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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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...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
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
It's 3x10^8 m/s
If I seem short sighted, it is because I stand on the shoulders of midgets
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)