NationStates Jolt Archive

anyone else see the great programe on Channel 4 (UK) tonight, chronicling both important parts of Einstein's famous equation and elements of the genious' life itself?
not only did i learn a shitload about the history of much of the science i take for granted, but also learned something new with regard to physics; namely why the electromagnetic has the magnetic moniker attached (always confused me before... not taught in school). from what i understand the electric energy and magnetic force are interwoven and interfere with each other, 'pushing' the elelectrisity down the wire - which is how energy is transferred between the vibrating atoms in copper wire for example. oddly they never taught us that at school...
from channel 4's website on the program:

Perhaps, [Faraday] thought, electromagnetism was the building block of light. Faraday struggled for many years to prove this theory because he lacked sufficient skills in mathematics to do so. But help was at hand. In the late 1850s, a young Scot, James Clerk Maxwell, and the aging Faraday began corresponding. When it came to mathematics, Maxwell excelled. More importantly, he was able to transform Faraday's often sketchy electromagnetic ideas into hard formulae. The result was crucial.

Maxwell proved mathematically that electricity can produce magnetism and magnetism produce electricity only at a particular velocity. The velocity was, he calculated, 670 million miles an hour – the velocity of light! Maxwell's mathematics vindicated Faraday's theory. Light was an expression of electricity and magnetism, interwoven and travelling at an incredible, and most importantly, fixed, speed.


ok i know there's far more to it than that with the whole 'sea of electrons' and electrons actually being just clouds of energy and all that crap (that i've thankfully forgotten since a-level), but i still never knew what force it was that caused a current to.... travel or move (for want of a better word)





anyways, anyone else watch this and find it as interesting as i did, or am i just a big geek? ;)

I just realized I forgot about the hows/whys of electromagnectic energy. Damn it, I've lost nerd points. I must repent. I didn't catch the program, since I happen to be in the wrong country for it.

Uhh.... pi/2?

Seriously, Einstein was a freaking genious. Imagine if another one comes into the field of physics.

I saw the programme, and thought the science story pretty good. But the cod French and German accents and acting .......... :headbang:

.......just as well there were a couple of good programmes on BBC2 I could flick over to when they got too much for me.

But it was good to see Meitner getting due credit, I've been a fan of hers for years.

Uhh.... pi/2?
My God that's the answer! you've just solved it! This will end all the earths problems!

lol the French accent were hilarious! :p

Incidentally, are you watching the Light Fantastic series on BBC2? It seems to be about to cover similar ground, with equally pretty pictures but much less atrocious acting.

Incidentally, are you watching the Light Fantastic series on BBC2? It seems to be about to cover similar ground, with equally pretty pictures but much less atrocious acting.
i would be but bed is calling me... night all :)

I was in the wrong country as well. Physics is a hobby of mine, I never went to school to study the subject in depth, but I like to think I have gained a relatively advanced knowledge through independent reading and open sessions of the university nearby. When it comes to physics I prefer theoretical and astrophysics (esp. Einstein's, Hawkings' and Greene's theories) because it seems like there is just a bit of philosophy sewn in. I really wish that there were programs like that on basic cable more often, like if NOVA had a better advertising department and I could know when they are on; plus they don’t show stuff about the String Theory or whatever breakthrough is going on often enough. Every time I do catch it it's like "Diving Deep for Treasure and Coral" or "Skeletons in the Closet: A Look into the Medici Family" or whatever. I guess I'll just have to shoot for digital cable or satellite.

Too busy watching extras. That's some funny shit.

By the way, I have here two interesting threads if anybody cares to read further about these complex topics.

The Shape of the Universe (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=438531&page=1&pp=15)

and

An Explanation for the Disappearance of Black Holes (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=417641)

Enjoy! :D

anyone else see the great programe on Channel 4 (UK) tonight, chronicling both important parts of Einstein's famous equation and elements of the genious' life itself?
not only did i learn a shitload about the history of much of the science i take for granted, but also learned something new with regard to physics; namely why the electromagnetic has the magnetic moniker attached (always confused me before... not taught in school). from what i understand the electric energy and magnetic force are interwoven and interfere with each other, 'pushing' the elelectrisity down the wire - which is how energy is transferred between the vibrating atoms in copper wire for example. oddly they never taught us that at school...
from channel 4's website on the program:

Electro-Magnetism is interwoven.... I did learn this in school; mostly because some of my "schooling" included Basic-Electricity and Electronics, Digital Theory and Semiconductor Theory (The last is some heavy stuff, to learn how a semiconductor [like a Transistor] works at a molecular level).

Magnetism itself is just an electromotive force. In reality it is merely a form of electrinical potential. Potential, in and of itself, is what causes electrons to "Travel down the wire"; this force can be "pushed" by magnetism, or by mere electrical potential. As electrons travel down a wire, they produce a magentic field.... the best illustrative relation is how an inductor works (a simple wire coil).... When a potential is placed across the conductor; electrons flow through the coil; a "current"; which in turn produce an magnetic field around the coil.... When the potential is removed from the coil; the field collapses; as the magnetic field crosses other parts of the coil in the collapse; it causes an electron flow in the coil; aka a "current". Potentiality alone is found in a component such as a Capacitor.... In terms of electronics, a capictor "stores" voltage (electric potential energy); whereas an inductor stored "current" (electrical kinetic energy). If constructed a small circuit composed of a capacitor and inductor; and then "charged" the capacitor; once the charge is removed; potential in the capictor causes current to flow through the loop as the capacitor discharges... this "current" flows through the inductor, causing it to build its magnetic field; untill the capacitor is discharged.... Once the capacitor is fully discharged; the magnetic field in the inductor collapses, generating current through the inductor (and the circuit it is attached to), cauing potential to build in the capacitor (charging it); once the inductor's field is completely collapsed, the capacitor's potential begins to discharge back through the circuit again.... The process repeating [and it would continue indefinitely; if not for the small energy loss in the system from "resistance" of the wires, and other component parts].


ok i know there's far more to it than that with the whole 'sea of electrons' and electrons actually being just clouds of energy and all that crap (that i've thankfully forgotten since a-level), but i still never knew what force it was that caused a current to.... travel or move (for want of a better word)

Well, the "current" itself is pushed in one of two ways; the "current" is merely the kinetic energy (magnetism); however "charge" (which is potential) can also push a "current" in the system. The two are inter-relative; but not exactly the same; they effect one another... But it is ultimately "potential" (charge); and not kinetics (magnetism) which drive the entire system; as it is "charge" which provides electrical stability to the atom (the potential between the nucleus of the atom, and it's electrons)


anyways, anyone else watch this and find it as interesting as i did, or am i just a big geek? ;)

No bigger a geek than many of us others... But hey, it's "geeks" now-a-days, which make the real money ;)

No bigger a geek than many of us others... But hey, it's "geeks" now-a-days, which make the real money ;)
Besides just the money making, it is my well observed belief that, like blonds, "geeks" have more fun. The only difference is we don't have to spend hours a day making ourselves look prettier or making people like us, we have stable geek friends that like us for who we are.

In the everlasting words of Stephen Lynch,
"I've got my 12 sided die and I'm ready to roll with my wizards and my goblin crew.
My friends are comin' over to my moms basement bringin the Funions and the Mountain Dew.
I've got a big broadsword made out of cardboard and the stereo's a pumpin' Zeppelin.
It's that time of the night we turn on the black light and let the Dungeons and the Dragons begin." :D

What fun nights I had, and when I met my first girlfriend (now my wife, sad huh :p ) I made sure she was atleast within two levels of me. I'm so cool :cool: