Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2019 August 26

Welcome to the Wikipedia Science Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

August 26

Solubility of transition metals like Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn in liquid ammonia

What info is there about the solubility of some transition metals Fe, Cu, Ni and other in liquid ammonia, (perhaps) with formation of metal amides?(Thanks!)--93.122.248.53 (talk) 17:23, 26 August 2019 (UTC)

Iron is used for fittings when handling ammonia, so I suspect it's not soluble. DMacks (talk) 10:00, 27 August 2019 (UTC)

Haber process to produce ammonia use iron-based catalyst in a steel reactor Gem fr (talk) 23:28, 27 August 2019 (UTC)

Liquid ammonia or aqueous?--93.122.251.35 (talk) 19:18, 27 August 2019 (UTC)

Liquid (and gas). Product advisories also note that Cu and Zn should be avoided, but only mentions them in the context of ammonia absorbing water that leads to attacking them. DMacks (talk) 21:21, 27 August 2019 (UTC)

What is the situation in the case of copper (which seems to be attacked by ammonia solution)?--93.122.251.35 (talk) 19:23, 27 August 2019 (UTC)

Why don't hurricane hunters use turbofans?

Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 22:03, 26 August 2019 (UTC)

To do what? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 00:18, 27 August 2019 (UTC)

See hurricane hunters. 2606:A000:1126:28D:7931:7AE7:6D26:288 (talk) 02:32, 27 August 2019 (UTC)

Because they don't need to? If range, maximum load, and ability to stay in the air for long periods of time are top priorities, while maximum speed and maximum altitude are not, it is a sensible decision. Someguy1221 (talk) 03:16, 27 August 2019 (UTC)

Although many different aircraft are used for various hurricane spotting missions, the most famous ones are the C-130 and its variants that are operated by the US Air Force. The C-130 isn't just a turboprop: it's a well-loved airframe that is notoriously tough: it's a reliable aircraft that can be trusted in difficult weather conditions. This is probably the airframe that most people think of when they think "hurricane hunter," but it is only one of many.

You can read more about the WC-130J Hercules from the website of the 403rd Wing 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron; and the WP-3D Orion operated by NOAA's civilian airborne corps; and of course, there is also the NOAA Gulfstream IV hurricane hunter that does, in fact, have two Fuselage Mounted Rolls Royce Tay 611-8 twin spool turbofan jet engines.

Nimur (talk) 03:49, 27 August 2019 (UTC)

Do they fly into Cat 5s with only 2 engines? It must be unnerving if they've ever lost one in a storm. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 05:16, 27 August 2019 (UTC)

Keep in mind that it's only the speed of the plane relative to the wind that matters as far as turbulence goes. So, if they fly around the hurricane at approximately the same speed (allowing enough difference to provide the needed lift) and direction as the wind, it might not be a bad ride at all, and they could quickly get where they are going. Flying directly into the wind, on the other hand, might be bad thing, as the plane may actually end up standing still or going backwards relative to the ground, which makes it difficult to get where they are going (although if the goal is to stay aloft a long time to observe conditions, and not to actually go anywhere, this option might work). I also sure hope they have working onboard radar, as two planes going in opposite directions under zero visibility conditions sounds like a recipe for a collision. Flying at a right angle to the wind may be worst of all, as planes aren't able to handle those kinds of cross winds, so spiralling in and out may be necessary. If they needed to make an emergency water landing, it sure would be important to get behind the hurricane first, as it would be difficult to survive a water landing in a hurricane. SinisterLefty (talk) 06:32, 27 August 2019 (UTC)f

Planes are generally not destroyed by strong winds while in flight. Multiengine aircraft are designed to operate (with reduced performance) when a single engine fails; but as the NOAA website says, "pilots and crew routinely (but never casually) fly in the high-wind environment of the hurricane and don't fear it..."

A book that has been popping up in various discussion this week is the classic: Fate Is The Hunter; if you're interested in airplanes, this one is a great read. It's not really about hurricane hunters, but it's pretty relevant.

Nimur (talk) 14:38, 27 August 2019 (UTC)

What's the ratio of nephron / Glomerulus?

What's the ratio of nephron / Glomerulus? Is it 1/1? (each nephron has 1 glamerulus). I tried to get this information on the nephron article but I couldn't find it.93.126.116.89 (talk) 23:48, 26 August 2019 (UTC)

The info is in Glomerulus (kidney). Yes. Gem fr (talk) 07:05, 27 August 2019 (UTC)