tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post1304300184544285744..comments2024-03-21T05:30:03.220-04:00Comments on Science teacher: Food is not energydoylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12901661320505882735noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-13467446701471914322012-02-08T17:33:52.258-05:002012-02-08T17:33:52.258-05:00Thanks, Mr. Doyle.
When I finish my current writi...Thanks, Mr. Doyle.<br /><br />When I finish my current writing projects (don't get too excited, it's a couple chess books), I hope to have time to start a science myths blog.David Rudelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513172651895503104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-59168158821592340722012-02-05T10:03:27.825-05:002012-02-05T10:03:27.825-05:00Dear David,
Criminy, I still have a review or two...Dear David,<br /><br />Criminy, I still have a review or two to do.<br /><br />I've been pushing the books. I'm not sure folks like being told much how confused they might be.<br /><br />Or maybe we're all so busy keeping up with nonsense that what matters slips away.<br /><br />Keep hammering.doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12901661320505882735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-10169572420180315262012-02-04T10:59:34.375-05:002012-02-04T10:59:34.375-05:00One of the most direct take-aways from the points ...One of the most direct take-aways from the points you bring up here is that we must be more careful about how we define roles like "producer."<br /><br />Often "producer" is defined as something that "makes its own food" or something that "gets its energy from the sun."<br /><br />Neither of these is either accurate or healthy to inculcate in young minds. A producer can build carbon dioxide into more complicated substances. That is the "production" that is going on.David Rudelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513172651895503104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-37749318626163370452012-01-22T11:16:08.592-05:002012-01-22T11:16:08.592-05:00Dear Sue,
I believe just under a a gram of matter...Dear Sue,<br /><br />I believe just under a a gram of matter was converted to energy in the bomb used at Nagasaki, though I need to check that.<br /><br />A gram.<br /><br />A slice of the brand of bread I eat weighs 36 grams, a <i>HUGE</i> amount of pure energy if it could be converted into such.<br /><br />Thankfully, though, the carbohydrates are just broken down into smaller pieces of stuff, but still stuff.<br /><br />I'm going to dodge the math question except to say that for an energy/mass equivalence, c^2 has to somehow be 1, and is, I guess, the conversion constant you're looking for.<br /><br />Or I may be utterly confused (again)--I'm sure David Rudel will be happy to straighten me out. =)<br /><br /><br />Dear Jenny,<br /><br />Pish posh! Go get one and use it wisely. The kids will be amazed. <br /><br />(To be fair, I'm not sure grabbing a propane torch for class is kosher in my district, either.)doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12901661320505882735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-63058154453935786732012-01-22T10:41:27.836-05:002012-01-22T10:41:27.836-05:00There is a lot for me to mull over here, but my qu...There is a lot for me to mull over here, but my quick, initial take-away is that I might have to become a high school science teacher if you can really just "grab a propane torch" at any time. I'm jealous.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04725549451973770515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-16687511987329349352012-01-22T10:21:35.347-05:002012-01-22T10:21:35.347-05:00Thank you.
I'm pretty sure I used to think th...Thank you.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure I used to think there was some mass to energy conversion going on in our bodies, and was puzzled by how huge an amount of energy is supposed to come from little amounts of mass (E=mc^2, but shouldn't there be a conversion constant in there? Are we measuring energy by kg*km^2/hr^2?).Sue VanHattumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com