opposed to being pushed) in still air, then the ball won't return further than its point of release. (If the experiment is conducted outdoors, then it is possible for a sudden wind gust to blow the ball enough for it to return further than its point of release; however, this is unlikely with a bowling ball, which has a large mass compared to its surface area.) |
− | [[Hairy]] | + | The second bystander, a biologist ([[Hairy]]) seems to indicate that he expects to flinch, but he feels this is natural and doesn't intend to fight it. It is natural, and in fact the body comes with many kinds of {{w|Reflex|automatic reflexes}}. In [[1670: Laws of Physics]], Randall makes a very similar comment in the title text. |
− | [[Ponytail]], | + | The third bystander, an engineer ([[Ponytail]]), knows practice usually differs from theory. She answers Cueball's |
+ | question by declaring that she doesn't trust him. Cueball is holding the ball so the | ||
+ | string is visibly curved, not stretched, as when the ball pendulums back. The string and ball | ||
+ | thus start with greater gravitational potential energy (height) and elastic potential energy | ||
+ | than when the ball swings back to the same position over the floor. | ||
+ | The excess energy means a near even chance the ball may move past its starting point on | ||
+ | the first swing, and sometimes pass or not on following swings. | ||
− | + | In the title text, a premed student tries to get course work done. {{w|Pre-medical}} university courses require students to undertake a certain amount of study in specific areas; one of those areas being physics. They also have a reputation for being more intensive than other undergraduate degrees, so the student is portrayed as being very stressed and time-conscious. They ask if participating in the demonstration will contribute towards their course credit in physics, the implication being they do not consider it worthwhile otherwise. | |
− | + | Shortening the string the ball is suspended from would shorten the period of the pendulum, thus reducing the time it takes to complete the demonstration. Again the student asks if this can be done to save time, although obviously the few seconds difference made would be utterly inconsequential within the context of an entire degree. | |
− | + | They also ask if they can do a variant of the demonstration where they ''are'' deliberately hit in the face. This would likely injure them, but they want to use this to their advantage because they have a "thing for first aid training" after the demonstration. It's not clear how this would help, although it could potentially help ''others'' learn first aid by having them practice on the new injury. | |
− | + | ==Transcript== | |
+ | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
− | + | :[Cueball holds a bowling ball attached to a string. He is talking to Megan, Hairy, and Ponytail. Between Cueball and the other three is a cross in a circle on the floor.] | |
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− | :[Cueball holds a bowling ball | ||
:Cueball: If you stand with the bowling ball in front of your face and let go, will you flinch when it swings back? | :Cueball: If you stand with the bowling ball in front of your face and let go, will you flinch when it swings back? | ||
− | :[ | + | :[Caption: Physicist] |
− | |||
:Megan: I won't flinch. | :Megan: I won't flinch. | ||
:Megan: I trust conservation of energy. | :Megan: I trust conservation of energy. | ||
− | :[ | + | :[Caption: Biologist] |
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:Hairy: I trust my flinch reflex, which was honed by millions of years of evolution to protect my delicate face. I'm not messing with it. | :Hairy: I trust my flinch reflex, which was honed by millions of years of evolution to protect my delicate face. I'm not messing with it. | ||
− | :[ | + | :[Caption: Engineer] |
− | |||
:Ponytail: I don't trust that you hung that thing up correctly. | :Ponytail: I don't trust that you hung that thing up correctly. | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]] | ||
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