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Measure The Speed Of Light With Your Microwave
maddmike writes "There is a very interesting article on About.com that shows how to measure the speed of light using your microwave to melt chocolate. "
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Just try to measure the speed of dar. . .
Oh, nevermind.
KFG
...don't try this at home. Theobroma cacao (chocolate) is a highly dangerous substance with known stimulant effects. It is also highly addictive and should be used with extreme caution. Overdose can cause morbid obesity, sluggishness, and death. Only qualified experts should handle this dangerous reagent at home.
I am experienced at handling this most hazardous material. Please wrap it carefully in a heatproof container, and mail it to me. It will be disposed of properly. (burp)
Honey, I shrunk the Cygwin
There is a very interesting article on About.com that shows how to measure the speed of light using your microwave to melt chocholate.
Big deal...I can measure Hubble's Constant by charring bagels in my toaster. Pffft.
...Your Local Fire Department by placing some metal in your microwave and putting a blanket over it. =P
Anyone can melt chocolate or heat water in their microwave.
Real geeks use microwaves for what they were intended for... nuking free trial CDs from AOL.
Speed of light approx 300 000 km/s = 3E8 m/s.
Actually, the easiest way to measure the speed of light is to measure the interval between the lights turning green and the first cab horn sounding during the morning rush hour in Manhattan, then measure the distance from the lights to the cab.
Neither original nor practical, but then I am tired and this is /.
Panurge has posted for the last time. Thanks for the positive moderations.
maddmike writes "There is a very interesting article on About.com that shows how to measure the speed of light using your microwave to melt chocholate. "
Bah, that's easy stuff. It's about time that About.com tackled the real holy grail of science - how to teach Slashdot editors to use a spelling checker.
"Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
>could someone please provide me with the equation if mine has a turntable?
Step [1]: Using a highly detailed tool (1) you will first wrap around a plastic groove on the front of the microwave. You will then use this tool (1) putting a few newtons of pulling force translaterally against the groove. Too much pressure here may be dangerous, so use caution. If your microwave has no such groove, you'll press tool (1) against a reverse indentation on the front of the microwave using at least a few newtons of pressure. Overuse of pressure is not a danger when using the correct tool (1).
Step [2]: At this point you'll be able to access the inside of the microwave. If you cannot access the inside of the microwave at this point, you have not successfully completed step [1]. Please attempt it again as necessary to access the inside of the microwave. Once access has been gained, you will use tool (1) to grip the edges of the glass object inside. Do not grip the glass object extremely tightly or it may be damaged! Now, using tool (1) exert an upward pressure to the glass object, causing it to levitate to the middle of the microwave (this point will vary depending on model).
Step [3]: You must complete step [2] to continue to this step. If you are at this step, you are now gripping a glass object centered in your microwave. Pull this object towards you with tool (1). Continue to move this object and rest it on a flat, cool, surface. Ungrip the object. Using a choice of tool (2), exert a reverse pressure on the item disloged in step [1]. Continue to extert this pressure until a click is heard.
Step [4]: There is no step [4]. If you have completed step [3], your microwave is now ready for the experiment in the article.
Required Tools:
(1) fingers
(2) hand
Optional Tools:
(3) brain
(4) article
If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
It's 3x10^8 m/s
If I seem short sighted, it is because I stand on the shoulders of midgets
Some brave souls try to correct me by pointing out that "the microwave particles" are so small they can't be seen, so are clearly smaller than the holes.
I then introduce the notion of particle/wave and laugh as I watch them go completely blank...
I was about to attempt this fascinating experiment but my stomach had... other plans
Couldn't they have created this experiment with something less tasty, like broccoli?!
Business \Busi"ness\, n.;
A scam in which all people involved perceive as beneficial...
You can always use your network cables instead; brief description or full paper.
Anyone care to use the method with RFC1149 Avian Carrier Protocol, namely Using Ping to determine Speed of Flight!
Andrew Yeomans
There was this episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Secret Agent Super Dragon?) where the main character flips a light switch, and about half a second later the light dimmed down. Crow said "Light travels slower in his world". Heh.
Hmmm.. sorry guys, it really is more of a visual joke.
"Derp de derp."
You can also measure the speed of light using ants, the ants are small enough that they can fit into the low energy points of the microwave.
If you put some ants in the microwave, and switch it on, they all start moving from the heat into the cold spots, measure the distance between the cold spots and you have the wavelength.
Obviously, you shouldn't *actually* try this, unless the ants happen to climb in there looking for food, then they're fair game :) And take the turntable out, that's cruel.
The calculation (chocolate or ants) does still rely on prior knowledge of the frequency of the microwave(s) being used. Trying to measure the speed of light without a prior fixed frequency or wavelength is much more taxing. A shortwave radio can help though, or a flashlight and a large telescope (bouncing signals off the moon)