NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #16/NN_1992_16.iso/spool/sci/physics/fusion/1771

Internet Message Format | 1992-07-22 | 2.6 KB

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From: [e-mail] (John Logajan)
Newsgroups: sci.physics.fusion
Subject: Cell constants -- for children only
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 22 Jul 92 19:14:37 GMT
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Here is my laymen's interpretation of what the debate is over
"cell constants" and *changing* cell constants.  This *IS*
directed at children, so no offense intended to others. :-)

Suppose you have a genetic defect that makes you like a cold
blooded lizard -- no automatic systems to regulate your body
temperature.  Scientists are fascinated, so they stick a
remote thermometer *in* your chest, and montior your temperature
by radio relay.

Now, when you exert yourself, your temperature rises, but
you also lose heat to the outside environment.  The greater
the difference between your temperature and the outside
temperature, the faster you lose heat.  At any level of
exertion, you will reach an equilibrium temperature where
you are losing heat just as fast as you are creating it.

If the scientists believe they know your rate of heat
loss, your "cell constant", they can determine your rate
of heat generation by examining the time/temperature plots
from the remote thermometer.

Suppose, however, you put on an overcoat without telling
them.  Now you lose heat much slower for the same difference
in internal versus external temperature.  For any given
level of exertion, your internal temperature will climb
higher and quicker than the same exertion without the
overcoat.

If the remote scientist doesn't know about the coat, and
you exert yourself, he may well see record high temperature
levels, and erroneously assume you are putting out super-
human (well, you are a lizard, after all :-) levels of
exertion.  But you really aren't doing anything more than
you usually do.  Only your "cell constant" has changed.

I think Tom Droege was claiming the the "cell constant" of
the Takahasi changed because at high current, more bubbles
caused a better stirring of internal heat to the outside
walls of the container.  When in the low current mode,
bubble production dropped off and stirring was much less
vigoruos.

The stilled water became like an overcoat, and if you failed
to correct for the overcoat effect, your assumptions about the
rate of heat loss would make it look like the system was
producing unusual amounts of heat -- when in fact, the heat
creation level was the same, only the "cell constant" changed.

 -- John Logajan