tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post4804339791003705727..comments2023-11-10T04:17:00.492-05:00Comments on View From The Porch: Strained comparison.Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-51810945890839613872008-05-25T11:29:00.000-04:002008-05-25T11:29:00.000-04:00isn't a supernova actually a giant fusion bomb?isn't a supernova actually a giant fusion bomb?Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16200955977200733006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-35551065900505396092008-05-25T02:26:00.000-04:002008-05-25T02:26:00.000-04:00Well, darn you, you've made me look it up.Accordin...Well, darn you, you've made me look it up.<BR/><BR/>According to <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernova" REL="nofollow">Wikipedia</A> a white dwarf supernova emits about 10^44 joules in a few seconds.<BR/><BR/>Also according to <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megaton" REL="nofollow">Wikipedia</A>, a megaton bomb (about the largest effective nuke) releases about 4 x 10^15 joules.<BR/><BR/>Estimates of firecracker energy release vary widely, ranging from 30 to 4000 joules. <BR/><BR/>Turns out that Tam's estimate of firecracker versus nuke is spot on, if you assume a 3000 joule firecracker. 4 x 10^15 joules (nuke) divided by 3 x 10^3 joules (firecracker) is about 1.3 x 10^12, which is close enough to a trillion. Good job Tam! :-)Parallelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16783124953758216044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-54703550264769673562008-05-22T11:25:00.000-04:002008-05-22T11:25:00.000-04:00*snort*I'm working on visualisations for a new fus...*snort*<BR/><BR/>I'm working on visualisations for a new fusion project at the moment. It pops up in the nooz from time to time. <BR/><BR/>Always - without fail - inducing a Migraine Salute. Teh atom boms will kill <I>all</I> the babies, you know. And the puppies.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730143528740977761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-43986442949269318502008-05-22T10:53:00.000-04:002008-05-22T10:53:00.000-04:00What SPF sunscreen do you need to watch a supernov...What SPF sunscreen do you need to watch a supernova?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-42693134484336375432008-05-22T10:44:00.000-04:002008-05-22T10:44:00.000-04:00Well, the problem resides in that there isn't anyt...Well, the problem resides in that there isn't anything close to a supernova that the humans comprehend. Its like saying the US national debt would buy 18 trillion ho-hos.<BR/><BR/>At very large numbers or magnitudes, humans fail to comprehend the size of the, in this case, explosion. If not a nuclear bomb, what DO you compare it to? You don't.José Gigantéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00808360534075501817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-83476937303383076702008-05-22T08:11:00.000-04:002008-05-22T08:11:00.000-04:00To be fair, as the internet has shown repeatedly, ...To be fair, as the internet has shown repeatedly, Americans don't have the market cornered on ignorance and brute stupidity. What we have here is rather like trying to explain a Hemi Cuda to a Eurodandy that only knows a Vespa. Pigs don't sing, but you can piss 'em off...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-23704218921575893322008-05-22T07:57:00.000-04:002008-05-22T07:57:00.000-04:00Is it? Is it really?Is it? Is it <I>really</I>?Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-67559934310696653592008-05-22T07:43:00.000-04:002008-05-22T07:43:00.000-04:00Well, it's better than leaving it at "Exploding st...Well, it's better than leaving it at "Exploding stars, or supernovas, are so powerful they're whamdigious."Dr. StrangeGunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03349076338197668654noreply@blogger.com