explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

613: Threesome

2013-02-18T21:04:13Z

Dmaust: 613: initial explanation

{{comic
| number = 613
| date = July 22, 2009
| title = Threesome
| image = threesome.png
| titletext = I wanted us to try finding an approximate numeric solution, but noooo.
}}

==Explanation==
The {{w|N-body_problem|N-Body Problem}} in physics refers to our inability to analytically solve sets of differential equations modelling gravitational attraction between more than two bodies. In the comic, they describe a physicist's difficulty having a threesome due to his inability to find a closed-form solution. The title text suggests they should settle for a numerical solution since a closed form solution is unavailable.

==Transcript==
:Woman: We had a threesome last night.
:Man: How was it?
:
:Woman: Awkward -- it was with a physicist.
:Man: Why's that awkward?
:
:Woman: They can't solve the three-body problem.
:Man: Ah, yes.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]

384: The Drake Equation

2013-02-18T20:28:53Z

Dmaust: 384: initial explanation

{{comic
| number = 384
| date = February 15, 2008
| title = The Drake Equation
| image = the_drake_equation.png
| titletext = But seriously, there's loads of intelligent life. It's just not screaming constantly in all directions on the handful of frequencies we search.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic explains the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_equation Drake equation] which is a model for estimating the number of life forms in our galaxy. It adds a factor for the "Amount of bullshit you're willing to buy from Francis Drake." This is most likely due to the factors being difficult to measure or estimate with sufficient accuracy for determining a concrete number.

==Transcript==
:The Drake Equation:
:N = R * f_p n_e f_l f_i f_c L B_s
:N: Number of communicating civilizations in our galaxy
:n_e: Number of life-supporting planets per solar system
:f_i: Probability that life on a planet becomes intelligent
:B_s: Amount of bullshit you're willing to buy from Francis Drake

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics with color]]

793: Physicists

2013-02-17T22:43:06Z

Dmaust: 793: initial explanation.

{{comic
| number = 793
| date = September 15, 2010
| title = Physicists
| image = physicists.png
| titletext = If you need some help with the math, let me know, but that should be enough to get you started! Huh? No, I don't need to read your thesis, I can imagine roughly what it says.
}}

==Explanation==
In this comic, it shows a view that many physics students believe every field can modeled using an over-simplified model. This argument is similar to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spherical_cow Spherical Cow] and idea that basic models taught in early physics classes only working in friction-less vacuums as shown in [[669:_Experiment]].

==Transcript==
:A man stands at a blackboard covered in equations and diagrams, an open laptop and scattered paper at his feet. His fists are balled in anger and there is a little angry squiggle over his head. A second man stands behind him, arms out in a shrug.
:((Words in <> are gray.))
:Second man: You're trying to predict the behavior of <complicated system>? Just model it as a <simple object>, and then add some secondary terms to account for <complications I just thought of>. -- Easy, right? -- So, why does <your field> need a whole journal, anyway?
:Liberal-arts majors may be annoying sometimes, but there's
:nothing
: more obnoxious than a physicist first encountering a new subject.

{{comic discussion}}

250: Snopes

2013-02-17T22:27:42Z

Dmaust: 250: initial explanation.

{{comic
| number = 250
| date = April 18, 2007
| title = Snopes
| image = snopes.png
| titletext = The MythBusters are even more sinister.
}}

==Explanation==
Snopes is a popular website for checking the validity of urban legends. In the comic, an urban legend is introduced about Snopes running a spam operations. The one character would like to disprove the urban legend, but realizes to do so he would need to quote Snopes.

==Transcript==
:Another urban legend? You should check out Snopes before sending me this stuff.
:Oops; yeah.
:Man, Snopes is really great--independent fact-checkers trawling our collective discourse, filtering out misinformation.
:Yeah, but they have their dark side. The couple that runs snopes.com also runs a network of spam servers that start many of those forwarded stories in the first place, ensuring they'll always have business.
:That's absurd. Plus, it's definitely not true--it was debunked by...
:Yes?
:... Oh my God.

{{comic discussion}}

411: Techno

2013-02-17T22:11:13Z

Dmaust: 411: initial explanation

{{comic
| number = 411
| date = April 16, 2008
| title = Techno
| image = techno.png
| titletext = I don't know what's worse -- that there exists broken-hard-drive-sound techno, or that it's not half bad.
}}

==Explanation==
The guy in this comic points out that due to the repetitive nature of techno music, the iTunes 15 second sample can be used to recreate the entire song. The title text refers to the clicking and grinding noises dead hard drives make. He indicates that it sounds similar to some techno songs.

==Transcript==
:Guy looking over girl's shoulder while girl is clicking her mouse with her other hand on her chin
:Guy: Wait, you're buying techno on iTunes?
:Girl: Yeah. So?
:Guy: Couldn't you just loop the 15-second free sample 20 times and get basically the same thing?

{{comic discussion}}

129: Content Protection

2013-02-17T02:08:41Z

Dmaust: Missing _ in image filename.

{{comic
| number = 129
| date = July 17, 2006
| title = Content Protection
| image = content_protection.png
| titletext = If you think the purveyors of DRM simply want to protect artists, check out chapters 13 and 14 in Free Culture, by Lawrence Lessig. Their goal is the elimination of all culture they don't control.
}}

==Explanation==
This is in reference to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-bandwidth_Digital_Content_Protection HDCP], the standard used for protecting content passed over an HDMI interface. It also illustrates the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_hole analog hole] created by providing the content to the viewer.

==Transcript==
:Content Protection System:
:A woman sits on a couch watching a large flat-panel television, connected to a box labeled HDMI
:The screen is labeled with "Approved screen"
:The cable is labeled with "Approved connection"
:The HDMI box is labeled with "Approved player"
:The woman's head is labeled with "Approved content"

{{comic discussion}}

129: Content Protection

2013-02-17T02:07:04Z

Dmaust: Update date format to match wiki standard.

{{comic
| number = 129
| date = July 17, 2006
| title = Content Protection
| image = content protection.png
| titletext = If you think the purveyors of DRM simply want to protect artists, check out chapters 13 and 14 in Free Culture, by Lawrence Lessig. Their goal is the elimination of all culture they don't control.
}}

==Explanation==
This is in reference to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-bandwidth_Digital_Content_Protection HDCP], the standard used for protecting content passed over an HDMI interface. It also illustrates the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_hole analog hole] created by providing the content to the viewer.

==Transcript==
:Content Protection System:
:A woman sits on a couch watching a large flat-panel television, connected to a box labeled HDMI
:The screen is labeled with "Approved screen"
:The cable is labeled with "Approved connection"
:The HDMI box is labeled with "Approved player"
:The woman's head is labeled with "Approved content"

{{comic discussion}}

129: Content Protection

2013-02-17T02:05:09Z

Dmaust: Creating initial explanation for comic 129

{{comic
| number = 129
| date = 7/17/2006
| title = Content Protection
| image = content protection.png
| titletext = If you think the purveyors of DRM simply want to protect artists, check out chapters 13 and 14 in Free Culture, by Lawrence Lessig. Their goal is the elimination of all culture they don't control.
}}

==Explanation==
This is in reference to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-bandwidth_Digital_Content_Protection HDCP], the standard used for protecting content passed over an HDMI interface. It also illustrates the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_hole analog hole] created by providing the content to the viewer.

==Transcript==
:Content Protection System:
:A woman sits on a couch watching a large flat-panel television, connected to a box labeled HDMI
:The screen is labeled with "Approved screen"
:The cable is labeled with "Approved connection"
:The HDMI box is labeled with "Approved player"
:The woman's head is labeled with "Approved content"

{{comic discussion}}