wind chimes

Wind chimes produce clear, pure tones when struck by a mallet or suspended clapper. A wind chime usually consists of a set of individual alloy rods, tuned by length to a series of intervals considered pleasant. These are suspended from a devised frame in such a way that a centrally suspended clapper can reach and impact all the rods. When the wind blows, the clapper is set in motion and randomly strikes one or more of the suspended rods-- causing the rod to vibrate and emit a tone.
The pitch of said tone is governed by the length of the rod, but the perceived loudness is affected by many determinants: the force of the clappers impact, the alloy's density and structure, and the speed and direction of the wind (to name a few). Also affecting the loudness is the lack of resonating chamber or hard connection between rods and frame. The chime would certainly be louder, for instance, if the rods were built with the inclusion of small chambers containing a volume of air whose fundamental harmonic was the same as that of the rod-- when struck, the rod would transfer vibration to the enclosed air as well as directly to the atmosphere, resulting in a louder tone. A hard connection between rods and frame would also accomplish this result somewhat; the vibrations of each seperate rod would be commuted to the others, resulting in more vibrating surface area (and hence, more volume).
The transmission of the chime's sound without the abovementioned alterations is quite simple; each rod releases longitudinal waves radially from it's longest axis (excepting deviances caused by deformation or impurity of the metal), which travel until they are absorbed or reflected by an independent surface. These waves travel at a speed governed by the temperature of the atmosphere-- the colder the air, the more immediate the transmission.
The waves that are not absorbed can be perceived by the human ear; of equal importance to the directly intercepted waves are those reflected before interception, as these allow an animal or human to identify the physical relationship of self to sound-emitter. These intercepted waves (reflected or not) are processed by the ear in an amazing process.
Sound waves vibrate the ear-drum, causing the minute movement of three microscopic bones (hammer, then anvil, then stirrup) in the middle ear. The bone chain, having transferred air vibration to physical vibration, systematically disturbs the fluid (perilymph) in the inner ear (cochlea). Hair cells along the basilar membrane (which runs the length of the cochlea) perceive the disturbances and interpret them as auditory signals to be transmitted to the nervous system. With pure tones such as those created by a wind chime, certain groups of hair cells are agitated more than others-- and the position of that group along the basilar membrane can be directly correlated to the relative pitch of the tone.

What is Physics

Physics, a branch of science, is traditionally defined as the study of
matter, energy, and the relation between them. The interaction between matter
and energy is found everywhere. In order for matter to move, it requires some
form of energy.
Sports show many good examples of the relationship between matter and energy.
For instance, a pitcher requires energy to throw a baseball at the incredible speed
and accuracy that is needed to keep the batter from using his energy to try and hit
the ball. The batter exhibits the need for a certain trajectory because he/she needs
to hit the ball hard enough and keep it high enough to sail over the outfield wall.
On the other hand, the batter must be certain to keep the trajectory low enough so
that the ball will reach the fence. Trajectory is also seen in basketball, where
players must shoot the ball with enough arch to get over the front of the rim, and go
through the hoop. The energy required to do this comes from not only the arms, but
the legs as well.
The medical field has seen enormous breakthroughs because of principles of physics.
Doctors are now able to use lasers for surgery. Lasers are based on the physical principle
of light, and are devices for the creation and amplification of a narrow, intense beam of
coherent light. New laser microsurgery can actually alter the shape of the cornea in the
eye so the patient's eyesight can return to normal, and he/she will no longer need those
bothersome glasses. Ultrasound is used in the medical field for destroying various unwanted
substances in the body such as kidney stones. Ultrasound uses sound waves to dissolve these
foreign bodies. If not for physics, ultrasounds would never have been discovered and utilized.
MRI scans, another new discovery, are able to show a complete three dimensional picture of the
interior structure of the body, and are extremely valuable in hospitals. These scans are based
on the principles of electromagnetism, and the phenomenon that nuclei of some atoms line up in
the presence of an electromagnetic field.
Understanding the dark matter of the universe, which has remained a mystery for quite some time,
is based primarily on theories of physics. We have yet to see a black hole, but physics has
explained what one is, and why we cannot see it. Otherwise we would have never known that it is
an extremely small region of space-time with a gravitational field so intense that nothing can
escape, not even light. Physics help to understand the dark matter of the universe, because it
applies theories to what the dark matter is. We are also able to look at distant spots in the
universe with new telescopes because of the principles of magnification and amplification of light.
Not only can physics better your baseball game and explain the dark matter of the universe,
but it can save lives. It remains a very important part of us and our world.

Nuklear Power Our miusunderstood Freind

At first nuclear power was only seen as a means of destruction but after World War II a major effort was made to apply nuclear energy to peacetime uses. Nuclear power if made when a nucleus of an atom is split to release a powerful burst of energy. Though technological advancements nuclear power now supplies us with new medical aids, a new power source and new ways to do scientific research.

New medical advancements are being produced rapidly due to nuclear power. Nuclear material is now being used to treat diseases. Pacients suffering from cancer can then be exposed to the healing effects of the radiation under controlled conditions. The radiation of the nuclear energy can help in medical tests. Radioactive phosphorus is an important diagnostic aid. It is injected into the veins of a patient, it concentrates in the cells of certain brain tumors. Thyroid gland strongly attracts iodine. Radioactive iodine is used both in diagnosing and in treating diseases of the thyroid. Nuclear power is changing the face of medicine with new cures and tests that will cure millions..

Nuclear power can be converted into strong and efficient nuclear energy and be used for many purposes. Nuclear power reactors generates heat that is converted into steam. The steam can be used directly for energy. This energy is used in transportation. Most military subs are now ran by nuclear energy. The most used purpose of nuclear energy can also be used to generate electric power for example in a commercial nuclear power plant. Another way to produce nuclear energy is by gas-cooled reactors with either carbon dioxide or helium as the coolant instead of water. This method is used mainly in commercial nuclear plants in the United Kingdom and France due to the lack of freshwater. With growing popularity nuclear energy will definitely of the future with new ways to use this energy in a positive manner.

Scientists can now use nuclear power for biological research to help understand life more. Radioactive isotopes have been described as the most useful research tool since the invention of the microscope. Physiologists use them to learn where and at what speed physical and chemical processes occur in the human body. Isotopes are also used for agricultural Biologists use radioactive isotopes to see how plants absorb chemicals as they grow. With radioactive cobalt, botanists can produce new types of plants. Structural variations that normally take years of selective breeding to develop can be made to occur in a few months.

Many believe that nuclear power is too destructive and as such should be destroyed. Although it does have it's negative aspects, nuclear power is not evil in anyway. Nuclear power is an inanimate object, it does not live nor have a mind of it's own. It is the human race that decided that the best way to use this power was to use it as an instrument of war. Nuclear Power should be seen as a positive and humanity can blame no one for its destructive manner but themselves. It was our decision to use it for death, it is now our responsibility to use it for life.