An Enigma (things that get on my goat)

[ROb McGilp]

Hi all,

Imagine a piece of timber, 1"long x 1 molecule wide x 1 molecule deep. Is the number of molecules within this sample finite or infinite?
Imagine then, a power tool with a sliding speed adjustment starting arbitrarily at "0" and going to "6".
Is the number of available speeds here finite or infinite?

Regards,

The man who doesn't know who he is. :-\

 

[bruegf]

In reality I don't believe either is infinite.  A molecule has a defined size for a given molecular structure, so there are a defined number of them that will line up in a 1" space, name 1 / (size of the molecule).

In theory there should be an infinite number of speeds but since the speed control has a potentiometer that has wire windings with a sweeper arm that makes contact on a particular winding and there a a finite number of windings within the device, the number of speeds are also finite.

That's my take on - who know's if I'm right though

Fred

 

[Dan Lyke]

Count me in the "both are finite" category as well.

But I'd have made my variable speed dial go to 11.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

About all I remember from Calculus was the phrase "....approaches infinity".  Mr. Heisenberg might say the number of speeds is 'indeterminate'.  ???

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Infinite, you guys chould check your quantum mechanics.

Its hard to determine where one molecule ends and another begins.

Anyway, show me anything "finite" in Physics.

Yea, Jessie got it 'indeterminate'.

 

[CharlesWilson]

Are you sure that the potentiometer is wire wound?

However, even if it were carbon film, we are back to atoms, so in either case it is finite.

Charles

 

[semenza]

Count me in the "both are finite" category as well.

But I'd have made my variable speed dial go to 11.

  Hi,

    Is this a Spinal Tap referance?

Seth

 

[woodshopdemos]

I wont believe it until I see a photo. Preferably in metric molecules.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

     I don't know about the physics of molecules. And I would say that the speed is finite. A brief look through of the Festool catalog does not seem to include the word infinite.  I don't know exactly were but I think I have seen Stepless Variable Speed in a Festool description. Luckily for us we can leave the debate of finite/ infinite variable speed to other tool manufacturers! 8)

Seth Semenza

 

[Dan Lyke]

The really silly thing about this discussion is that I'm currently working on a consumer electronics device that uses a potentiometer and all sorts of software hacks (because potentiometers drift over time) to look like a knob with discrete steps, because it's quite a bit cheaper to use a potentiometer than a digital encoder.

 

[ROb McGilp]

Hi all,

Wow!

While I agree that molecules will overlap and have bonding between them, each molecule can be defined as a discrete entity. The point is, that in both cases, the limits of the set involved are clearly defined, therefore they cannot be infinite sets.
Its not just tool manufacturers that claim infinite variability, (infinite colours on a computer monitor?) but this is an example of misleading and flippant use of language. Pleas don't take offence Rick, but it's the same as qualifying something unique as relative, very, almost etc. The case just doesn't exist!
Another example is grains of sand on the beach, or rocks on Earth.

Regards,

Rob

 

[Bob Childress]

Another example is grains of sand on the beach, or rocks on Earth.

Next, you'll be wanting to refute Zeno's Paradox.  ;D But you'll never get there! 

 

[ROb McGilp]

Bob,

I'm talking goats here, not a pair o' ducks belonging to some philosopher. ;D

Rob

 

[Llap Goch]

Mr McGilp

Is your Goat pretty? I would like to eat, sorry meet, her.

Simou

 

[Bob Childress]

Rob,

I have always said, and I always shall say: your mind works in mysterious ways. 

 

[ROb McGilp]

Llap,
Yes she's very pretty. When do I meet Simou, see I'm rather fond of dogs..of dogs..

Mr Parslow