The answer to all questions is "work"!

Everything we study in science generally comes back to the one thing we cannot measure absolutely...energy. Whether we are studying the kinematics of large objects like trains, planes, and automobiles or we are examining the behavior of large groups of nanoscopic particles like atoms and ions we can only measure the change in energy not the total or absolute ammount of energy. This idea, in and of itself, occupies and very special singularity in the universe and has incredible ramifications.

In chemistry we study thermodynamics in terms of enthalpy, temperature, entropy, and free energy. When we study reactions we ascertain whether the reaction is exothermic or endo thermic, i.e., is the change in enthalpy positive or negative. If it is endothermic then heat is absorbed in the process and heat (enthalpy) is a reactant in the thermochemical equation. In this case the change in enthalpy is positive. If it is exothermic then heat is emitted into the surroundings and it is a prodeuct in the thermochemical equation. In this case the change in enthalpy is negative.

What does this say about work? An endothermic reaction has work done on it from the surroundings and an exothermic reaction does work on the surroundings. Thje particles of the surroundings slow down during an endothermic reaction and and the particles of the surroundings speed up during an exothermic reaction. It is all about the work...it is all about the particles.

Consider a closed piston with a plunger. If you add heat to it you will speed up the particles and they will expand pushing the plunger up and therefore doing work on the surroundings. Consequently if you remove heat from it you will slow the particles down...they will loose kinetic energy...and the volume will decrease as the surroundings do work on the piston. Everything is about work...and heat...and particles (internal energy)...

The far reaching ramification is that we can not measure the total energy in the universe because we can't seem to stop all the particles from moving...and this includes the subatomic particles. Supposedly absolute zero is defined as the absence of all heat...but, and this is according to Richard Feynmann...heat correlates directly with particle motion...however, if we stop all particles from moving it will includes the subatomic particles and that would violate Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle because then we could in fact define the position and momentum of a particle simultaneously...so therefore we are always measuring changes in energy.

So I guess absolute zero could be a singularity just like the speed of light and maybe we will never get there...I say maybe...

Honors Physics - "Pale Blue Dot"

Carl Sagan used this picture, taken from Voyager to talk about the future of human kind and to speculate on the porbabilities of extraterrestrial life, water on other planets and moons, collisions with asteroids, etc. This book of a fabulous 'read'. Sagan was a master story teller whose fundamental understanding of science is unparalleled. Check the following click to get more on this amazing scientist.

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/astronomy/top10_images_010925-11.html

For you blog response prepare some of you reflections on the first two chapters of "Pale Blue Dot". You may be completely subjective and blatantly emotional or you may be stoic and stuffy. Either way talk good science or philosophy. Post one or two paragraphs and, of course, respond to at least one of your classmates comments.

AP Physics - Electrostatic Force

Assume that the pith ball and the balloon have the same amount of charge. Discuss the arrangement of the charges on each object, i.e., how close are the charges and what determines their arrangement.

Also, if they both (the pith ball and the balloon) have the same amount of charge, which one has the highest electric potential? Explain your answer.

Remember to include at least one reference source in your response. Also, you must sign your response with your real first name. If there is more than one of you, you must include your last initial, e.g., Joe B. Also remember to respond to one of your classmates responses.

Go for it.

Look who's talkin'...

OK...this blog is going to be open ended...Browndog Studio is a small recording studio run by an old musician. I would like to talk music...i.e., recording, playing, instruments, styles...I am an R&B/jazz player with four CD's out over the last 20 or so years...

But I also enjoy sports...go Gators, go Patriots and go Red Sox (but I will never let you break my heart again...it took much to long to win that one world series)...politics...and science...I am also a chemistry and physics teacher...there is a lot to talk about...Einstein...Coltrane...Steely Dan...let me know...

First Posting

This is a blog for Browndog Studio...named after the late Louis T. Brown...