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[HUGE News] Physicist discovers 'error' in dictionaries

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Nero, May 12, 2010.

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  1. Nero

    Nero Member

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    Ok, check this out.

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100511/ts_afp/scienceaustralialanguageoffbeat_20100511102011

    The gist: Australian physicist guy says he has found the same error in pretty much every dictionary, and the error is over a hundred years old.

    My reaction was, big woop.

    However, at the same time, I would hope that people don't just take this guy's say-so on this.

    He claims that it is gravity, not air pressure, which is the functioning mechanism of a 'siphon'. While I am sure gravity plays a part, it seems that it would simply not work without also having the attendant air pressure.

    Any of you physicist gurus out there have any opinions on this? How would you set up an experiment to test this, to actually prove it one way or the other?

    Yes, I'm bored.
     
    #1 Nero, May 12, 2010
  2. Al Calavicci

    Al Calavicci Contributing Member

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    you have changed my life, sir
     
    #2 Al Calavicci, May 12, 2010
  3. Wakko67

    Wakko67 Member

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    Wait for it.........
     
    #3 Wakko67, May 12, 2010
  4. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
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    You're bored? I thought Rome was burning!
     
    #4 Deckard, May 12, 2010
  5. RKREBORN

    RKREBORN Member

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    sool btory, cro
     
    #5 RKREBORN, May 12, 2010
  6. rockbox

    rockbox Around before clutchcity.com

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    Its gravity that causes the water presssure. Without gravity, a siphond does not work. Siphons do not work in space.
     
    #6 rockbox, May 12, 2010
  7. duwende

    duwende Member

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    Oxford dictionary says atmospheric pressure is the reason? ATM has nothing to do with a siphon

    I believe high school taught us that a siphon is based on gravity moving the liquid from a higher reservoir to a lower one.
     
    #7 duwende, May 12, 2010
  8. Invisible Fan

    Invisible Fan Member

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    So I is still before E?
     
    #8 Invisible Fan, May 12, 2010
  9. Dei

    Dei Member

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    Australians speak English?
     
    #9 Dei, May 12, 2010
  10. Rockets34Legend

    Rockets34Legend Member

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    [​IMG]
























    [​IMG]
     
    #10 Rockets34Legend, May 12, 2010
  11. Qball

    Qball Member

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    I'm having suicidal thoughts now. As an engineer, I've always thought that siphons work due to air pressure. I'm not sure I have anything to live for anymore :( .
     
    #11 Qball, May 12, 2010
  12. fredy

    fredy Member

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    I'm bored too, so this is exciting news for me.
     
    #12 fredy, May 12, 2010
  13. RKREBORN

    RKREBORN Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    #13 RKREBORN, May 12, 2010
  14. Cohete Rojo

    Cohete Rojo Member

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    There's no air in space; lots of things, like breathing, couldn't work.
     
    #14 Cohete Rojo, May 12, 2010
  15. SuperHighFly

    SuperHighFly Member

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    Courtesy of Wiki

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siphon

    I'm gonna go with Wiki on this ;)
     
    #15 SuperHighFly, May 12, 2010
  16. Nero

    Nero Member

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    Well, see, I know all that, however, there is still the matter of the @15psi air pressure pushing on the top surface of the water too. I guess my doubt is caused by not knowing for sure exactly what would happen if you tried to siphon out of a sealed air-tight container, or a container from which all the air had been pumped out.. and then siphoned INTO another airtight or airless container. I suspect it would have at least a little to do with the viscosity of the fluid, and the corresponding diameter of the siphon tube...

    Now I'm not saying gravity is not the main driver of the siphoning, but it has to be greatly helped by air pressure too, wouldn't ya think?

    Ah well.. still bored.. lol
     
    #16 Nero, May 12, 2010
  17. Bandwagoner

    Bandwagoner Member

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    When you seize the weight of such a weird atheist.
     
    #17 Bandwagoner, May 12, 2010
  18. david_rocket

    david_rocket Member

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    Send this to the Mythbusters show, they can test it, and we can watch. hehe
     
    #18 david_rocket, May 13, 2010
  19. Jontro

    Jontro Member

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    I don't get it.
     
    #19 Jontro, May 13, 2010
  20. Hmm

    Hmm Member

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    go back to england........
     
    #20 Hmm, May 13, 2010
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