Some 'perspective' vids

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Saturday, January 21. 2012

I like 'perspective' videos and pictorials; that is, displays that snap the whole subject into sharp relief. I found one on relative earthquake strengths the other day that's particularly good because it demonstrates how the Richter Scale is logarithmic, not linear. An 8.7 quake, for example, is far stronger than a mere 8.0. There's an 8.0 somewhere in the world every few years; an 8.7 only every forty or so years.

And here are two videos that demonstrate the perspective of size. From our place in the universe outward:

What's astounding about relative size is that as incredible as the above perspective is, we can go just as far in the other direction:

Posted by Dr. Mercury in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 09:30 | Comments (14) | Trackbacks (0)

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"How much does a car cost?"

"About a hundred dollars."

#1 Texan99 (Link) on 2012-01-21 09:50 (Reply)

As a Theistic Evolutionist I would like, at this opportune moment, to state for the record that I believe Michael Behe's enthusiasm for a literalistic approach to the book of Genesis has gotten the better of his science. The Theory of Irreducible Complexity is tantamount to saying "the science is settled" with regard to Global Warming. Some fisking of Behe here.

Oh, and here's a scale representation worth a glance if this sort of thing interests you.

#2 Jephnol (Link) on 2012-01-21 14:06 (Reply)

Also he is one of billions and billions of lousy comb overs.

#2.1 Tom Francis on 2012-01-21 14:57 (Reply)

In the grand scheme of things, from some vantage point far into the vastness of space, you and I are comparably less than our own perception of a dust mote, and you're splitting hairs?

#2.1.1 Jephnol (Link) on 2012-01-21 15:35 (Reply)

Splitting hairs is what I do best.

#2.1.1.1 Tom Francis on 2012-01-21 17:16 (Reply)

Then split away, sir. Who am I to place a stumbling block between a man his horse. Besides, even from an infinite distance, it is an atrocious comb-over.

#2.1.1.1.1 Jephnol (Link) on 2012-01-21 20:56 (Reply)

Forgot to add, Carl Sagan was made up of billions and billions of cells.

#3 Jephnol (Link) on 2012-01-21 14:09 (Reply)

That stellar video is out of date dude.

The largest known star is VY Canis Majoris which is a red hypergiant in the Canis Major constellation. It is approximately 2.000 solar radi reducing VV Cephei A to a second place finish at 1,700 solar radi. However, there is some ambiguity with respect to both of these stars for various reasons - VV-CA is smack dab in the middle of a dust cloud. Like VY CM, it is irregular in shape, has variable luminosity and very minute parallax so the simple geometry of size measurement is difficult at best.

Aren't you glad you asked? :>)

#4 Tom Francis on 2012-01-21 14:53 (Reply)

"This oak tree and me" ????
And I thought Sagan done been edumacated.

#5 PacRim Jim (Link) on 2012-01-21 15:09 (Reply)

Sagan injects a sense of wonder and enthusiasm in thinking about the world which we inhabit (and which inhabits us).

So much more fruitful to spend time with someone like him.

N

#6 Nathan on 2012-01-21 16:20 (Reply)

Welcome back Merc! A great "perspective" as always.

#7 Garry on 2012-01-21 16:21 (Reply)

Doc,

You'll like these:

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd137/gorebot/planets-and-stars-perspective-anima.gif

And:

http://htwins.net/scale

[Second URL uses Flash, so it won't work on an iPad. But it's well worth viewing on a computer. From the smallest Planck length, to the largest distances in the Universe – and everything in between. Interactive slider to control where you go.]

#8 Dr. Everett V. Scott (Link) on 2012-01-21 21:04 (Reply)

Perhaps excessively pedantic, but this:

There's an 8.0 somewhere in the world every few years; an 8.7 only every forty or so years.

requires an essential modifier, as the video itself shows: on the average. The video records four 8.7+ quakes in the last ten years.

#9 wolfwalker on 2012-01-22 07:23 (Reply)

Fun stuff.

#10 Bird Dog on 2012-01-22 11:08 (Reply)

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Saturday, January 21. 2012

Some 'perspective' vids