This morning I discovered both a new word and something that makes scientists seem less a group of cold boffins and more a bunch of pragmatists with a sense of humour.
The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
Which states "if two systems are separately in thermal equilibrium with a third, then they must also be in thermal equilibrium with each other". But really I just thought it was funny. Zeroth! Haha!
Posted by biondino at February 20, 2003 09:19 AMif i remember correctly, the zeroth law is one responsible for entropy, which gave us such surefire comedy moments as the custard pie in the face, the fall into Maplin's swimming pool, and the sneeze that knocks over the world's tallest tower of cards.
you see, entropy is fun!
Posted by: johnny ball on February 20, 2003 03:28 PMMr Ball, you're thinking of the 2nd law of thermodynamics. Nice website, btw.
Posted by: Mark on February 20, 2003 09:02 PMhahahaha - zeroth! scientific laws n' stuff are the best when you can run around saying "by zeroth i dub thee thermally equal!" this is funny x 10. thanks for the good laugh, mark :)
Posted by: robyn on February 21, 2003 03:06 AMAh yes.
As any Dr Who fan know, Maxwell's Second Law of Thermodynamics is "Entropy Increases".
Sadly, most of my scientific knowledge comes from that show. So despite some decent cosmological and physics knowledge, I also think that police boxes travel through time and you make a sonic screwdriver get you out of anything.