Thursday, January 31, 2008
Time
Time is a basic component of the measuring system used to string events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to measure the motions of objects. Time has been a major subject of religion, philosophy, and science, but defining time in a non-controversial manner applicable to all fields of study has constantly eluded the greatest scholars.
In physics and other sciences, time is considered one of the few essential quantities. Time is used to define other quantites – such as speed – and defining time in terms of such quantities would result in circularity of definition. Within science, the only definition needed or possible is an operational one, in which a system is given for defining the base unit of time (the second).
Among philosophers, there are two distinct viewpoints on time. One view is that time is part of the fundamental structure of the universe, a dimension in which events occur in sequence. Sir Isaac Newton subscribed to this realist view, and hence it is sometimes referred to as Newtonian time. The opposing view is that time does not refer to any kind of "container" that events and objects "move through", nor to any entity that "flows", but that it is instead part of a fundamental intellectual structure (together with space and number) within which humans sequence and compare events. This second view, in the tradition of Gottfried Leibniz and Immanuel Kant, holds that time cannot itself be measured.
Temporal measurement has occupied scientists and technologists, and was a prime enthusiasm in astronomy. Episodic events and intermittent motion have long served as values for units of time. Examples include the apparent motion of the sun across the sky, the phases of the moon, the swing of a pendulum, and the beat of a heart. Presently, the international unit of time, the second, is defined as a certain number of hyperfine transitions in caesium atoms (see below). Time is also of momentous social importance, having economic value ("time is money") as well as personal value, due to an awareness of the limited time in each day and in human lifespans.
In physics and other sciences, time is considered one of the few essential quantities. Time is used to define other quantites – such as speed – and defining time in terms of such quantities would result in circularity of definition. Within science, the only definition needed or possible is an operational one, in which a system is given for defining the base unit of time (the second).
Among philosophers, there are two distinct viewpoints on time. One view is that time is part of the fundamental structure of the universe, a dimension in which events occur in sequence. Sir Isaac Newton subscribed to this realist view, and hence it is sometimes referred to as Newtonian time. The opposing view is that time does not refer to any kind of "container" that events and objects "move through", nor to any entity that "flows", but that it is instead part of a fundamental intellectual structure (together with space and number) within which humans sequence and compare events. This second view, in the tradition of Gottfried Leibniz and Immanuel Kant, holds that time cannot itself be measured.
Temporal measurement has occupied scientists and technologists, and was a prime enthusiasm in astronomy. Episodic events and intermittent motion have long served as values for units of time. Examples include the apparent motion of the sun across the sky, the phases of the moon, the swing of a pendulum, and the beat of a heart. Presently, the international unit of time, the second, is defined as a certain number of hyperfine transitions in caesium atoms (see below). Time is also of momentous social importance, having economic value ("time is money") as well as personal value, due to an awareness of the limited time in each day and in human lifespans.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tiger
The tiger is a mammal of the Felidae family, one of four large cats in the Panther a genus. Native to the mainland of southeastern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and the largest feline species in the world, similar in size to the biggest fossil felids. The Bengal Tiger is the most general subspecies of tiger, constituting approximately 80% of the entire tiger population, and is found in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal. An endangered species, the popular of the world's tigers now live in captivity.
The tiger is introverted and territorial, preferring cover in deep forest, but also ranging in open areas. The cat hunts by stalk-and-ambush and may take a variety of mid- and large-sized prey, particularly ungulates. Males are much larger than females and have bigger home ranges. Amongst the nine extant tiger subspecies, there is major size variation.
The tiger is introverted and territorial, preferring cover in deep forest, but also ranging in open areas. The cat hunts by stalk-and-ambush and may take a variety of mid- and large-sized prey, particularly ungulates. Males are much larger than females and have bigger home ranges. Amongst the nine extant tiger subspecies, there is major size variation.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Papaya
The papaya is a fruit of the tree. It is a small tree, the single stem growing from 5 to 10 m tall, with spirally set leaves confined to the top of the trunk, the lower trunk is obviously scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. The leaves are large, 50-70 cm width, deeply palmately lobed with 7 lobes. The tree is typically unbranched if unlopped. The flowers are similar in shape to the flowers of the Plumeria but are much slighter and wax like. They appear on the axils of the leaves, maturing into the large 15-45 cm long and 10-30 cm diameter fruit. The fruit is ripe when it feels soft and its skin has attained amber to orange hue. The fruit's taste is vaguely similar to pineapple and peach, although much milder without the tartness, creamier, and more fragrant, with a texture of a little over-ripened cantaloupe.
The primary use of the papaya is as an safe to eat fruit. The ripe fruit is generally eaten raw, without the skin or seeds. The unripe green fruit of papaya can be eaten ripe, usually in curries, salads and stews.
The primary use of the papaya is as an safe to eat fruit. The ripe fruit is generally eaten raw, without the skin or seeds. The unripe green fruit of papaya can be eaten ripe, usually in curries, salads and stews.
