The Beginning and End of the Universe

[Gordon]

Jim Al-khalili programme on BBC4 at 9pm tonight.

Sounds like it will be worth watching.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Always up for a bit of Jim.

[Jack Knave]

Well, we now know how it started now lets see how it is all going to end. 

I think I've asked this before, why do the electrons go round or associate themselves with the nucleus if they are of the opposite charge?

[Leonard James]

Well, we now know how it started now lets see how it is all going to end. 

I think I've asked this before, why do the electrons go round or associate themselves with the nucleus if they are of the opposite charge?

Don't be silly! "God" makes them do it.

[Jack Knave]

Don't be silly! "God" makes them do it.

It must be a busy chappy to keep all those electrons in place.

[Leonard James]

It must be a busy chappy to keep all those electrons in place.

It's easy for him because he's omnipotent. You see, my argument is watertight. 

[Jack Knave]

It's easy for him because he's omnipotent. You see, my argument is watertight. 

  You theists are Sooo Good, however will I win the argument 

[Leonard James]

  You theists are Sooo Good, however will I win the argument 

You can't! All you can do is try to get us to see reason.

[splashscuba]

Well, we now know how it started now lets see how it is all going to end. 

I think I've asked this before, why do the electrons go round or associate themselves with the nucleus if they are of the opposite charge?

Because, as the song says "opposites attract"

[Leonard James]

Because, as the song says "opposites attract"

So why don't they just stick together instead of remaining separate?

[splashscuba]

So why don't they just stick together instead of remaining separate?

Ah, that's down to quantum mechanics. The electron can only exist in discreet orbits which correspond to the energy they have.

Bear in mind, that the simple view of atoms as containing little balls which are electrons, protons and neutrons, is just a model we use to visualize how the world of subatomic particle work. It's much more subtle than that as described by the laws of quantum mechanics.

[Leonard James]

Ah, that's down to quantum mechanics. The electron can only exist in discreet orbits which correspond to the energy they have.

Bear in mind, that the simple view of atoms as containing little balls which are electrons, protons and neutrons, is just a model we use to visualize how the world of subatomic particle work. It's much more subtle than that as described by the laws of quantum mechanics.

Thank goodness I don't have a clue about it ... I'm too old to learn new things because I can hardly remember the stuff I learned in the past. 

[Jack Knave]

Because, as the song says "opposites attract"

There's a caveat to that...

[Jack Knave]

Thank goodness I don't have a clue about it ... I'm too old to learn new things because I can hardly remember the stuff I learned in the past. 

...your name is LEONARD, LEON NARD. OK?

[Leonard James]

...your name is LEONARD, LEON NARD. OK?

 

Curiously, that is one name I have never forgotten!

Narcissistic I suppose! 

[Jack Knave]

Curiously, that is one name I have never forgotten!

Narcissistic I suppose! 

And now we know how it seems it is going to end.   

I'm too upset at the moment to talk about...     

[john]

After watching the second programme I have decided to cash in my pension early.

Bye guys been nice meeting yaal.