Reality Detective
Bio
Recently finished a Physics course at university. Now going into writing and exploring the world with the lens of fantasy and science.
Stories (7)
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Demystifying the Calculus
Calculus is often considered the bane of mathematics. Terrifying many students, this discipline provides a unwelcomed bounty of equations and techniques, which bombard the student into retreat. The emphasis of calculus on solving equations and finding areas and volumes, does not encourage the student to forge on or show its true range of applicability. And when any reader opens up a book in quantum mechanics or other subjects requiring advanced mathematics, one keeps seeing a curly S and a weird looking fraction defined in terms of objects written in terms of ‘infinitesimals’. Therefore this article has been written, to fill the void of mathematical literature explained without equations. Here I shall attempt to explain the Calculus, without using a single equation. Ready? Well, to infinity and beyond!
By Reality Detective5 years ago in Education
Demystifying imaginary numbers
Imaginary numbers are some of the most obscure concepts taught at the end of sixth form. But what are they? How are they useful? And where do they come from? These are questions I shall attempt to explain without using any equations to furnish the discussion. Getting lost in mathematics is exciting, but this probably puts more people off than it does encourage people to read on. Since this is an introduction, it is best to keep the math light and let the ideas speak for themselves.
By Reality Detective5 years ago in Education
Apollo takes a spin in the Tardis
As Apollo I consider myself a very feared and respectable god, or at least I had done before my adventures with my familiar left my reputation slightly scorched. Bob became my familiar and like most, he was very into showing his affection, and good at watching my back, but perhaps was more of hindrance than a help in many ways. Still, he helped me survive and since it is indeed possible to kill a god, I suppose i should be grateful.
By Reality Detective5 years ago in Fiction
Demystifying vectors, matrices and linear algebra
Mathematics often is reduced to arithmetic and number theory, and drives many to despair and boredom. Complex numbers and imaginary numbers are cool enough to make the bleak mathematical horizon much brighter. However numbers are not the only mathematical construct which describes the world around us. Far more abstract is the notion of a vector or a matrix. And these mysterious objects, are fundamental to the very nature of reality. And I wish to share this with you, without using a single equation! So if you would like to learn about the quantum world, but don’t want to battle through a hoard of monstrous equations, this is the article for you.
By Reality Detective5 years ago in Education
Falling out of love with quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics seems indistinguishable from magic for the uninitiated. Reading quantum mechanics certainly changes the way you look at everything. Learning physics at university is a journey in which you question everything, even things that you had ever assumed to be true. Fortunately you receive very testable answers, otherwise it would be nothing more than exciting glimpses which could never be proven.
By Reality Detective5 years ago in FYI
A mathematics convert
A mathematical convert Einstein is famous for saying that god does not play dice with universe, and yet the universe is famous for defiantly rebuffing any attempts to explain it deterministically. If God exists, he must like a game of poker indeed. Rules, be they describing a probabilistic or entirely predictable universe, have to be written in some language however. Be that language Egyptian hieroglyphs, Shakespearean sonnets, or the number of dirty tea mugs pilling up on my desk as I write.
By Reality Detective5 years ago in Education
Minty breath
Minty breath Rotten lime balls came sailing through the reddened sky, and wacked my brother square in the forehead. He was slightly dazed from the impact and didn’t respond, till dozens as hard as golf balls, came sailing through the broken window like a flock of birds. My brother moaned, as we sprinted down the stairs. I did everything I could to shield him from the true risk of invasion that we faced every hour of the day, but at times like this there wasn’t all much I could do. As he began to complain that the bread might become as wet as my dad’s swimming trunks, I told him very firmly to “keep it down!”. If our home was invaded, then we would have no where to live and probably starve as we coughed down dried corn in an effort to stay alive.
By Reality Detective5 years ago in Fiction
