Page 100 - August 2015 Life In Naples Magazine

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE ELEMENTS
THAT CONSTITUTE EARTH AND MANY OTHER OBJECTS?

The universe started with the big bang. Following some cooling the elements of the universe consisted almost completely of hydrogen and
helium, the smallest elements. Today, after almost 14 billion years the universe is still similar with 73 percent hydrogen and 25 percent helium.
The big change in that time is that heavier elements have been created which now constitute about 2 percent of the elements in the universe.
It is these heavier elements that make up most of earth and many other planets and moons.

When the hydrogen in a star begins to deplete the star expands up to 1,000 times its former size and becomes a red giant. Without an
adequate hydrogen supply the helium atoms begin to unite forming heavier elements. It then progresses to become a large supernova. The
stars life ends with a huge explosion where all of elements at blown great distances into space. Our earth is really the ashes of a long dead stars.

DO PITCHED BASEBALLS REALLY CURVE?

Yes, baseballs really curve up to as much as 14 inches from the path that they left the pitchers hand.
If the pitched ball has a counter clock wise spin the balls left surface will have air passing it at the
speed of the ball plus the linear movement of the surface of the spinning ball. The right side will have
air movement of the speed of the ball minus the spin surface velocity. The faster moving air on the left
side will exert a lower pressure on the ball than that on the right. This difference in pressure causes the
ball to curve left.

The same principle works on golf balls wherein slices and hooks are caused by clockwise or
counterclockwise spins on the ball. Because of its long flight a badly sliced golf ball can curve as much
as 450. A ball with no spin will proceed straight without curving.

WHAT IS THUNDER?

When a lightning discharge occurs it heats the air in the discharge to around 50,000o F.,
hotter than the surface of the sun. This rapid heating and expansion of air creates a shock wave,
which is known as thunder.

The distance of the lightning from an observer can be determined by counting the seconds
between the light flash and the thunder sound. Light travels very fast, 186,282 miles per second,
and thus arrives at the observer almost instantaneously. Sound travels much slower, about 1,100
feet per second in air.Thus each second between the flash and the sound determines the distance
to the strike. For example, if the time is five seconds then the strike is about a mile away.

HOW CAN A FIXED TV ANTENNA STAY
AIMED AT A FAST MOVING SATELLITE?

This is accomplished by placing the satellite 22,400 miles above the equator. In this position
the satellite revolves around the earth at the same speed that the earth rotates.Thus with respect
to the earth the satellite is in a fixed position even though it is moving at a high velocity.

WHY DO MOVING BICYCLES STAY UPRIGHT?

It was initially thought that a bicycle remained upright because of the gyroscopic effect
of the spinning wheels. That may play a small effect but experimentally constructed bikes
with counter wheels, which cancelled out the gyroscopic effect also stayed upright. A bike
sent forward on its own without a rider as seen below will correct itself and stay vertical as
long as a reasonable velocity is maintained. If a riderless bicycle is sent down a slight incline
it will remain vertical and proceed a long distance on its own. Amazingly, the process is not
fully understood but it relates to the fact that the contact point of the front wheel is behind
the axis point of the steering column thus the front wheel follows along as does the front
caster on a shopping cart. Another demonstration of this stability is that a bike rider can
go long distances without touching the handlebars.

100 Life in Naples | August • September • October 2015