I know it's been a while since I've updated...I'm sorry to my reader. Some crazy things are going on, and I'll document them the best I can
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Re: Since you asked.renn_manSeptember 26 2005, 22:29:40 UTC
TV = television
As for your other question, we can start with the Rutherford gold foil experiments (which were actually run by Geiger and Marsden). They found that when they fired alpha particles (effectively the 2 proton, 4 neutron nucleus of a Helium atom) at a sheet of gold foil, the overwhelming majority of the particles went right through the foil with very little deflection. This was the basis of showing that the nucleus of an atom has a positive charge, but it also serves to show how much of matter is empty space.
Now consider the size of an electron - a minute fraction of the size of a proton. Electrons decay from any kind of radiation - they're called beta particles. In small doses it's not a big deal, and the human body can deal with a certain amount of radiation. You certainly wouldn't feel anything. However, the problem with radiation is residual damage - depending on the type and energy of the radiation, you can develop radiation sickness or terible radiation burns days later.
So the answer to your question, Joel, is no, you wouldn't feel anything. Then again, they say you don't feel anything when executed at the guillotine either...
As for your other question, we can start with the Rutherford gold foil experiments (which were actually run by Geiger and Marsden). They found that when they fired alpha particles (effectively the 2 proton, 4 neutron nucleus of a Helium atom) at a sheet of gold foil, the overwhelming majority of the particles went right through the foil with very little deflection. This was the basis of showing that the nucleus of an atom has a positive charge, but it also serves to show how much of matter is empty space.
Now consider the size of an electron - a minute fraction of the size of a proton. Electrons decay from any kind of radiation - they're called beta particles. In small doses it's not a big deal, and the human body can deal with a certain amount of radiation. You certainly wouldn't feel anything. However, the problem with radiation is residual damage - depending on the type and energy of the radiation, you can develop radiation sickness or terible radiation burns days later.
So the answer to your question, Joel, is no, you wouldn't feel anything. Then again, they say you don't feel anything when executed at the guillotine either...
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I guess you mother was right. Don't sit too close to the TV when watching it.
-- Joel
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