Vincent Summers, Author at Quirky Science

18Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers 2 Comments

Algebra for Beginners: Student Perspective

Have you gone past arithmetic and tried algebra for beginners? Having opted for the “college prep program” at high school, I took Algebra I, freshman year. My instructor was Miss Diamond. She wore those black lace-up shoes elderly women wore then. She was not unkind, although she was rather out of touch with some of the students—including me. It was the first days of class, and, despite seeking her help, I wasn’t getting the concepts. So I turned to the student seated behind me. In about five minutes—perhaps less—he set me straight with his algebra for beginners. I became one of the best students in the class. The principles are easy. Constant -vs- Variable The simplest concept was also the most difficult for me, as paradoxical as that may sound.…

18Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers 3 Comments

My Connection to the Royal House of Stewart

Genealogy

What is the Royal House of Stewart? The Encyclopedia Britannica teaches us that the Royal House of Stewart was a family of Scotland, later in England, that dates back to 1371, ending with the death of Henry, Cardinal Duke of York, in 1807. Now I am not British—nor am I directly related to the House of Stewart. I was born in New Jersey of quite ordinary (if interesting) roots. So how can I claim there is a connection between myself and the House of Stewart? The Author’s Mother I am an avid enthusiast of genealogy, the pursuit of the family tree. I have been heavily involved in climbing that tree for nearly twenty years. One branch of the Ayres family, my tie-in (through my mother) with the Stewart name, involves…

18Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Acromegaly Can Turn into Diabetes – How?

Medicine

[caption id="attachment_5844" align="alignright" width="480"] Injectable Insulin[/caption] About the summer of 2009, I was diagnosed with acromegaly. Acromegaly is a relatively rare disorder of the pituitary gland that, especially among prepubescent sufferers, results in abnormal growth—most notably in height. For this reason, the condition is sometimes called Gigantism. I, on the other hand, apparently contracted the beast at a more advanced age, and so it affected me in other ways. Ah, the Golden Years One of the unfortunate features is growth of a different sort—growth of the ears, lower jaw, and other facial bones, thickening of the skull, and increase in the size of the hands (most notably the palms) and the feet. In particular, my ankles swelled up due to cartilage growth. My sight was affected in the form of…

18Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers 1 Comment

What is a Negative Number?

Logic

Maybe a negative number is simply a number headed in a different direction. After all, an imaginary number is real. Opposite charges don’t cancel. Antimatter isn’t the opposite of matter. Male and female compliment each other. Instead of three dimensions, maybe there are six dimensions. Or if you include time, maybe there are seven dimensions. Coordinate Systems If there truly is no such thing as a negative number, then both halves of the x-axis, at 180º with respect to each other are positives headed in different directions. What would stand in the way of there being an infinite number of positive directions in between what was formerly negative x and positive x, each rotated a miniscule amount? Waves Even waves that cancel one another at various points may sing a…

17Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Is 304 Stainless Steel Magnetizable?

Physics

[caption id="attachment_5822" align="alignright" width="440"] Gateway Arch (304 Stainless Steel) - GNU Free Documentation License Version 1.2 by Rdikeman[/caption] Can 304 stainless steel be magnetized? The answer rates more than a simple yes or no. Iron is alloyed with different amounts of chromium to produce 3 classes of stainless steel. These are martensitic, ferritic, and austenitic steels. These three are classed separately because each has a different microstructure. Stainless Steel Type 304 stainless is austenitic. It is non-magnetic. Special treatments change that. The treatments may be to produce fasteners or other items that require it. Magnetic & Non-Magnetic Both ferritic and martensitic stainless steels are easy to magnetize. Austenitic steels such as cold worked 304 undergo partial conversion of their austenite microstructure to martensite. Because stainless type 304 is cheap yet…

17Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers 1 Comment

Vince’s Turkey and Chicken Stuffing Recipe

Food

I’ve always had a great stuffing recipe, but even great can be made better. I’m 71 now, so here’s how I make (and use) my better-than-great turkey and chicken stuffing. Stuffing Recipe: Chicken In a No. 8 cast-iron skillet, melt 6 oz. butter as you cut a medium white onion, into pieces that are not too fine—say 1/3” x 1/2”. Over a low heat, soften the onions well, but do not brown them. Take a loaf of white bread—for example, Arnold’s® Italian White—break pieces approximately 3/4″ square, forming a layer atop the onions and butter. Sprinkle ground sage, thyme leaves and marjoram fairly generously on the layer. Sage should predominate, thyme next and marjoram should be used in smaller measure. Using a wooden spoon, stir everything to uniformity. Add another…

14Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers No Comments

The Differences Between Flagella and Cilia

Biology

[caption id="attachment_5797" align="alignright" width="440"] Is there a difference? After all they all look like little hairs to me.[/caption] Transportation by hairs called flagella and cilia? Yes, either works. What are they and how do they function? One-celled animals want to get around, too. One method used by the amoeba seems very innovative. Basically a liquid-filled blob, the amoeba directs some of its protoplasm to form pseudopodia, which is a 50-cent word meaning false feet. Other protozoa possess what is called a flagellum (some use two flagella). These are long hairs, sometimes longer than the body of the animal. It moves through the water using the flagellum like a whip. Yet others use a collection of shorter hairlike organelles called cilia. What is the difference between flagella and cilia? The differences…

14Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers 6 Comments

Deciphering a Cryptic 1700s Philadelphia German Tombstone

Genealogy

Decipher a German tombstone? What trick is there to that? I was once deeply involved in genealogy researches. A distant Kite family member had connection to the original 13 settlers of the Philadelphia, PA area. These immigrant families were of German origin. In my pursuits, I had established an email list on a site that went “belly up.” Shortly before that, I had been invited by a Rootsweb representative to transfer my list to their oversight. Interested Researchers As of September 2019, the Original-13 list still exists there. For some, the tombstones of family members of these 13 are of special interest. One tombstone in particular caught their interest. It read very cryptically. Descendants wondered what language was used in the inscription. How did it read? Here is the transcription:…

14Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Characteristics of a High Mass Star

Astronomy

[caption id="attachment_5770" align="alignright" width="440"] Crab Nebula - NASA & ESA[/caption] A high mass star has more matter than a low mass star. More matter increases a star’s gravitational field. Gravity produces the heat that initiates fusion. Fusion occurs more readily in a high mass star. It also lowers life expectancy. It can result in a supernova event and the producing of a neutron star. Some say it can even result in a black hole. Fusion Fusion begins by combining hydrogen atoms into helium atoms. As hydrogen diminishes, it is predominantly helium atoms that fuse. Helium concentrates at the center since gravity pulls it more due to its greater mass. As the helium fuses, it forms carbon atoms. Carbon then gravitates to the center of the star. Over time, layers form.…

14Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers 4 Comments

Approximate Calculus: Area Under a Curve

Mathematics

Is it possible to calculate the area under a curve with any degree of accuracy? If we have a strong mathematical background, we may say, "Oh, that's easy. It's a matter of calculus." But what if you didn't take calculus? In fact, what if you never even attended high school? Is it possible to achieve an answer? Is it possible to use reason to come up with the principles of calculus? The answer is, indeed it is. I met a man who did just that. He asked me how I would figure the area under a curve. But he did more. He wanted to show how me how he had succeeded in solving the matter himself on his job in construction work. I was so impressed I exclaimed, "You've just…