The questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread VIII

[MagisterCultuum]

What's the difference between a country and a nation?

Historically a Country was the land while a Nation was a people/ethnic group. As many (most?) States today are Nation-States, Nation is often seen as a synonym for Nation-States or just State. Country may be used as a synonym for state too instead of just the territory over which the State's authority extends.

 

[Dachs]

Nah, it sounds far cooler than that. I think its Italian in origin.

Consigliere?

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Consigliere?

That's the one!

 

[GinandTonic]

That's the one!

Steward had similar connotations before it's meaning shifted very much down market.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

How much and how long would the EMP damage from a high altitude nuclear explosion over the Eastern Seaboard last? Assuming that the pulse is large enough to encompass Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C.?

 

[PeteAtoms]

Spoiler :

The case of a nuclear electromagnetic pulse differs from other kinds of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) in being a complex electromagnetic multi-pulse. The complex multi-pulse is usually described in terms of three components, and these three components have been defined as such by the international standards commission called the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).[17]

The three components of nuclear EMP, as defined by the IEC, are called E1, E2 and E3.

The E1 pulse is the very fast component of nuclear EMP. The E1 component has an intense electric field that can quickly induce very high voltages in electrical conductors. E1 is the component that can destroy computers and communications equipment and is too fast for ordinary lightning protectors.

The E1 component is produced when gamma radiation from the nuclear detonation knocks electrons out of the atoms in the upper atmosphere. The electrons travel in a generally downward direction at relativistic speeds (more than 90 percent of the speed of light). This essentially produces a large pulse of electrical current vertically in the upper atmosphere over the entire affected area. This electrical current is acted upon by the Earth's magnetic field to produce a very large, but very brief, electromagnetic pulse over the affected area.[18]

The E2 component of the pulse has many similarities to the electromagnetic pulses produced by lightning. Because of the similarities to lightning-caused pulses and the widespread use of lightning protection technology, the E2 pulse is generally considered to be the easiest to protect against.

The E3 component of the pulse is a very slow pulse, lasting tens to hundreds of seconds, that is caused by the nuclear detonation heaving the Earth's magnetic field out of the way, followed by the restoration of the magnetic field to its natural place. The E3 component has similarities to a geomagnetic storm caused by a very severe solar flare.[19][20] Like a geomagnetic storm, E3 can produce geomagnetically induced currents in long electrical conductors, which can then damage components such as power line transformers.

For a more thorough description of E3 damage mechanisms, see the main article: Geomagnetically induced current

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

IIRC, a nuclear explosion about 100 miles (or is it kilometers?) above the Central USA can knock out electricity over most of the lower 48 and Canada. I think the EMP damage lasts forever.

 

[GinandTonic]

IIRC, a nuclear explosion about 100 miles (or is it kilometers?) above the Central USA can knock out electricity over most of the lower 48 and Canada. I think the EMP damage lasts forever.

But in the main the damage of the EMP pulse is fused transistors, so while in a sense it does last forever that's kind of overblowing the situation. The damage of a blown fuse lasts forever but that doesnt in itself make it a biggie.

 

[Glassfan]

But in the main the damage of the EMP pulse is fused transistors, so while in a sense it does last forever that's kind of overblowing the situation. The damage of a blown fuse lasts forever but that doesnt in itself make it a biggie.

But it would be a biggie!

Virtually all unprotected electronics would be fused. Cars, cells phones, computers, televisions, radios, CD and DVD players, iPods, kitchen appliances, vibrators, lights, elevators, and anything with embedded chips would fail.

The power grid would be down. No water, electricity, gas, television cable, or phone service of any kind. No 911, no cops or ambulances or hospitals. No trucks or trains or tractors. Planes would fall out of the sky. Ships would become derelict. Collapse of infrastructure. Food shortages, rioting, rape and murder.

Basically a return to the stone age.

Other parts of the country might send aid, but expect a massive human die-off and a severe decline in GDP.

Find Whitley Schrieber's "War Day" in the library if you're interested.

 

[Ulyaoth]

So the way to go isn't to bomb the cities, but to destroy half the country with the em pulse, right?

 

[Lord Baal]

So the way to go isn't to bomb the cities, but to destroy half the country with the em pulse, right?

Actually, this is the reason for Israel's fear of nukes, far more than the destruction actual bombing could cause. A single nuke detonated in the right area could knock out a large amount of Israel's electronics, including defence equipment. I read a pretty good book on the subject once, by one of Moshe Dayan's aides. Can't remember the name though. So yeah, it is.

 

[Karalysia]

Where did the saying beaten like a red-headed step-child come from? Oddest saying I've heard.

 

[Shekwan]

Should a colelge reaction paper have a bibliography?

 

[holy king]

Steward had similar connotations before it's meaning shifted very much down market.

consigliere just means advisor in italian i think.

 

[holy king]

Where did the saying beaten like a red-headed step-child come from? Oddest saying I've heard.

well, if you're gonna beat a red-headed child that even is just a step child you're gonna beat it pretty badly.
geographically i'd say england.

 

[Cutlass]

Where did the saying beaten like a red-headed step-child come from? Oddest saying I've heard.

I think it has to do with the fact that red hair is often a genetic anomaly. And so can appear randomly in some European populations. So people back when they didn't know that would assume that they didn't know who the kid's father was. And illegitimate children were not treated well much of the time.

 

[Dachs]

Should a colelge reaction paper have a bibliography?

Almost certainly not. To what are you reacting?

 

[Lord Baal]

When did it become accepted that there wasn't a 10th planet in our system? I'm reading Rama II, and Arthur C. Clarke mentions the supposed 10th planet, Persephone, in it. I would have thought Persephone was well and truly proven false by 1989.

 

[PeteAtoms]

When did it become accepted that there wasn't a 10th planet in our system? I'm reading Rama II, and Arthur C. Clarke mentions the supposed 10th planet, Persephone, in it. I would have thought Persephone was well and truly proven false by 1989.

It's a science fiction novel?

 

[Lord Baal]

It's a science fiction novel?

It's Arthur C. Clarke. He's very accurate scientifically, and with Rama was really working to keep it believable. Besides, sci-fi concepts like a 10th planet disappeared with the pulps and the establishment of bona fide sci-fi specialists like Clarke and Asimov.