perfect earthquake timing
This was funny enough to me that I want to share:
I was lecturing to a class about the physical conditions in the core of the Sun, when a light earthquake struck. The students sitting in their desks all felt it, and some started looking up at the hanging fluorescent lights to watch them swing slightly. If they hadn't done that, I'd never have known about the quake at all, because I was walking around and talking and fully "into" my lecture subject.
Right before the quake struck, I threw a question out to the class.
Me: The reason it's so extremely hot in there, then, is really because the pressure is so high-- *not* because of the nuclear fusion. And why is the pressure so high?
Student: (startled as the room suddenly shook) Wait!
Me: (not missing a beat) Weight. Exactly! The weight of the Sun's outer layers crushes the core...
(I didn't stop until I noticed everyone looking up at the swinging lights.)
I was lecturing to a class about the physical conditions in the core of the Sun, when a light earthquake struck. The students sitting in their desks all felt it, and some started looking up at the hanging fluorescent lights to watch them swing slightly. If they hadn't done that, I'd never have known about the quake at all, because I was walking around and talking and fully "into" my lecture subject.
Right before the quake struck, I threw a question out to the class.
Me: The reason it's so extremely hot in there, then, is really because the pressure is so high-- *not* because of the nuclear fusion. And why is the pressure so high?
Student: (startled as the room suddenly shook) Wait!
Me: (not missing a beat) Weight. Exactly! The weight of the Sun's outer layers crushes the core...
(I didn't stop until I noticed everyone looking up at the swinging lights.)