Chapter 438 Flame is not mysterious! Glass is the most mysterious! "Why is glass transparent?"
In the lecture hall of Columbia University.
As soon as Li Qiwei’s speech began, it aroused the interest of everyone present.
Today’s speech topic is physics and astronomy.
Before this, many people thought that Professor Bruce would teach general relativity.
After all, this theory is closely related to astronomy, and its five predictions are the goals pursued by countless astronomers.
However, no one expected that Bruce would actually talk about some down-to-earth science.
Based on the other party’s status and perspective, what kind of knowledge is considered down-to-earth?
“It is available in the fields of physics, chemistry, and astronomy.”
“Human beings have been using it for thousands of years, but they still know nothing about it.”
At this moment, everyone was a little confused.
If you want to talk about Newton's era, you may not understand it.
After all, science at that time was just beginning, and the front was full of fog.
Any field is an unexplored land for science.
But now we have entered the twentieth century.
Human beings can even transmit sounds thousands of miles, cross the sea, and soar into the nine heavens.
From as small as atoms to as large as the universe, their laws have been conquered by human wisdom.
Scientists' confidence has grown to the extreme.
Although the field of science is at the forefront, there are still many unsolved mysteries.
But what Professor Bruce is talking about now is obviously not cutting-edge research content, but a very common thing or phenomenon.
How is it possible to know nothing about this?
There was a lively discussion in the audience.
“I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it. I’m already down to earth, how can it be so difficult?”
“How can I know nothing about it?”
"Are there any areas that have not been studied yet?"
"Physics, chemistry, biology, medicine."
"So many natural sciences are enough to include the entire world as research objects."
Millikan and Haile in the front row , Dyson and other big guys are all smiling.
Just the first sentence is half the success of this speech.
The big guys sighed:
“Professor Bruce’s speeches are always different from others.”
“That kind of distinctive personal style makes people never forget it once they hear it.”
“This is The highest level of speech.”
The big bosses and professors present are also people who often give lectures.
However, they asked themselves that compared with Professor Bruce, their speeches were indeed a bit boring.
That kind of master's style of lifting weights with ease and ease is worth learning for a lifetime.
At the same time, they also became curious about this issue.
It must be extraordinary to have Professor Bruce talk about a phenomenon he knows nothing about.
Maybe it can open up a new field.
That is equivalent to expanding the boundaries of human research.
This is the role of the world's top scientists, to open up new territories for human science.
Just as the big guys were sighing, soon, some students in the audience began to try to answer.
"Professor, I think it is fire."
"Human beings have been using fire in ancient times."
"But what is the essence of fire? It seems that until now Haven’t figured it out yet.”
The student’s answer was recognized by many people.
However, many smart students shook their heads slightly. This should not be the answer.
As for the big guys in the front row, as well as geniuses like Wu Youxun, they all smiled slightly.
Fire is not a mysterious thing.
At this time, after hearing this, Li Qiwei smiled and said:
"Whoever nodded just now."
"Everyone of them has to go back and retake college courses."
A burst of laughter broke out in the venue.
“As early as 1772, the Swedish chemist Scheler discovered the existence of oxygen.”
“And he also recognized the nature of combustion, which may be the combination of this gas and combustibles. Combination, the energy reaction produced. ”
"Lavoisier named this gas oxygen based on Scheler."
"And he also proposed a redox reaction, which is the so-called oxidation theory of combustion."
>"He believed that combustion is the reaction of matter and oxygen. ”
“The reaction in which a substance combines with oxygen is called an oxidation reaction, and the reaction in which an oxide loses oxygen is called a reduction reaction.”
“Of course, later chemists went further and proposed. The concept of valence.”
"This is beyond the scope of our discussion."
"But no matter what, human beings are definitely not ignorant about flames."
Everyone nodded in admiration.
Professor Bruce has all kinds of scientific knowledge at his fingertips.
Even if chemistry is not his main profession, it is still a treasure trove.
This kind of strength is what everyone dreams of, the realm of a great master.
However, the student who answered did not seem to give up, but continued to ask:
"But professor, what is the flame? Is it a ball of energy?"
He The question caused a buzz.
Obviously it resonated with many students.
If only many people could know Lavoisier's redox reaction just now.
Almost no one understands the nature of flame.
Only the smartest students can find the answer by studying a lot of extracurricular professional literature.
Because this already involves deep physics knowledge.
The flame obviously looks like a ball of air, but it has a shadow.
It shows that it is still an entity, but how can the entity be erratic?
Many students even thought this was some unsolved mystery.
They were very worried:
“Can Professor Bruce answer this question?”
Hearing this, Li Qiwei smiled and said:
"Very good question."
"I guess you want to ask, which form of matter does solid, liquid, gas, and flame belong to?"
The student nodded fiercely. , he expresses himself poorly.
“In fact, it is very simple. Flame belongs to the fourth state of matter.”
“The late British physicist Professor Crooks discovered the existence of the fourth state of matter in 1879. Four states.”
"The fourth state exists in the form of ionized gas."
"It is a system composed of a large number of charged particles and neutral particles."
"Because it does not belong to the traditional The three states of solid, liquid and gas are called the fourth state. "
"In fact, this thing is very common."
"Almost all kinds of cosmic rays studied by astronomers. It exists in the form of the fourth state.”
"Flame is a collection of various particles formed after the combustion of matter and oxygen."
In real history, the American chemist Langmuir first used [plasma] to describe the fourth state in 1928 .
This name is very apt and vivid, showing the characteristics of the fourth state of matter.
At this moment, the student who asked the question was in admiration.
The mysterious things in his eyes were explained in Professor Bruce's mouth as if he were telling a story.
Many students showed expressions of confusion.
At this moment, they deeply felt the power of the world's first scientific man.
No problem can stump the other party.
“Professor Bruce is simply an encyclopedia, the kind that can constantly update the version.”
“Oh, God, it turns out that there is a fourth state of matter. I am so ignorant. ”
"I didn't expect Professor Bruce to know so much about astronomy."
"I guess soon he will subvert astronomy just like physics and chemistry."
At the same time, everyone discovered that physics It has such a close relationship with astronomy.
No wonder Professor Bruce wants to study astronomy.
Maybe he wants to find some new inspiration.
Among the crowd, Yu Qingsong heard Li Qiwei's speech for the first time.
He has only one thought in his mind now.
"How can there be such a perfect man in the world."
The aura of having everything under control fascinates Yu Qingsong.
The other party said that even a student with no foundation will understand the history of fire after listening to it.
This ability has reached the state of returning to nature.
It is as different as clouds and mud from those who like to show off their knowledge.
Because the more people like to show off professional vocabulary, the lower their level of explanation.
Vocabulary was originally created to explain phenomena.
Any professional words must be spoken in easy-to-understand language.
If you can't explain it, it means you don't fully understand it.
This is the reason why many experts in later generations became experts.
At this moment, Yu Qingsong’s desire to talk to Professor Li became even stronger.
Wu Youxun looked at the stage excitedly.
Only when he truly entered the cutting-edge research field of physics could he understand what kind of great being the principal was.
In the past, he only knew that the principal was very powerful, so powerful that he was even the first person in science.
But what kind of powerful method is it?
Wu Youxun didn’t understand.
However, the moment he published the Wu-Compton effect, explaining the wave-particle duality of light, he understood it deeply.
He and Compton racked their brains, as if the result of a lifetime of hard work was just to verify a paper written by the principal.
That is the difference between gods and mortals.
The mortals here are not ordinary people, but physics geniuses like Wu Youxun.
At this moment, I felt the principal’s speech with the grandeur of a master on the stage.
Wu Youxun smiled happily and secretly swore in his heart:
“I want to become a scientist like the principal!”
At this moment, the big guys like Millikan and Haer in the front row were also extremely emotional.
For them, the nature of fire can only be regarded as a common knowledge point.
Students don’t know these cutting-edge knowledge, but they, the big guys, definitely know it.
The big guys lamented that Professor Bruce connected physics and astronomy so smoothly.
Physics has a fourth state, and astronomy also has a fourth state.
Ordinary flames are essentially the same as the vast and mysterious matter in the universe.
This kind of beauty is what shocks the big guys.
Millikan said: "It seems that Bruce has a deep understanding of astronomy."
"He even knows so much about cosmic rays."
Haier said indifferently: "This is nothing to Professor Bruce."
Just when everyone thought the answer was over, Li Qiwei added:
"Professor Crookes once told me during his lifetime that he did not like the term fourth state."
"He Jokingly, he asked me to come up with a name for him."
"Later, because of the war, I forgot about it."
"I just took advantage of this opportunity today. Want to fulfill his long-cherished wish.”
"I decided to name the fourth state [plasma]."
Wow!
There was an instant exclamation from the audience.
It’s so domineering!
Professor Bruce, in front of so many scientific leaders, directly renamed the fourth state.
Who agrees? Who objects?
At this moment, he is the authority of science. This scene made Yu Qingsong and the other Chinese students' blood boil with excitement. They wanted to stand up on the spot and look up to the sky and scream.
In front of countless Westerners, Professor Li is like a lofty god, overlooking everything.
“That is our Chinese Professor Li Qiwei.”
"He can determine scientific law with just one word!"
"In the field of science, Professor Li has reached the pinnacle of history!"
Many big guys in the front row silently chewed this word meaning.
The more I think about it, the brighter their eyes become.
Because this name is so good.
It’s nice to listen to and easy to remember.
Of course, even if it doesn’t sound good, this name is destined to be adopted by the physics community.
Because its proposer is Professor Bruce.
After the interlude, everyone gradually calmed down.
Then, many people gave some answers, but none of them got it right.
At this time, Li Qiwei said:
"Whether it is flames or anything else, it has little to do with astronomy."
"What I am talking about is very important to astronomical research, even It is an indispensable thing.”
“In addition, it is also crucial to chemistry and physics.”
However, no one can guess it.
Li Qiwei couldn't bear it, so he had to remind with a smile:
"The most important observation instrument in astronomy is the telescope."
"Then what is the most important part of the telescope?"
< br>The words just fell.
Everyone present had a flash of inspiration, and then said almost in unison:
"Glass!"
"It's glass!"
"I work in an observatory and I know that the core of a telescope is glass."
"Nonsense, even if I am a liberal arts student I know it too. ”
Glass, especially optical glass, almost determines the high-end level of an observatory.
The larger and smoother the glass, the better the lens and the more precise the optical system.
At this moment, everyone finally understood the answer to the mystery.
Yu Qingsong scratched his head and suddenly realized:
“Thankfully I am still an astronomy major.”
“I didn’t even think of this.”
>
“Astronomers use glass to make telescope lenses.”
“Physicists use glass to make various optical research devices, such as prism reflectors, etc.”
“Chemists use glass to make various chemical A container for reaction.”
“Glass is indeed an interdisciplinary field, and its applicability is too strong.”
Wu Youxun sighed with a smile:
"This should be what the principal often says, the importance of cross-learning cooperation in multiple fields."
"I study physics, and I will definitely not think about glass."
" Qingsong studies astronomy and doesn’t think about glass.”
“Because glass is so common and common, it is subconsciously ignored.”
“But if we compare it to the other two. Put them together and you will find what the glass has in common.”
Foreign students: Why didn’t you say anything about Angkor just now? Did you not expect it?
Wu Youxun: I won’t take you to the exchange meeting.
But soon, everyone thought of a serious problem.
What happened to the glass?
Why does the principal (Professor Li) say we know nothing about glass?
At this moment, not only Wu Youxun and others, but everyone present had the same question.
“Why glass?”
“Is there anything mysterious about glass?”
“Professor Bruce couldn’t be wrong.”
"How could we know nothing about glass."
"Not only in the field of science, but also in life, glass is everywhere."
Everyone was puzzled.
It is really impossible to connect glass with high-level physics and astronomy problems.
For a time, the venue was full of discussions.
The big guys in the front row are no exception.
Haer lost his previous calmness because the topic was now related to astronomy.
The reason why the United States is so developed in the field of astronomy is due to its strong industrial capabilities.
This is why we can create high-quality glass that cannot be made in other countries.
Especially high-end glass is a strategic material.
It plays a very important role in military and other fields.
But it was precisely because of this that he was confused.
“We don’t know anything about glass?”
If anyone else had brought this up, Haer would have scolded them bloody on the spot.
But if it was that man’s point of view, he immediately calmed down.
The problem must be with me.
At the same time, his heartbeat suddenly accelerated.
"God, is Professor Bruce going to invent a new type of glass?"
"That would be too important for astronomy."
Not only astronomy giants like Haer , Millikan was also confused.
What's going on?
Why didn’t I know there was something special about glass?
As an experimental physicist, Millikan was also the successor of Professor Michelson, the optics master.
Of all the people present, no one dares to say that they understand glass better than him.
Of course, Professor Bruce is not considered a human being and is excluded.
He has done countless experiments with glass.
Glass is extremely stable and chemically inert, making it a perfect optical instrument.
Are there any problems with this kind of thing?
Millikan could not imagine it.
“With Bruce’s current status, it is impossible for him to joke.”
“There are so many big guys present today, and what he said will definitely not be too childish.”
"Even if there are many students, the content can be easy to understand, but the theory must be very profound."
"Otherwise, it would damage the reputation of Professor Bruce."
"But glass is indeed There’s nothing to say.”
Not only Millikan and Haer, but also the other big guys looked in disbelief.
Compton, Hubble and other young geniuses are also thinking silently.
Since the question was asked by Professor Bruce, it is absolutely extraordinary.
At this moment, Li Qiwei had a panoramic view of everyone’s expressions.
Shocked, confused, thinking, confused.
This question was just as he imagined, making everyone unbelievable.
The reason is just like what he said.
Glass is so ordinary.
It's so ordinary that no one even notices it.
“I believe that many people present are wondering.”
“Professor Bruce is making fun of us.”
“Don’t talk about scientists, just It’s impossible for ordinary people to know anything about glass.”
"Yes, the history of glass is indeed very long."
"Thousands of years ago, the ancient Egyptians mixed sand with alkali, lime, etc. to burn the first piece of glass for mankind."< br>
“In China, glass is called [glass] by us.”
“More than three thousand years ago, the Chinese also mastered the manufacturing process of glass.”
"And very fine glass could be made at that time."
“So, both East and West are no strangers to glass and have a natural love for it.”
“In more than 200 BC, the ancient Babylonians invented the glass blowing process.”
“Glass can be made into various forms of vessels as you like.”
“Since then, various new processes have appeared.”
“Human beings have more and more ways to make glass. Superb.”
“And it was also discovered that adding various metals to the molten glass can produce colored glass.”
“So, a thousand years ago, stained glass appeared in various churches in Europe "Three hundred years ago, the scientific sages used the transparency of glass." Clarity and stability, he created various experimental instruments and opened the door to science for mankind."
"Newton used prisms to solve the mystery of the composition of sunlight."
"La. Warthy invented a sophisticated chemical reaction device using glass, denying the phlogiston theory. ”
"Leewenhoek made the microscope, allowing mankind to observe the world of microorganisms for the first time."
"Galileo improved the telescope and saw the vast starry sky, starting mankind's true astronomical journey."
< br>"It can be said , without glass, there would be no birth of natural science."
"Human beings will always live in ignorance."
"The importance of glass to human beings cannot be described in any language. ”
“Today.”
“We can make glass that is more transparent, flatter, and larger.”
“For example, the Mount Wilson Observatory where Director Haer is located, as far as I know, It has the largest optical lens in the world.”
“That’s why there is the most advanced telescope in the world.”
Li Qiwei’s words made everyone present feel like they had experienced an epic science. journey.
The appearance of glass by accident promoted human civilization and completely changed human history.
This heavy, fate-like bond shocked everyone’s souls.
“Oh! God! It turns out that glass still has such a history.”
“I used to hate the glass factory next to our house.”
“Now, I want to apologize for my previous thoughts.”
"Glass is obviously so ordinary, but it carries many miracles of human beings."
At this moment, everyone was immersed in the beautiful imagination of glass.
Professor Bruce’s knowledge once again shocked everyone.
The big guys in the front row felt a baptism-like purification.
They only pursue the peak, but forget the partners who have been with them for a long time.
But soon, everyone thought of Professor Bruce's words again.
“We don’t know anything about glass.”
What the hell is going on.
Under the gaze of everyone, Li Qiwei continued:
“Glass promotes the progress of science.”
"But in turn, scientific progress should allow us to study glass more deeply."
"Now, let me tell you why we know nothing about glass."
“The most important property of glass is its transparency.”
“It is precisely because of its transparency that astronomers can use it to observe stars.”
“Biologists can use it to observe bacteria. ”
"Only chemists can use it to observe the color and state of reactions."
"Only physicists can use it to study the properties of light."
"So among you, have any of you ever thought about it? Question."
"Glass, why is it transparent?"
Boom!
The whole place is silent!
(End of this chapter)