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Posted By: of troy new science words - 02/23/02 08:58 PM
science is a frequent topic here, so i thought we all might enjoy these scientific definations..
they are from
A SCIENCE PRIMER FOR ANY READERS WHO RICHLY DESERVE TO GET TAUGHT A LESSON
by STEVE MIRSKY
a link is provided at the end..

1.)In Einstein's famous equation E = mc2, the mc stands for the introduction of his guests for the evening.

2.)A watt is often the beginning of an interrogative sentence. Joules are what a nice sword is encrusted with. An erg is a desire.

3.)A cotyledon was a late Triassic dinosaur with a brain the size of a seed.

4.)3.14159 is a large piece of pi.

5.)In computer language, binary code means that you owe one.

6.)Greenwich mean time refers to four in the morning, when the bars close in New York City's West Village.

7.)In electromagnetic energy, wavelength is defined as the speed of light divided by the frequency, Kenneth.

8.)Entomology is the other one; you're thinking of etymology.

9.)A Fourier transform is a mathematical manipulation by which a chinchilla turns into a coat.

10.)The Bernoulli principle describes a flow of air that forces Mrs. Bernoulli to sleep in the guest bedroom.

11.)Prime numbers are whatever Alan Greenspan says they are.

12.)Continental drift is when your limo wanders into oncoming traffic.

13.)The Nobel Prize is an award given for the year's best door knocker.

14.)The sine is the guy who gets a loan. The cosine is the guy who pays off the loan. The tangent is the guy in Rio who actually spends the money.

15.)Parthenogenesis is the creation of Greek architecture.

16.)Anthropology is when your uncle has to say he's sorry to his wife. (This actually happens in some places.)

17.)The hypotenuse is a type of syringe that holds 10 shots.

18.)A ramjet is anyone who played football for the Rams and the Jets. The most famous ramjet is Joe Namath, who was an expert in field theory.

19.)The force F with which you can pound something is equivalent to m, which stands for mallet, times a, which stands for the body part into which you should pound it.

20.)The phalanges is a mighty river. The metatarsals are pouch-bearing mammals. And the humerus is working as hard as he can.

http://www.sciam.com/2002/0202issue/0202antimatter.html


Posted By: jmh Re: new science words - 02/23/02 11:57 PM
>9.)A Fourier transform is a mathematical manipulation by which a chinchilla turns into a coat.

So the computerised version - a fast fourier transformation - must just give you a fur collar.

Posted By: Max Quordlepleen . - 02/24/02 01:16 AM
Posted By: Capital Kiwi Re: new science words - 02/24/02 05:43 AM
>9.)A Fourier transform is a mathematical manipulation by which a chinchilla turns into a coat.

So the computerised version - a fast fourier transformation - must just give you a fur collar.


Damn, you beat me to it, Jo. For me, the fast Fourier Transformation actually gives you a fur coat made of pelts which weren't tanned or cured first ... Does something smell around here?

Posted By: wwh Re: new science words - 02/24/02 06:07 PM
This old curmudgeon was BS when I found Mirsky's merry maunderings in Scientific American.

Posted By: Jackie Re: new science words - 02/24/02 06:10 PM
Oh, Helen, I am rolling! Thank you for posting these! Couple comments:
the mc stands for the introduction of his guests for the evening.
Well, of course--it would be impolite to remain seated.

a mathematical manipulation by which a chinchilla turns into a coat.
Gosh, that's nothing--every time I come home, I turn into my driveway; no math involved!

Parthenogenesis is the creation of Greek architecture.
It isn't?

The hypotenuse is a type of syringe that holds 10 shots.
This one took me a minute...




Posted By: Geoff Re: new science words - 02/24/02 06:37 PM
The hypotenuse is a type of syringe that holds 10 shots.

This obtuse observation doesn't square with me. Just what's your angle?

Posted By: of troy Re: new science words - 02/24/02 06:57 PM
This Hypo (dermic needle)is good for ten (10) use(s).

my favorite is #8
8.)Entomology is the other one; you're thinking of etymology.--it drives me buggy!

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