Pat Says

I thought it could only approach the speed that the particles are being accelerated at, which was rouhgly 200 thousand miles an hour. Oh, to put the thrust into perspective, I read somewhere that it is equivalent to the force of a peice of paper resting on your hand. edit* I have another question too, about different sources of 'fuel' for the ion engine. Isn't there something out there better than Xenon? I mean xenon is heavy and will provide high amounts of momentum but I think its ionization energy is too high... meaning more energy required to ionize it. So, I was looking at the table and I saw cesium. It has an incredibly low ionization energy and is heavier than xenon (like only 1 a.m.u. but still, more is better). I know that since it is on the far left bottom corner that it is excessively corrosive, but I wouldn't think that would matter so long as it doesn't come in contact with the metal. If it has to go through a magnetic chamber anyways what does it matter? I don't think it is radioactive either. So why not the switch to Cesium?

It's not easy? Pssh, sounds like something I could build in my basement. I think it should be in the news more to spark the average person's interest. If that happens then funding will increase and it will come to fruition faster.

Ha, that is kind of funny. You mean if there is no air current right? "would it even burn at all? ..maybe it would go out straight away... Maybe it would take for ever to burn...and be really weak ?" Thats only dependent on the amount of oxygen and fuel source available.

Yeah, otherwise you would have to switch witch integral is being subtracted from the other ( I think..)

Thanks . Yeah, I don't know what motive he would have... maybe he is trying to be a master UFO summoner, he looks like he about level 29 . But seriously, this is kind of weird.

Has anyone ever heard of Bigelow Aerospace? Here is a link to the site: http://www.bigelowaerospace.com This would be so awesome... I hope he follows through with it. The guy has a lot of money (owns a hotel chain in Las Vegas) and he has wanted to do it since he was like 14 so he's in it because it's his dream (not saying he wont do it for the profit too:) ). Maybe some competition could start to arise between him and Richard Branson (Virgin Galactic... http://www.virgingalactic.com/en/ ). I think there are a few others too. One of these has to make it right? Unfortunately, I don't think NASA will push space enough... it's probably going to be up to the private companies with single goal ideas and more money. Bigelow is much more frugal too, which, NASA is not very much at all.

Might switching the variables produce a sign error though? Edit: arg... Im too tired... it won't matter with area.

Some guy claims to be able to summon U.F.O.'s. Here is the video: U.F.O. Summon Looks pretty convincing with the News and stuff but, I am very skeptical. I thought it might be a weather balloon but it seems to be moving to fast. Here is the guy's site: http://www.prophetyahweh.com/ From June 1st he said in 45 days something big will happen like it staying over Las Vegas for a couple of days for everyone to see. I personally don't believe it but it's still pretty interesting.

Yeah, I'm just saying that something that could be that monumental should have a little more interest put into it.

Haha, yeah, same here. I took BC Calc and AP Bio as a sophomore. I think I did horrible on the multiple choice... but I think I did pretty well on the essays. I'm hoping for a 4 :/.

What'd you use as an electrolyte (we're looking for a better one)? We tried CaCl once but I don't think it worked as well.

Lol, true, the party is starting to get a little crowded when 6 billion are invited.

Ah sweet, I hope its less than 80 because I think I made a few stupid, iffy mistakes on the BC exam .

No way... usually all you have to get is around an 80% (what my calc and bio teacher said) and you'll get a 5. They give you a score after they grade all of them and they go by a certain percentile where they cut it off (at least that is what my teacher told us). I thought BC Calc was pretty easy... didnt hafta put much effort in it, just did the assigned hw and that was it. I've heard physics was easy except the physics C has some difficult to apply math in it. For me, so far, Biology has been the hardest (I've only had two AP classes so far though:) ). AP bio was hard for me because I hadn't had regular Bio like everyone else in my school had. From what I hear from everyone else at my school is that AP chem is the hardest... fortunately it's tied for my best subject with math so I shouldn't have tooo many problems with it.

How are we overpopulated? I think I read somewhere that everyone in the world could live in texas with room to spare (albeit rather cramped). Yeah, evolution would be at a standstill but, I'm guessing we could alter our own genes in the future to produce 'super-genes' taking the place of evolution. Plus you could still produce offspring and they will gradually evolve and we could change our genes to be more similar to it. Plus like you said, natural, freak accidents would whittle the population somewhat. Would this be enough to drive ahead and push new boundaries you think? Hmm I should do a search on the number of instant deaths every year. edit: I did some figuring.. In 1996 669 people out of every 1,200,000 died in a car crash. That is approximately 0.06% of all people or about 6 out of every 10,000. The total death rate for 1996 is about 27,335 out of every 1,200,000. That is approximately 2.28% of all people or about 228 out of every 10,000. 38 times the living rate... hmm...

Forensics eh? Sounds really cool but, I've always wanted to know, is CSI actually realistic or not?

Ah, ok, that makes sense now. Thanks for clearing this up . Oh btw I was just wondering what school you go/went to because I was thinking of going into chemistry (or atomic physics) and was wondering what school would be good. (I'm assuming that you have some sort of chemistry degree.)

Immortality would be sweet... because then overpopulation would occur... and that would force space exploration and colonization! Plus I'd get to live forever and watch technology grow and join in on it . It wouldn't be a long lonely life because everyone around you would be living a long time so it would seem normal.

Ahhh sweet.. so when I said you need a higher amount of salt to produce the chlorine and keep that oxygen 'at bay' I was right?

I think it would be reduced (where you put the question marks). Oh jeez I am sooo stupid. The anode is positive... not negative... that was my error (it was semantics afterall). I got it confused with anion (negatively charged ion) and cation (positively charged ion). WHy do they mix it up like that? And I am pretty sure it is reduced because it is picking up free electrons in the system (from the electrodes).

Yeah, that's what I was saying... maybe me and woelen are debating over a silly semantics error. Anode = -electrode and cathode = +electrode But, it still hasn't been explained completely as to why oxygen will be released with the chlorine because, like I said (and read), the oxygen combines in the liquid with the salt to form hydroxl ions. So I stil think, maybe, that it will be pure chlorine afterall. (does anyone else know for sure?)

Ever heard of cathode ray tubes (in t.v.s etc.)? It's the same thing. Also.. if you have heard of ion engines (deep space one) its just an ion gun on a larger scale... I studied a lot about ion engines and so should know all the basic premises for the ion gun... you can pm if you have any questions.

Woah... I see where the potential of Quantum computers lie. I could carry around my effing pocket quantum computer and put today's fastest supercomputer to shame. Does the government not realize this? I would be putting lots of money into this and the education of it. That's incredible. Thanks for all the explanations and the links, they are great. edit* and with that amount of computing power it has got to be about equal if not greater to our brains abilities... meaning AI!

Ahh sweet... so I was right about lowering the voltage (that was just a guess because it would lower the rate of water being split but ionic bonds are easier to split). I still don't understand... why would the negatively charged chlorine be attracted to the negatively charged anode? (and vice versa w/the Na+)

Sweet, this information could greatly speed up our collecting process . haha unitednuclear... I love that site.