THE NUT AND BOLTS OF MODERN LIFE

"The humble screw thread may simply be an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder, but without it, metaphorically and literally, the wheels would come off the modern world. Nature barely uses the concept, but for mankind it holds false teeth in place, focuses microscopes, and fastens hatches onto spacecraft. Screw threads also provide the precision movement that allows the automated manufacture of just about every piece of technology we take for granted. Without the screw thread our world would be a very different place" -Jem stansfield.
The 'screw threads' is so called because the ridge spiraling down the body of the screw is known as the thread.
the functions of 'thread';
1. Converts rotational motion into linear motion.
2. It fastens two things.
3. It amplifies motion as in micrometer.
The tightening of a fastener's screw thread is comparable to driving a wedge into a gap until it sticks fast through friction and slight elastic deformation. Example for fasteners are wood screws, machine screws, nuts and bolts, also connecting threaded pipes.
In car jack, rotatory motion is converted into linear motion. The "thread' is used in gears also.
In micrometer screw, tiny linear motion is amplified by rotatory motion. 10 rotations may be required to move 1 mm distance.
"Welding joins objects permanently, where as screws are adjustable. Adhesive manufacturers may claim to have made nails redundant, but 'No more nuts-and - bolts' is a product, I cannot see happening" - Stanhield.

Long back, Archimedes screw was used to lift water as we see in the picture.
"A ridge wrapped around a cylinder or cone in the form of a helix", will stay for long time.
A simple invention gets a paramount importance in our life.
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THE EARTH, A SUPER ORGANISM

JOIN MY COURSE: "Become a programmer in a day with python" A man called 'love lock' (what a name) proposed a theory called Gaia theory, named after Greek Goddess. It says, "Earth is a self-regulating organism like a human being. The organic life in it interacts with in-organic matter and maintains atmosphere, temperature and environment". Hence the earth is still suitable for the life to thrive. Imagine, in a particular place, there are lot of flowers. Some flowers are white and some are darkly coloured. We know, white reflects light and heat while dark absorbs the same. White flowers can thrive in hot climate. But dark flowers requires cold climate. The absorption and reflection balances and the environment reaches average, warm temperature at which both the flowers can co-exist. This is the essence of "Gaia" theory. On our earth, ...

THE PARABOLA

A jet of water shooting from a hose pipe will follow a parabolic path. What is the so special about parabola. Y= x^2 Draw a graph for the above equation. It will result in a parabola. This parabola is also called unit parabola. Any equation involving square will yield a parabola. Example: Y = 2x^2 +3x+3 (also called quadratic equation) X= 2 and -2, both satisfies the equation 4 = X^2. Parabolic equations always have two solutions. Any motion taking place freely under gravity follows parabolic path. Examples: An object dropped from a moving train, A bomb dropped from flying plane, A ball kicked upwards. If a beam of light rays fall on the parabolic shaped mirror, they will be reflected and brought to focus on a point. This fact is made use of in Dish Antenna, Telescope mirrors, etc. ...

DISORDER IS THE "ORDER OF THE DAY"

Imagine a balloon full of air. The air molecules are moving randomly inside the balloon. Let us pierce the balloon with a pin. The air rushes out. Why should not the air molecules stay inside the balloon safely and ignore the little hole? That is not the way the world works. The molecules always "want to occupy as many states as possible". Hence the air goes out in the open to occupy more volume. The things always goes into disorder (entropy) and the disorder increases with time. The above statement is what we call "second law of thermodynamics". Consider a cup of coffee on the table. Suppose the heat from entire room flows to your cup of coffee, the coffee will boil and the rest of the room will freeze. Freezing means bringing things to order and arrangement. It violates the second law. Hence it will never happen. Hence heat must flow from high ...

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