FL 1.1-2 Matter is made of atoms

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If some cataclysm happened, the atomic theory (hypothesis, truth, fact, etc.) of matter would help the survivors better than any other bit of truth.

All things are made of atoms - little particles that move around in perpetual motion, attracting each other when the are a little distance apart, but repelling upon being squeezed into one another.

From that you can, with a little imagination, surmise (and be mostly correct) many things. Especially if you remember that the atoms are always in motion (except at absolute zero, but we've never been that cold, and that's the definition of absolute zero, but there's an exception there, too: helium).

Use water as an example. Moles are atoms stuck together in discreet units.

Define the jiggling motion of atoms (and molecules) as heat. Increasing the motion of the particles increases the temperature of the water (because temperature is a measure of the heat in the water). Or the opposite way, increasing the temperature increases the motion, increases the space between molecules. Eventually some molecules will have enough energy to escape the attraction to other molecules (bond, pull between molecules), and break away, becoming vapor instead of solid or liquid.

Continuing with water example, steam vapor molecules produce an average push, known as pressure, against our gross senses. The effort required to counteract this average push from the molecules is the pressure (well, pressure times area is the force, but that's in parentheses).

From the pressure definition, you get increasing the area but keeping the number of particles the same, descreases the number of collisions, so drops the pressure. Double the number of particles with the same speed (i.e. same temperature) would double the number of collisions, so you know that pressure is proportional to density.

Increasing the temperature without changing the density of the gas, however, increases the number of collisions, so you know that increasing the temperature increases the pressure, too.

Using a piston, you can compress the piston, which gives the molecules less room to move, which will increase the number of collisions on the surfaces. So, compressing a gas slowly will increase the temperature, while decompressing a gas will lower the temperature.

Solids are materials with a definite place for every atom. Repeative patterns are crystalline arrays. Ice forms with a hexagonal(ish) pattern that leaves holes in the structure, which is why ice has a greater volume than water.

Melting is the process of increasing the motion of the solid's molecules so that they shake out of place.

Helium's special. Even at absolute zero, the molecules still have energy enough to move. Need to apply great pressure to stop helium's molecules.

Butt end

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Having been gone for a short while, I felt it necessary to head into the office today, and managed to catch a ride with Doyle. Unfortunately for me, he brought his lunch today. Shirley had been cooking this weekend, so when Doyle brought his lunch, he brought some extra for me, too.

At one point, he mentioned this to me, and asked, "Do you want a slice of pumpkin bread?"

Let's see.... pumpkin bread... Shirley's cooking... yes, yes, I do.

He handed me the bread. When I opened it up, I noticed that not only did I have tasty pumpkin bread, but I also managed to swing the butt of the loaf!

Pumpkin bread

Holy moly did I score big! WHOO!

I mentioned this to Doyle, as just how incredibly generous he was being, and asked if he was sure. He said, yeah, he did notice that he gave me the best piece, but he had already eaten a couple slices, so go ahead and have the best one.

I tell you, my friends are awesome.

Velocity by 5

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This morning's workout was 4 rounds of

5 lengths
10 dips
15 situps
20 squats
25 kettleball swings
30 pushups

This morning's workout post lacks a commentary (well, other than, "I can't do dips to save my life.").

About that oatmeal

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So, I bothered to take the time to look at the packaging of the oatmeal goodies I purchase from Starbucks.

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There should be some nuts in there somewhere.

Hopeful

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Since coming home from Indiana, I've had a strange, yet wonderful, feeling of hope. I'm not able to describe it much better than that, though it might just be a reduction in stress levels that I'm confusing with the feeling of hope. I don't know, I'm not sure, but at this moment, I will definitely state, I'm happy to be feeling this way.

Finally.

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