1. Given that the equation e=mc2 led tangentially to atomic bombs and nuclear energy, I don't think anyone's life in the world today is unaffected by it. Every day we hear news of certain countries trying to develop atomic bombs, followed by American hand-wrangling over how to stop it. At the same time, our capacity to develop this technology is one of the reasons why we are a world "superpower". Also, as a consumer of energy, I'm sure some of it comes from nuclear energy sources.
2. The 4 forces seem very defined (and makes me think there must be more out there, undiscovered!) Gravity and electromagnetic force seems the most accessible to me since I can see examples of them in everyday life. the strong & weak nuclear forces, I understand theoretically but not tangibly.
3. It seems that gravity serves a larger force than I would have first expected, given that it is the basis for quantum mechanics in a way. While I can grasp the idea of gravity at the scale that I can see (i.e. my computer is staying put on my desk, which is staying put on the floor), when the articles begins to talk about gravity at the quantum level, it seems like anything could be possible. A theory of quantum gravity seems like it could be a huge breakthrough in physics.
Hi Xiaojing!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't even considered atomic bombs when answering this prompt. Thanks for bringing it up. I just met someone last weekend from Northern Utah who has been having health problems from bomb testing in AZ/NM (can't remember which state). There had been warnings issued that Southern Utah was subject to fallout from these tests, but none about Northern Utah until people like this one were suffering ill health effects :-( I'm pained to think of our communities being used as experiments. It also brings e=mc2 home to think about how I may be using nuclear energy via this computer as I type this post out.
Belen