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xkcd #3106: Farads (infosec.pub)

submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by xkcdbot@lemmy.world to c/xkcd@lemmy.world

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xkcd #3106: Farads

Title text:

'This HAZMAT container contains radioactive material with activity of one becquerel.' 'So, like, a single banana slice?'

Transcript:

[Cueball holds a stick while talking with Megan and White Hat.]
Cueball: This stick is one meter long.
Megan: Cool.
White Hat: That's a nice stick.

[Cueball holds a smallish rock.]
Cueball: This rock weighs one pound.
Megan: I'd believe it.
White Hat: Looks like a normal rock.

[Cueball holds a small battery.]
Cueball: This battery is one volt.
Megan: Seems fine.
White Hat: Might need a recharge.

[Cueball holds a capacitor while Megan and White Hat panic.]
Cueball: This capacitor is one farad.
Megan: Aaaaa! Be careful!!
White Hat: Put it down!!

Source: https://xkcd.com/3106/

explainxkcd for #3106

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[–] emeralddawn45@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 5 days ago (3 children)

Thats literally exactly what it is. They aren't derived from the metric system like all units in the system, theyre a specialized edge case where a conversion was specifically written in because america sucks. There are no other conversions in the metric system, units are derived from constants based on a set of specific rules that the pound and yard do not adhere to.

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

And I have to say, the chemistry math that resulted from the metric system is elegant. I've forgotten most of it by now, but at some point, I was able to envision the machinery behind it all, and it was beautiful.

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