Ozone represented as O3, is found roughly 0.01 ppm in air. Above 0.01 ppm it can be dangerous. It density is 1.5 times that of oxygen and is diamagnetic, which means it defies formation of magnetic field.
We have sometime or the other heard about ozone depletion because of pollution, emissions and need to control global warming. So lets see a bit about ozone layer.
It is found between 10km to 50 km. It has the property of filtering out UV rays, which can be descibed as photons of wavelenth on the shorter side.
Formation: Ozone in stratosphere is formed with UV rays reacting with oxygen.
O2+ Photon ----> 2O
Also, now,
O + O2 ----> O3
This was about formation. Now you will ask how this O3 is depleted by the much hyped chlorofloro carbons, this is how:
O3 + O --------> 2O2
It is destroyed in reaction with atomic oxyegn under presence of some catalysts.
And you guessed right, these catalysts are also fromed due to chlorofloro carbons.
Story ends !
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Science behind Rainbows
When we see rainbow around us we feel enthralled isn't it? let's see the the basic science behind it..
If you will see there is plain and simple optics behind it.. Nothing great really... Basic principle is that when light passes through a different medium, it bends, which means it will change its path or direction. And light consists of 7 different colours from violet to red you all know.
Now all these colours do change directions differently when passing through a different medium as their frequencies are different.
As seen in the image, at one time an observer will be able to see only one colour due to a droplet of water. So, in a combination of droplets in a rainy season an observer will see all the colours together formed after dispersion from different droplets of water.
Hence a rainbow is seen. Hurray!!
If you will see there is plain and simple optics behind it.. Nothing great really... Basic principle is that when light passes through a different medium, it bends, which means it will change its path or direction. And light consists of 7 different colours from violet to red you all know.
Now all these colours do change directions differently when passing through a different medium as their frequencies are different.
As seen in the image, at one time an observer will be able to see only one colour due to a droplet of water. So, in a combination of droplets in a rainy season an observer will see all the colours together formed after dispersion from different droplets of water.
Hence a rainbow is seen. Hurray!!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Theory of relativity and Time travel
Its quite amusing that i should start with relativity straightaway, but i will give it a try..
In simplistic terms, this theory says that the speed of light remains constant, no matter who is observing it and how he is obseving it.
Let us take an example, if i am riding on a bike with speed of 60 kmph and you come from behind in another bike at a speed of 100 kmph. Now, i will see you going at a speed of 100-60 = 40 kmph. Now this is simplistic newtonian mechanics. Isnt it simple!. Now again if i am going at 60 kmph and you travel in front of me in a bake at 100 kmph, then i will see you speeding at 100+60 = 160 kmph !. Seems wierd but as you know it is true... As we can all experience it too.
Now suppose you come from my behind at speed of light in your bike and i am travelling at speed of 60 knph in my bike then our natural reaction should be that your speed i should see as Speed of light- 60kmph. But thats where einstein had other ideas!
He knew that speed of light is same irrespective of frame of reference from where it is observed. Whether frame of reference is stationary(You are sitting under an apple tree) or it is moving (You are speeding on a bike) it dosent matter. I will see you moving at speed of light only.
And now here einstein encountered a divine touch of genius. He said that as i cant see your speed changing inspite of me too moving at some speed then something should change. And that something that changes is time!. Hence einstein's theory of relativity postulated the idea of time travel.
In simplistic terms, this theory says that the speed of light remains constant, no matter who is observing it and how he is obseving it.
Let us take an example, if i am riding on a bike with speed of 60 kmph and you come from behind in another bike at a speed of 100 kmph. Now, i will see you going at a speed of 100-60 = 40 kmph. Now this is simplistic newtonian mechanics. Isnt it simple!. Now again if i am going at 60 kmph and you travel in front of me in a bake at 100 kmph, then i will see you speeding at 100+60 = 160 kmph !. Seems wierd but as you know it is true... As we can all experience it too.
Now suppose you come from my behind at speed of light in your bike and i am travelling at speed of 60 knph in my bike then our natural reaction should be that your speed i should see as Speed of light- 60kmph. But thats where einstein had other ideas!
He knew that speed of light is same irrespective of frame of reference from where it is observed. Whether frame of reference is stationary(You are sitting under an apple tree) or it is moving (You are speeding on a bike) it dosent matter. I will see you moving at speed of light only.
And now here einstein encountered a divine touch of genius. He said that as i cant see your speed changing inspite of me too moving at some speed then something should change. And that something that changes is time!. Hence einstein's theory of relativity postulated the idea of time travel.
Beginners guide to Science and Technology
With this webpage i would like to explain the basic principles in scinece in the simplest way possible... As Einstein had said.. "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction."
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