Dr. Entropy Presents: SCIENCE!
Here's a rough draft of an article I'm planning on sending in to Monster Clutter. If you like, suggest some constructive criticism... because... as we all know..... I am by no means a decent writer. Like... if something sounds too sciencey and is not explained well enough for you, tell me and I'll think up a way to reexplain it.
If it's well-received (i.e. if it actually gets in), I may write more.
And... I may draw random art stuff to go with this depending on what Angelo and Derek think..... because I don't want to draw anything if it doesn't get in.
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Dr. Entropy Presents: SCIENCE!
I. The Shocking Truth About Lightning
It has always been my opinion that the majority of earth's sheeple are lousy, uneducated, mindless drones who never took my work seriously and deserve punishment for their insolence at the hands of a far more improved--Well, they're certainly ignorant of the one thing that keeps their world in perfect running order. That's right, SCIENCE! SCIENCE keeps your blood pumping oxygen and needed nutrients to every part of your body. SCIENCE keeps you firmly attached by gravity to the planet you like so much. SCIENCE dictates the chemical processes in your brain that allows you to feel emotion. SCIENCE is love. Science is passion. SCIENCE is power. SCIENCE IS EVERYTHING!
Ahem.
Sorry if I got a little carried away.... The point is I have come out of my secret underground laboratory with the intention of educating the people. Then, with an educated populace, more will be willing to accept me as the genius I am, and not the crazed power hungry loon you expect me to be.
Just like Benjamin Franklin in 1752 with his soaring kite, human beings have always been fascinated by lightning. I, myself, have done many an experiment involving the atmospheric discharge of static electricity. From making a giant robot that shoots lightning bolts for destroying my enemies to raising the dead (Dr. Frankenstein's got nothing on me), lightning has been very useful in my mad attempts at ruling the world scientific research.
But how does it work? The truth might be--shocking! Wahaha! Sorry about the pun, I don't really get out much.
Many of you might have experienced a stinging shock after dragging your feet across a carpeted room to touch a door knob. This, as you well know, is called a static shock, or static electricity. As you drag your feet on the carpet, your body is picking up excited electrons from the molecules in the carpet. When you reach for the doorknob, the electrons jump causing a spark. Lightning works in a similar manner, but on a larger scale.
Within the cloud, there are many, many electrons giving off their charges. Clouds tend to have a negatively charged bottom, and a positively charged top. When the difference in charge is great enough, a lightning flash takes place. This evens out the charges and an equilibrium occurs.
In simpler terms, the strong attraction between the negative cloud and the positive ground pulls electrons from the cloud to the ground in one large flash of static electricity. Just like your negatively charged hand and the positive doorknob.
Now that you have a general idea of how lightning works, lets make our own miniature lightning, shall we?
You'll need...
Scissors
A Styrofoam Tray (Check out your local supermarket. You can go to the meat or bakery section and ask for a clean, unused tray. They're pretty cheap, so you'll have no problem acquiring one.)
Masking Tape
An Aluminum Pie Tin
1. Cut a piece off one corner of the Styrofoam tray like a long bent piece that looks a little like a hockey stick. This will be your handle, so make sure there is enough for you to hold onto to avoid getting shocked.
2. Using the masking tape, attatch the bent piece to the center of the pie tin. Make sure you put the handle inside the tin, and not on the bottom. Now it's a handle! How cool!
3. Using what's left of the original Styrofoam tray, rub the bottom of the tray on your hair. Rub it all over, really fast. Go crazy.
4. Put the tray upside down on any solid, uncluttered surface.
5. Use the handle to pick up the pie tin. Hold it about a foot over the Styrofoam tray and drop it.
6. Now--very slowly--touch the tip of your finger to the pie tin. You should get a spark. What a spark! (Be careful. DON'T touch the Styrofoam tray. If you do, you won't get a spark.)
7. Use the handle to pick up the pie tin again. Touch the tin with the tip of your finger. Wow! You get another great spark.
8. Drop the pie tin onto the Styrofoam tray again. Touch the pie tin. Another spark! Use the handle to pick up the pie tin. More sparks!
9. You can do this over and over for a long time. If the pie tin stops giving you a spark, just rub the Styrofoam tray on your head again, and start over. Why not try it in the dark next? You can see the sparks a whole lot better.
Congratulations, scientist! You have just made your very own lightning! Now, can you make your own lightning gun to destroy your enemies? You have all the knowledge you need. Good luck, scientists!
Science Fiction?
NO, SCIENCE FACT!
-Lightning can travel at speeds of 60,000 m/s.
-It can reach temperatures of 30,000°C (which is close to 54,000°F!)
-Pure water doesn't conduct electricity. If your sweat or other bodily fluids mix in with water the ions they form conduct electricity. this is why you're told to stay out of water in Thunder Storms.
-Lightning can occur in ash clouds after a volcanic eruption.
-High speed videos (examined frame-by frame) show that most lightning strikes are made up of multiple individual strokes. A typical strike is made of 3 to 4 strokes.
-Lightning can travel cloud to ground, ground to cloud, or cloud to cloud. It's not always cloud to ground.
Remember, playing God can get you ostracized by your family and friends. Who needs 'em anyway? If you need a reference for the league of Super Evil, you can always call me. I don't mind helping out fellow mad scientists.... as long as they don't get too powerful
Until next time,
Dr. Entropy
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After reading through this, again... I've decided I could probably have my own science kids show.
God, that would be awesome.
If it's well-received (i.e. if it actually gets in), I may write more.
And... I may draw random art stuff to go with this depending on what Angelo and Derek think..... because I don't want to draw anything if it doesn't get in.
----------------------------------------------
Dr. Entropy Presents: SCIENCE!
I. The Shocking Truth About Lightning
It has always been my opinion that the majority of earth's sheeple are lousy, uneducated, mindless drones who never took my work seriously and deserve punishment for their insolence at the hands of a far more improved--Well, they're certainly ignorant of the one thing that keeps their world in perfect running order. That's right, SCIENCE! SCIENCE keeps your blood pumping oxygen and needed nutrients to every part of your body. SCIENCE keeps you firmly attached by gravity to the planet you like so much. SCIENCE dictates the chemical processes in your brain that allows you to feel emotion. SCIENCE is love. Science is passion. SCIENCE is power. SCIENCE IS EVERYTHING!
Ahem.
Sorry if I got a little carried away.... The point is I have come out of my secret underground laboratory with the intention of educating the people. Then, with an educated populace, more will be willing to accept me as the genius I am, and not the crazed power hungry loon you expect me to be.
Just like Benjamin Franklin in 1752 with his soaring kite, human beings have always been fascinated by lightning. I, myself, have done many an experiment involving the atmospheric discharge of static electricity. From making a giant robot that shoots lightning bolts for destroying my enemies to raising the dead (Dr. Frankenstein's got nothing on me), lightning has been very useful in my mad attempts at ruling the world scientific research.
But how does it work? The truth might be--shocking! Wahaha! Sorry about the pun, I don't really get out much.
Many of you might have experienced a stinging shock after dragging your feet across a carpeted room to touch a door knob. This, as you well know, is called a static shock, or static electricity. As you drag your feet on the carpet, your body is picking up excited electrons from the molecules in the carpet. When you reach for the doorknob, the electrons jump causing a spark. Lightning works in a similar manner, but on a larger scale.
Within the cloud, there are many, many electrons giving off their charges. Clouds tend to have a negatively charged bottom, and a positively charged top. When the difference in charge is great enough, a lightning flash takes place. This evens out the charges and an equilibrium occurs.
In simpler terms, the strong attraction between the negative cloud and the positive ground pulls electrons from the cloud to the ground in one large flash of static electricity. Just like your negatively charged hand and the positive doorknob.
Now that you have a general idea of how lightning works, lets make our own miniature lightning, shall we?
You'll need...
Scissors
A Styrofoam Tray (Check out your local supermarket. You can go to the meat or bakery section and ask for a clean, unused tray. They're pretty cheap, so you'll have no problem acquiring one.)
Masking Tape
An Aluminum Pie Tin
1. Cut a piece off one corner of the Styrofoam tray like a long bent piece that looks a little like a hockey stick. This will be your handle, so make sure there is enough for you to hold onto to avoid getting shocked.
2. Using the masking tape, attatch the bent piece to the center of the pie tin. Make sure you put the handle inside the tin, and not on the bottom. Now it's a handle! How cool!
3. Using what's left of the original Styrofoam tray, rub the bottom of the tray on your hair. Rub it all over, really fast. Go crazy.
4. Put the tray upside down on any solid, uncluttered surface.
5. Use the handle to pick up the pie tin. Hold it about a foot over the Styrofoam tray and drop it.
6. Now--very slowly--touch the tip of your finger to the pie tin. You should get a spark. What a spark! (Be careful. DON'T touch the Styrofoam tray. If you do, you won't get a spark.)
7. Use the handle to pick up the pie tin again. Touch the tin with the tip of your finger. Wow! You get another great spark.
8. Drop the pie tin onto the Styrofoam tray again. Touch the pie tin. Another spark! Use the handle to pick up the pie tin. More sparks!
9. You can do this over and over for a long time. If the pie tin stops giving you a spark, just rub the Styrofoam tray on your head again, and start over. Why not try it in the dark next? You can see the sparks a whole lot better.
Congratulations, scientist! You have just made your very own lightning! Now, can you make your own lightning gun to destroy your enemies? You have all the knowledge you need. Good luck, scientists!
Science Fiction?
NO, SCIENCE FACT!
-Lightning can travel at speeds of 60,000 m/s.
-It can reach temperatures of 30,000°C (which is close to 54,000°F!)
-Pure water doesn't conduct electricity. If your sweat or other bodily fluids mix in with water the ions they form conduct electricity. this is why you're told to stay out of water in Thunder Storms.
-Lightning can occur in ash clouds after a volcanic eruption.
-High speed videos (examined frame-by frame) show that most lightning strikes are made up of multiple individual strokes. A typical strike is made of 3 to 4 strokes.
-Lightning can travel cloud to ground, ground to cloud, or cloud to cloud. It's not always cloud to ground.
Remember, playing God can get you ostracized by your family and friends. Who needs 'em anyway? If you need a reference for the league of Super Evil, you can always call me. I don't mind helping out fellow mad scientists.... as long as they don't get too powerful
Until next time,
Dr. Entropy
---------------------------------------
After reading through this, again... I've decided I could probably have my own science kids show.
God, that would be awesome.