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xkcd #3106: Farads (imgs.xkcd.com)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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xkcd #3106: Farads

Title text:

'This HAZMAT container contains radioactive material with activity of one becquerel.' 'So, like, a single banana slice?'

Transcript:

[Cueball holds a stick while talking with Megan and White Hat.]
Cueball: This stick is one meter long.
Megan: Cool.
White Hat: That's a nice stick.

[Cueball holds a smallish rock.]
Cueball: This rock weighs one pound.
Megan: I'd believe it.
White Hat: Looks like a normal rock.

[Cueball holds a small battery.]
Cueball: This battery is one volt.
Megan: Seems fine.
White Hat: Might need a recharge.

[Cueball holds a capacitor while Megan and White Hat panic.]
Cueball: This capacitor is one farad.
Megan: Aaaaa! Be careful!!
White Hat: Put it down!!

Source: https://xkcd.com/3106/

explainxkcd for #3106

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Great. Now I get to be the "I’m not familiar with that unit of measurement." guy.

7.62x54

3,291 J (2,427 ft⋅lbf) to 3,400 J (2,508 ft⋅lbf)

.50 BMG

The .50 BMG round can produce between 10,000 and 15,000 foot-pounds force (14,000 and 20,000 J), depending on its powder and bullet type, as well as the weapon it is fired from

[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 days ago (3 children)

foot-pounds

Oh, you Americans and your silly made-up units.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 2 days ago

Oh you non-Americans and your lack of wheelchair access ramps.

See how stupid and annoying this is?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Didn't even need to translate to foot-pounds-force, since .50 BMG was already in freedom-loving units.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

All units are made up.

I totally agree that imperial units are silly, though. Base 10 is the way things should be.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

But then we'd miss the fun of domain specific units, like A barn