Kalleh's post in Q&A about "Pomma Point" reminded me of another point, obscure to most of us, so I'll use it as the next term. Send me some daffynitions for Curie Point - the more pointless the better!
Finally, a quorum! I even goaded my workmate Sam into submitting a definition even though he's not signed up on WC yet!
Here they are:
1. A jewel faceting style, being in the form of an inverted teardrop which gathers light from the broad end and focuses it in the point. The internal glow thus created is redolent of that of the now banned radium paints. Named for Madame Curie, who possessed one of the first sapphires cut in this fashion.
2. The temperature in degrees Kelvin at which radium 228 decomposes into radium 226. The phenomenon is commonly used in industry for determining radon concentrations in ground water.
3. The equilibrium point in radioactive decay where precursor-->isotope and isotope-->decay product proceed at the same rate, resulting in an apparently paradoxical constant amount of a radioactive substance known to be unstable. The best-known example is the decay of Plutonium 239 to Uranium 238 and thence Uranium 235. (Named not for Marie Curie, as popularly supposed, but for her husband Pierre.)
4. Named for French astronomer Raymond Curie. The points in the orbits of any three planets when they are directly in line.
5. The point at which a radioactive element's half-life ends and its full life begins.
6. the metal nib of a small electronic probe used in labs to detect radiation inside tiny spaces.
7. Mountainous retreat in old Alsace, homestead for three generations of the illustrious scientific family.
8. The level of radiation that is normally fatal to humans after exposure of one minute.
9. In grooming horses, the Curie Point is that point at which further combing with the Currie Comb is unnecessary.
10. In basketball, one free throw is awarded when the defensive team purposely fouls an offensive player in order to keep the player from getting to the top of the key.
11. The temperature at which ferromagnetism becomes paramagnetism.
Now there's a wild spread of daffynitions!!! Is one of them correct? Take your pick!
I remember just a hint of the real meaning, so I shouldn't really vote. However, I'm casting my vote (if permitted) for #1, on the grounds of highest creativity.
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Still waiting on CW to swim over to her computer and answer...
I guess I now know why so many people are moving here: We only have to contend with the occasional volcano and a magnitude 8 earthquake every 400 or so years.
Well, I came up with #10, which I loved because it was unrelated to science (which I knew would be prolific!)...and it's about basketball; I knew that most of you wouldn't have a clue!
Originally posted by Kalleh: Well, I came up with #10, which I loved because it was unrelated to science (which I knew would be prolific!)...and it's about basketball; I knew that most of you wouldn't have a clue!
10. In basketball, one free throw is awarded when the defensive team purposely fouls an offensive player in order to keep the player from getting to the top of the key.
...that wouldn't be the "point guard" who is fouled, would it?
