Physics misused in advertising (that most people wouldnt notice)

[ShawnD]

Xenon bulbs use the latest in halogen technology to produce whiter, brighter light. Halogen gases (such as Xenon) burn at a higher "Kelvin temperature" than standard incandescent bulbs, for output that is closer in color to natural sunlight.

Xenon is not a halogen.

Do you all get these ads for putting nitrogen in your tires instead of air? They claim they hold tire pressure longer because nitrogen is bigger than either oxygen or regular air (I think I've heard both) so doesn't leak out through the rubber as easily.

The only somewhat realistic advantage would be that nitrogen is inert so it wouldn't oxidize the tires from the inside. Oxidation from the inside isn't really a big factor though since the sun and driving is what kills your tires.


My favourite is how companies put vitamins in shampoo. Hair is actually dead; adding vitamins does absolutely nothing for your hair. Even if vitamins did something, you wouldn't be able to absorb it because vitamins are water soluble. The large amount of water used in the shower would just wash the vitamins out of your hair.

When the Gillette Trac II razor first came out, the commercial showed how the first blade pulls and streches the hair, and the second blade effectively cuts the hair below the skin's surface. This was probably back in the early to mid 70's.

Then, Saturday Night Live plays on the Gillette commercial with the Track IV razor. "The first blade streches the hair, the next blade grabs it and streches it further, then the third blade streches the hair even more, finally the fourth blade cuts the hair". The commercial ends with: "Why? Because you'll believe anything".
Now they are actually selling these things!

They also did one about something like 10 blades. One blade cuts closer. The next is a little bit closer. The next is a little bit closer. The illustration showed that 10 blades would each cut a little bit of hair, but leave a substantial amount of hair behind. Then it showed the people who used it, and they all had quite a bit of scruff left behind.
Mad TV did one about a 20 blade razor where it did the opposite. The illustration showed it take off some hair, then more hair, then all the hair, then a little skin, then lots of skin. The users were all bandaged up.

 

[chroot]

I think one of those razor spoofs included a blade that did not actually touch the hair, but only taunted it.

- Warren

 

[franznietzsche]

Xenon is not a halogen.


The only somewhat realistic advantage would be that nitrogen is inert so it wouldn't oxidize the tires from the inside. Oxidation from the inside isn't really a big factor though since the sun and driving is what kills your tires.

Xenon is not halogen,you are right.

Nitrogen gas is not inert, you are wrong. It can react as an oxidizing agent, oxygen is just better at it. If you've ever burned magnesium metal (college/AP chem) you've probably had tog et rid of the magnesium nitride using water to change it to ammonia as part of the lab.

 

[ShawnD]

Well for the most part N2 is inert. You certainly can't burn hydrocarbons with it.

 

[franznietzsche]

Well for the most part N2 is inert. You certainly can't burn hydrocarbons with it.

That doesn't make it inert. Any metal will react with it, and many nonmetals will form compounds with ti as well. Its is far from inert.

 

[Moonbear]

That doesn't make it inert. Any metal will react with it, and many nonmetals will form compounds with ti as well. Its is far from inert.

I'm trying to figure out what's on the inside of the tire that isn't on the outside that would be of concern for reacting with air anyway. I've never had a tire wear out from the inside, it's the tread wear on the outside that does them in, and if you aren't driving and just letting the tires sit around on a clunker car, 1) who cares, and 2) they'll still dry rot from the outside in.

 

[matthyaouw]

"Let the fresh fruits revitalize your hair, leaving your hair feeling renewed to start your wonderful glorious day."

Quite odd considering most shampoos have either sodium laurel sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate as their main ingredient, and whatever fruits extracts they do have provide little more than fragrance . Obvious advertisement ploy.

You have to watch just how they word it. They most often say that the shampoo works with micro fruit oils (Micro f**king fruit oils?) to repair damaged hair etc... They do not say the micro fruit oils (Really? micro fruit oils? what in the hell is a micro fruit oil supposed to be? Regular oil but smaller?) work to repair hair, but say the shampoo works to do it, and the micro fruit oil (why in the hell would I want a shampoo to make my hair oily?) just happens to be with it at the time.

 

[motai]

You have to watch just how they word it. They most often say that the shampoo works with micro fruit oils (Micro f**king fruit oils?) to repair damaged hair etc... They do not say the micro fruit oils (Really? micro fruit oils? what in the hell is a micro fruit oil supposed to be? Regular oil but smaller?) work to repair hair, but say the shampoo works to do it, and the micro fruit oil (why in the hell would I want a shampoo to make my hair oily?) just happens to be with it at the time.

Are you referring to those commercials which have the small beads of "micro oils" infusing into damaged hair? I personally can't tell the difference between most shampoos, so I tend to go generic.

 

[tribdog]

micro fruit oils are not small oils, they are regular oil, but come from micro fruit. duh

 

[brewnog]

I love shampoo adverts. I think my ideal job would be to invent ridiculous pop science for these things. My favourite is Pantene Pro V.

"90% more softness", "85% more shine", "95% damage repair", "65% less frizz" and "hair looking up to 35% thicker" are just some of the gems on their website at the moment.

So, chemists, what's the SI unit of frizz these days? And just who are 'boswellox' and 'ceraneutrides' attributed to? And whereabouts in the periodic table is 'neutrillium' supposed to fit?!

 

[franznietzsche]

Hmmm, micro strawberries, all the flavour and joy of regular strawberries, but without the bedroom utility...

Oh, wait...

 

[KingNothing]

I think the Mach razor ad was Mach 13, but I could be wrong. Also, in regards to the 'unit of frizz' comment, I guess they could take some sort of survey ranking different hairs...but even then that wouldn't be scientific. But on a more serious note, has anyone ever dreamed of inventing units and measurements for things like this? I have a little bit.

 

[franznietzsche]

It was Mach 3. I actually use that one, its pretty good.

 

[Moonbear]

I think the Mach razor ad was Mach 13, but I could be wrong. Also, in regards to the 'unit of frizz' comment, I guess they could take some sort of survey ranking different hairs...but even then that wouldn't be scientific. But on a more serious note, has anyone ever dreamed of inventing units and measurements for things like this? I have a little bit.

One of my friends and I were discussing stuffed animals once. It was in relation to online shopping, because we were saying you can't buy stuffed animals online since the feel is so important to the choice. So, we were coming up with a new unit of measure, the squishability index. The higher the number, the more squishable.

 

[Moonbear]

I love shampoo adverts. I think my ideal job would be to invent ridiculous pop science for these things. My favourite is Pantene Pro V.

"90% more softness", "85% more shine", "95% damage repair", "65% less frizz" and "hair looking up to 35% thicker" are just some of the gems on their website at the moment.

So, chemists, what's the SI unit of frizz these days? And just who are 'boswellox' and 'ceraneutrides' attributed to? And whereabouts in the periodic table is 'neutrillium' supposed to fit?!

Okay, I don't care what they put in the shampoo, but if you had long hair like I do, you begin to acquire an appreciation for differences in shampoos. But, what I've noticed is no one shampoo works in all conditions, it really depends more on how a particular shampoo works in combination with the hardness of your water and the humidity of the environment. When it's wintertime and very dry, the oils added to the shampoo do help to keep hair softer feeling instead of feeling all dry and frizzy. I don't really care if they come from micro fruits or macro fruits

But, yeah, shampoo commercials are pretty funny. The only thing micro fruits seem to do is to make the shampoo smell pretty...or pretty nasty. I can't stand those overly perfumed shampoos like Pantene. Though I really do like the scent of Herbal Essence. It didn't do much for my hair though. I think Suave shampoos are some of the best, and oddly enough, they are always among the cheapest.

 

[ek]

So, chemists, what's the SI unit of frizz these days?

That one made me laugh.

 

[tribdog]

I have a problem with some shampoo's that have urea as an ingredient. Call me crazy but when I'm in the shower I'm the one doing the peeing.
Anyone tried the vibrating Mach 3? I like it, hate shaving, like the razor though.

 

[KingNothing]

One of my friends and I were discussing stuffed animals once. It was in relation to online shopping, because we were saying you can't buy stuffed animals online since the feel is so important to the choice. So, we were coming up with a new unit of measure, the squishability index. The higher the number, the more squishable.

Actually, I suppose you could do some sort of comparison based on how much % air by volume is in the animal.

Also, just to add to the thread, anti-cigarette ads misuse chemicals all the time. And if not misuse, abuse, by saying things like "this chemical is used in drano, and this one is used in toilet bowl cleaner". I'm sure someone who wanted to support cigarettes could come up with an argument citing ingredients that are in apples and oranges and such as well.

 

[tribdog]

I don't know the name of the show, but I was just flipping through the channels. Lifetime channel. some guy is describing a girl he killed and and says "there was a rope burn right above her Adam's apple."

 

[franznietzsche]

I probably wouldn't have caught that while flipping channels. Nice one.

 

[tribdog]

it is on right now. Shannon Doheufgheikleih, Shannon Daugheoaqoherhj, that girl from 90210, is the star.

 

[KingNothing]

I don't get it...what's wrong with a rope burn above someone's adam's apple?

 

[ShawnD]

I don't get it...what's wrong with a rope burn above someone's adam's apple?

I don't get it either.

 

[selfAdjoint]

Women aren't supposed to have Adam's apples ("Adam's", get it?). Of course they have voice boxes but in most women they are not so obvious on the outside as they are in most men.

 

[tribdog]

lol, you been kissing girls with Adam's apples? maybe late at night, bar's getting ready to close? some lady with an adam's apple and five o'clock shadow has been hitting on you all night? She's looking mighty fine through your beer goggles? You go out to your car and make out, she pleasures you, but won't let you touch her bulge?
Don't worry, we've all been there.

 

[franznietzsche]

lol, you been kissing girls with Adam's apples? maybe late at night, bar's getting ready to close? some lady with an adam's apple and five o'clock shadow has been hitting on you all night? She's looking mighty fine through your beer goggles? You go out to your car and make out, she pleasures you, but won't let you touch her bulge?
Don't worry, we've all been there.

Be nice trib, they're inexperienced high school kids. Those nightmares haven't caught up with them like they havewithyou. Now just take three deep breaths, and repeat your mantra...


But yeah, women aren't supposedto have Adam's apples guys. You might want to reevaluate your girlfriends real quick.

And its Shannon Doherty. Come 'on trib she's not that hot,you should still be able to spell her name while drooling over her.

 

[Mk]

That one made me laugh.

yep, me too.

Okay, I don't care what they put in the shampoo, but if you had long hair like I do, you begin to acquire an appreciation for differences in shampoos. But, what I've noticed is no one shampoo works in all conditions, it really depends more on how a particular shampoo works in combination with the hardness of your water and the humidity of the environment. When it's wintertime and very dry, the oils added to the shampoo do help to keep hair softer feeling instead of feeling all dry and frizzy. I don't really care if they come from micro fruits or macro fruits

But, yeah, shampoo commercials are pretty funny. The only thing micro fruits seem to do is to make the shampoo smell pretty...or pretty nasty. I can't stand those overly perfumed shampoos like Pantene. Though I really do like the scent of Herbal Essence. It didn't do much for my hair though. I think Suave shampoos are some of the best, and oddly enough, they are always among the cheapest.

I didn't know that about the shampoo varities! I had Suave's coconut shampoo, its smell was so strong I threw most of it down the drain.

 

[ek]

I saw an ad a couple days ago that was an animation where a diver was jumping on a diving board then magically jumped off at about -30 degrees, or the opposite direction she should have gone.

Very weird indeed.

 

[Nylex]

There's an ad for Baileys over here and it's set in a zero-gravity bar. Interestingly, the people and the alcohol are floating, yet the bar's furniture isn't. Also, yesterday I saw a Paco Rabanne fragance for men that was called "Ultraviolet". Hmm..

 

[matthyaouw]

There's an ad for Baileys over here and it's set in a zero-gravity bar. Interestingly, the people and the alcohol are floating, yet the bar's furniture isn't.

Nails and glue work wonders in such situations. :P