Counting Seconds to Estimate Storm Distance

[Jimmy Snyder]

We got some cool weather today along with some scattered showers. My wife was sitting there in deep concentration so I asked her what she was thinking. She said she was counting the seconds between the lighting flash and the thunder. She said that the light gets here much faster than the sound and you can estimate the distance to the storm by measuring the difference. I said that it wouldn't work since A. Einstein proved that nothing can travel faster than the speed of sound in a vacuum, and how stupid she was to say such a thing. I'm not half as stupid as you are she remarked. Oh yes you are said I. She had no comeback for that zinger and so she just sat there with a sheepish grin on her face.

 

[russ_watters]

Just tell her you were drunk and you're sorry and it'll be ok.

 

[edward]

After she thinks about that one for a while you are going to be in trouble.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Yes, nothing can exceed the Hoover velocity.

 

[jtbell]

Then there's the Hoover radius, within which no dust particle can pass without being sucked permanently into a black bag.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Then there's the Hoover radius, within which no dust particle can pass without being sucked permanently into a black bag.

It was a real Eureka moment when they discovered that one!