Chapter 39 Talking Physics with the Mermaid
Rhine chatted smoothly with the surrounding mermaids.
The "strange creature without a tail" briefly explained where they came from.
After briefly asking a few questions and confirming that the overview of the undersea kingdom was not much different from that in the book, he then praised the power of Neptune, praised the beauty of Neptune's palace and gardens, and incidentally praised the wisdom of Neptune's mother "grandmother". The beauty and nobility of mermaid princesses.
He was familiar with the roads, and he did not look like a visitor who had set foot in the country for the first time, but rather like a guide who frequently traveled to the country.
In a short time, the mermaids became quite familiar with Rhine.
They talked. Rhine behaved like the learned magicians in the story, answering the mermaids' strange questions about the earthly world one by one.
For example, a mermaid asked:
"Why can the fish in your upper world swim even if they are not in the water?"
Aurora was just confused about this.
There are no fish in the human world that can "swim without water"!
Rhine immediately told the little mermaid:
"In the human world, we don't call those creatures fish - although they do fly overhead like the fish here - but we call them 'birds'. Birds can fly because they have a pair of wings, Wings are to the air what a fish’s tail is to water.”
Aurora was suddenly confused and looked at Rhine suspiciously.
No, how do you know she is asking about birds?
Another little mermaid asked:
"I heard from friends who have been to the sea said that in your world, the moon and stars will be smaller than our world, but brighter. Why is this?
"Will the moon and stars condense when they see you humans?"
What? Are the stars and moon in the sea world larger than those in the human world? Wait, are there stars and moon in the sea world? Aren’t they all from heaven? Aurora was completely confused.
Rhine smiled and patiently explained to the mermaid:
"This is an optical illusion caused by the refraction of light. In other words, the eyes deceive you."
When you look at the stars and the moon in shallow water, the light they emit will be much weaker, but through a layer of water, the moon in the eyes of a mermaid is much larger than in the eyes of humans! (Note 1)
He even took out a pen and paper on the spot and drew the path of light, the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction, and explained the changes caused when light passes into the water, to illustrate the difference between the world in the eyes of mermaids and that of humans, as well as the effects of this difference in perspective. Many questions.
Aurora barely understood the physics knowledge explained by Rhine. She was amazed at the teacher's rich knowledge and lamented that the world had such deep secrets - seeing may not necessarily be believing.
But the mermaids who had never gone to school were extremely confused.
They just praised it again and again, thinking that although they couldn't understand it, it was very powerful and must be a kind of profound knowledge.
The human boy who talked to them. He must be a profound scholar from the upper world!
"It turns out that although we living in the sea don't understand the humans in the upper world, humans understand us so well!"
"I thought that none of us had much contact with humans. Human beings know nothing about us, His Majesty the Sea King, the country in the sea, and the world in our eyes!"
"Humanity's knowledge is so profound and profound. Although I can't understand it, it looks very powerful." After chatting with Rhine, the mermaids sighed.
Aurora saw this scene and retorted loudly in her heart:
"No, no, that's not the case! Teachers cannot be used as examples for human beings!
"Most humans know nothing about the kingdom of mermaids, and they will not study such wonderful knowledge and explore the differences between mermaid and human perspectives."
Turning her head to look at Rhine, who was chatting happily with the mermaids, Aurora was extremely confused.
Teacher, is this really your first time in Hainan?
Rhine seemed to understand Aurora's confusion, and explained while recalling:
"I have read a novel before. The protagonist of the novel is a race that lives in the sea. It provides the marine creatures with a perspective and way of looking at the world, which is different from our perspective.
“I took on the mermaid’s perspective and understood their problems in their own way.
"In the novel, the author compares fish schools to birds - in fact it is similar. Just as humans can see flocks of birds of different colors flying by when they raise their heads, mermaids can also see flying birds when they raise their heads. .
"The novel also says that the moon seen by sea creatures in shallow seas is much larger than that seen by humans!
"Many years ago, when I just read this paragraph, I was very surprised. I used my own knowledge to draw the line of light. After studying it for a long time, I was sure that the author had not made a mistake."
When the young man said this, he couldn't help but smile, with memories and reluctance in his eyes. This reminded him of the years before he came to this continent.
After the mermaids' questions were answered, they curiously asked this "new friend without a tail":
"Humans on earth, why did you come to this sea?"
Rhine took the opportunity to tell his purpose:
"We are here to find a sea hag. She is a sea witch who is proficient in black magic. We want to ask her for a small favor. You must know where she is, right?"
When the little mermaids heard the coming intention of the two humans, their expressions suddenly changed, and they were extremely surprised:
"No way?"
"He actually came to find that sea witch!"
"Does anyone really dare to go find her?"
"We mermaids in the sea don't dare to go to her! How can humans on earth be so bold?"
"Don't go, that's a scary guy who is proficient in black magic. Nothing good will happen if you go to her for help."
"..."
Note 1: The celestial bodies that mermaids see from the water are larger. That’s what Andersen said anyway. I spent 10 seconds briefly thinking about the refraction diagram, and it seemed like this. If there's a mistake it's Andersen's fault.
(End of chapter)