I wanted to stay out of this one, because sounding/being pedantic is bad. However…while the person who draws XKCD is brilliant, they aren’t correct in this case. Physics is the root science, while math is the language used to describe the rules of reality that we observe. You can use mathematics to identify the focus of a parabola used for satellite dishes and such, but it is the observed phenomena of radio and other EM radiation that makes that bit of math relevant to this situation.
To be fair, a linguistic expert may very well agree that reality is applied language, just like a mathematician might say that all the sciences (and even a few things that aren’t sciences) are applied math.
It’s a flawed viewpoint, but it’s not without logic. The one is indeed integral to the other.
After all, without language, how can you express what reality is? So, without math, how can you explain the sciences?
But one could argue that that idea is equally flawed. If environment shapes culture and culture shapes language, then all similar environments would have similar cultures, which would then have similar languages. You could easily argue that language shapes culture, which then shapes the environment. Is one of those concepts right and the other one wrong? Are they both right? Or both wrong?
That’s the problem with any such theory. They all have a certain merit, and yet they’re all critically flawed, because you simply can’t just reduce everything down and have it still make sense.
Chemistry is that subset of physics relating to the interactions of atoms through chemical bonds. So the answer to “is it chemistry or physics” is “YES”.
True
Considering her rather flexible construction I would not put it past her to be able, nay to insist, that she curl her digits either way as needed.
I like how U.N.I.T.Y. says she has the problem “again”, which raises so many questions on how many times she’s set herself on fire before? Hopefully Remy has some spare arms that didn’t go into the Abomination, or she can put herself out before permanent damage to the structure of the limb in question.
Unity appears to be more flammable than a normal human being [1], which, given her fondness for explosions, seems odd. Perhaps it’s due to her using spare zombie limbs rather than fresher parts?
[1] We are after all 60% water, and more than that for the parts which aren’t bones.
Sweetheart: Unity, what’s the ONE thing I keep telling you?
Unity: FIRE BAD!
Sweetheart: And?
Unity: FIRE BAD!!
Sweetheart: Well, that should stop you from doing it again…this week, at least.
Unity: I made s’mores with my face!
Physics, technically.
I think. Combustion is chemistry of course but I’m pretty sure fire itself is physics.
The heat from the fire is physics. The fire itself is part of the combustion – i.e. chemistry.
But if Unity’s prone to spontaneous combustion, there may be some biology involved there too. Or maybe just chemistry.
Nevermind.
Unity stuck her finger into an electrical device. There’s no chemistry or biology going on there. It’s all physics.
Math, kids. It’s just math… https://xkcd.com/435/
I wanted to stay out of this one, because sounding/being pedantic is bad. However…while the person who draws XKCD is brilliant, they aren’t correct in this case. Physics is the root science, while math is the language used to describe the rules of reality that we observe. You can use mathematics to identify the focus of a parabola used for satellite dishes and such, but it is the observed phenomena of radio and other EM radiation that makes that bit of math relevant to this situation.
Saying that science is applied math seems like saying that reality is applied language.
To be fair, a linguistic expert may very well agree that reality is applied language, just like a mathematician might say that all the sciences (and even a few things that aren’t sciences) are applied math.
It’s a flawed viewpoint, but it’s not without logic. The one is indeed integral to the other.
After all, without language, how can you express what reality is? So, without math, how can you explain the sciences?
But thereçs also the matter of how environment shapes culture and culture shapes language. It’s all a big interconnected mess, really.
But one could argue that that idea is equally flawed. If environment shapes culture and culture shapes language, then all similar environments would have similar cultures, which would then have similar languages. You could easily argue that language shapes culture, which then shapes the environment. Is one of those concepts right and the other one wrong? Are they both right? Or both wrong?
That’s the problem with any such theory. They all have a certain merit, and yet they’re all critically flawed, because you simply can’t just reduce everything down and have it still make sense.
Chemistry is that subset of physics relating to the interactions of atoms through chemical bonds. So the answer to “is it chemistry or physics” is “YES”.
Chemistry is Physics that is too hard for Physicists, & Biology is Chemistry that is too hard for Chemists.
Jim Baerg BSc. Physics
“The only physics I took is Ex-Lax.” —somebody or other’s government scientific advisor, I forget the names.
Chemistry. It’s a runaway oxidation reaction.
In panel 2, it appears that Unity’s left hand has suddenly, and temporarily, become a right hand.
Artistic license. Placing the index finger where it belonged would’ve meant that we could not have seen Unity’s expression.
So she sewed a right hand onto her left arm. It’s because she’s all thumbs.
But in the first panel, it’s definitely a left hand she’s poking into the electrodes.
Only if you assume her fingers only bend the normal way.
True
Considering her rather flexible construction I would not put it past her to be able, nay to insist, that she curl her digits either way as needed.
She didn’t blow up this hut, she just set fire to it. Kind of a disappointment, really.
Nooooo! But how will they possibly be able to do Sane Science without a Tesla coil?!?
I like how U.N.I.T.Y. says she has the problem “again”, which raises so many questions on how many times she’s set herself on fire before? Hopefully Remy has some spare arms that didn’t go into the Abomination, or she can put herself out before permanent damage to the structure of the limb in question.
Oh, and the science hut going up in flames? That was always going to happen. I’m just glad they found a humorous way to do so.
And given Virginia’s response in the last panel, I have to wonder how many times she has seen Unity exhibit this phenomenon.
Shadowmehr: From what we’ve seen, it only happens when Unity goes into a science lab. I think the last time was 2013-12-19.
That is to say, http://skin-horse.com/comic/his-outbox/
Oh, my, I had forgotten about that. Thanks for the reminder!
Unity, FLAME ON!
Unity appears to be more flammable than a normal human being [1], which, given her fondness for explosions, seems odd. Perhaps it’s due to her using spare zombie limbs rather than fresher parts?
[1] We are after all 60% water, and more than that for the parts which aren’t bones.
Sweetheart: Unity, what’s the ONE thing I keep telling you?
Unity: FIRE BAD!
Sweetheart: And?
Unity: FIRE BAD!!
Sweetheart: Well, that should stop you from doing it again…this week, at least.
Unity: I made s’mores with my face!
“Fire bad!” —Frankenstein monster. “No, fire good!” —Tonto and Tarzan.
“Fire is cool!” – Beavis & Butthead
Did the Fire Nation just attack again?