The World's Largest Computer in 1951

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The discussion centers around two significant machines: the ENIAC, an early computer that was 10 feet tall, weighed 30 tons, and required 150 kilowatts of power, and the Russian Ekranoplan, a ground effect vehicle that could travel over 400 km/h and weighed 540 tons. The ENIAC utilized a vast number of electronic components but had less processing power than a modern pocket calculator. The Ekranoplan, developed by the Soviet Union, operates just above water using a shock wave principle, allowing it to travel over various terrains. The conversation also touches on trivia and historical facts about these machines, highlighting their unique engineering and capabilities. Overall, the thread showcases a blend of technical details and engaging quiz-like interactions.
  • #1,081
Hmmm...are you sure about the invention of balances?

I found this site http://www1.fis.uc.pt/museu/mecclsing.htm that says this:
Balances had been constructed long before the theory of levers was completely understood. The balance with a pointer on arms of equal length and weights (instruments 14 to 16) comes from ancient times. From the third century BC it competed with the "Roman" balance which had a sliding pointer on a graduated shaft (instruments 18 and 19). The two kinds are known as drop-pan balances since the pans are below the pointer. It was Gilles Personne de Roberval who, in 1669, devised a balance with raised pans, kept horizontal by an articulated parallelogram. It was not until the 19th century, however, that Roberval's balance became widely used in shops and homes.
 
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  • #1,082
Gokul43201 said:
Oops...Black, it was , eh ? Nevermind. Evo's up.
No Moonbear guessed what it was. MB, take it away.

Good one Dex!
 
  • #1,083
Evo said:
Joseph Black 1754
Evo, if you have a clue ready, you can take this one.
 
  • #1,084
Moonbear said:
Hmmm...are you sure about the invention of balances?

I found this site http://www1.fis.uc.pt/museu/mecclsing.htm that says this:
I had thrown scales & balances out as an answer because they've been around long before BC, but Dex is correct as far as being revolutionary to chemistry.
 
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  • #1,085
This thread sure moves fast. Three posts before I could correct myself !
 
  • #1,086
Here's the story behind it all:

Back in the XI-the grade,my phys teacher said it and attributed wrongly to Lavoisier,and this was supposed to have happen ~1777/8.I took it and believed it and last year in November,when i was at a library at KUL,i read a 1935 book on Lavoisier in which this fact comes across:the young chemist Lavoisier read the book written by Black (maybe you can find the title) around 1750 in which Black described his experiments in which he thought of using a balance.

Then Lavoisier put this idea to good use...

Daniel.

P.S.Black was more of a physician than a chemist.
 
  • #1,087
I have one ready; if neither of you (MB/Evo) minds ...
 
  • #1,088
Evo said:
I had thrown scales & balances out as an answer because they've been around long before BC, but Dex is correct as far as being revolutionary to chemistry.
The reason it is a sucky clue is that every major early breakthrough in chemistry could accurately be described as a "revolution".
 
  • #1,089
Gokul43201 said:
I have one ready; if neither of you (MB/Evo) minds ...
Fine with me...go for it.
 
  • #1,090
Alright,i think Moonbear won it,unless any of you mentors want to change the replies...:-p

Moonbear,you're up.

Daniel.
 
  • #1,091
In 1932 a 10-pack of this was packaged differently.

<chew on it; I'll be back in a little while>
 
  • #1,092
Moonbear said:
Fine with me...go for it.
go gokul... :approve:
 
  • #1,093
gone already
 
  • #1,094
Gokul43201 said:
In 1932 a 10-pack of this was packaged differently.

<chew on it; I'll be back in a little while>
Obvious guess: chewing gum.
 
  • #1,095
Gokul43201 said:
In 1932 a 10-pack of this was packaged differently.

<chew on it; I'll be back in a little while>
Wrigley's gum
 
  • #1,096
Gokul43201 said:
In 1932 a 10-pack of this was packaged differently.

<chew on it; I'll be back in a little while>
This can't be it, but being a BBQ type weekend, hot dogs and hot dog buns come to mind (maybe that's when they made it 8 hot dogs and 10 buns so you need to keep buying more packages?) :smile:
 
  • #1,097
A 10-pack of Wrigley's gum was the first product to wear a barcode.

I'm going to give it to Zoovo.
 
  • #1,098
Wow, that was quick! I missed the entire round :mad:

Bed time, night all x-x-x-x-x-x
 
  • #1,099
Evo, you go.
 
  • #1,100
I've got one.

The nuclear era was defined by this invention. The inventor credited was held prisoner by the Russians and forced to invent this.
 
  • #1,101
Evo said:
I've got one.

The inventor credited was held prisoner by the Russians and forced to invent this.
The lead lined anti radiation suit?
 
  • #1,102
zoobyshoe said:
The lead lined anti radiation suit?
heheh good guess
 
  • #1,103
Evo said:
heheh good guess
Meh...is it right?
 
  • #1,104
zoobyshoe said:
Meh...is it right?
No, but having one around this wouldn't be a bad idea. :-p
 
  • #1,105
kryptonite :biggrin: :wink: I'm off...
 
  • #1,106
a hint - what it produces is bursts of atomic energy and splits in two easily
 
  • #1,107
x-ray laser pointers?
 
  • #1,109
dextercioby said:
Sorry,Evo...:wink:

http://www.electricityforum.com/news/mar04/centrifuge.html

Dr.Gernot Zippe "The invention was the uranium centrifuge, and around the world, millions of them now spin in high-security plants often ringed by barbed wire."

I guess he was a common aquiaintance of mr.Kurchatov.

Daniel.
Correct!
 
  • #1,110
I'll let Moonbear pick the challange.She owes one for her "balance":wink:

Daniel.
 

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