Criss Cross Applesauce

           Well, here’s what you get for thinking. I’ve often marveled at the way conversations break into parts during a dinner party. You’ll see two people talking across the table, while their partners are also talking, across them.

          But nobody’s words bump into anyone else’s. It’s like the sound waves know to jump to one side and let the “property development” conversation weave between the “airline schedule” conversation, and maybe even a third “doctor appointment” conversation.

          So I looked up why this happens. I mean, if we were tossing water balloons, or using Super Soakers filled with paint, the water and the paint would collide and mix together, right?

           Turns out that molecules will indeed crash. But sound? Nope. Those aren’t molecules. They’re waves that are independent of each other. But the physics folks have to tell you in a language all their own:  “The speed of sound in the atmosphere is approximatively 330 m/s. However the typical speed of diatomic nitrogen is 442 m/s. Yes, individual molecules move faster than the speed of sound!"

          They use words like superposition, orthogonal force vectors, infinite dimensional space, and hertz (named after Heinrich Hertz who always seems to show up in these discussions).

          Maybe next time, bring a tiny squirt gun. You know, just to prove a point.

Meanwhile, you can watch my Youtube Mom videos, filled with easy life hacks!