James Clerk Maxwell

 Ok as the first tribute (of many) this poem is about the greatest physicist of the 19th century namely James Clerk Maxwell. Whilst his main contribution was in unifying electromagnetism (the first unification theory) he also developed the Kinetic theory of gases and the theory of colour. When he was 17 he deduced that the rings around Saturn could not be solid but had to consist of small bits of rock. For this he was awarded the Adams prize essay.

 Anyway his main achievement is of course summarising Faraday's work on electromagnetism into 4 equations and then he realised that applying some mathematical transformations using quaternions that electromagnetic waves had to exist. He missed a trick though in that it was thought like all waves there had to be a medium for which the waves had to be propagating through. It wasn't until Einstein came along when it was realised that the so called Ether was not necessary. Indeed electromagnetic waves are self generating in that an oscillating electric field generates an oscillating magnetic field which in turn generates an oscillating electric field so the wave self propagates without any underlying media. Also whilst Maxwell used quaternions it wasn't until Heaviside reformulated them in terms of vector calculus that the structure of Maxwell's equations became apparent. 

Whilst Maxwell's equations are seen as part of classical physics, they are relativistically invariant and are still used today in many fields such as antenna engineering which is my specialist field of study. Furthermore despite the alleged importance of quantum mechanics in understanding the two slit experiment there is no quantum mechanical explanation of the two slit experiment. Indeed it is difficult to see how there could be as Schrodinger's equation is a scalar equation whereas Maxwell's equations involve vector quantities such as Electric and Magnetic fields. There is no concept of the near field from Schrodinger's equation I will expand on these points later. In the mean time here is a verbal summary of the four Maxwell equations 

1) The electic field of a source is proportional to the total charge enclosed by a surface surrounding that source 

2) There is no magnetic charge 

3) If I wiggle a magnetic in front of a conductor there will be an electric current associated with it and the faster the magnetic is wiggled then the greater the electric current will be 

4) An electric current passing through a wire generates a magnetic field 

Put 3 and 4 together and you end up with a wave equation the velocity of which is the same as the speed of light so light is in fact an electromagnetic wave. Truly magical 

Anyway here is the poem hope you enjoy it 

                             James Clerk Maxwell

 

Four basic facts all combine,

To show how fields intertwine.

Static or Dynamic,

It really is magic.

 

A wiggly field generates another,

Which in turn regenerates the other.

With this great insight,

We now understand light.

 

 

Tribute to science

Ok as promised this is the first of many poems which pays a tribute to science and various scientists, The first poem is a general tribute to how science has played an important part in changing life for the better and challenging vested interests. I find it quite depressing that even today there are people who dispute the basic facts of science because it challenges pre-conceived ideas about say creation as in fundamentalist evangelical circles creating a suspicion of science. 

Far closer to home are those people who deny climate change and who are given a platform from the media in the interests of so called balance. Well I am sorry if 95% of scientists have strong evidence for the fact that mankind is accelerating climate change then there is no way a person such as say Nigel Lawson or Donald Trump should be allowed equal media coverage because it suits their interests in order to do so. Their views are minority ones and have nothing to do with science. 

Similarly for those idiots who refuse to take vaccinations the scare about the possible link between MMR and autism has meant that measles has come back when to all intents and purposes it was eradicated. Those journalists such as Melanie Philips who supported Andrew Wakefiled should hang their heads in shame.  Similarly the only way we have any hope of defeating the Corunna virus is to develop vaccines and if need be take boosters as and when necessary. If you want to end the lockdown restrictions then make sure you take the vaccine. 

Finally I strongly resist the current trend of the transgender lobby to defy science and for men to claim that because they feel like a woman they should be allowed to invade women's private spaces such as toilets or womens showers. Or take part in women's sports or women only short list/ It is biologically impossible for a man to change into a woman no matter how many hormones they take and anyone who claims otherwise is just denying science. I hope this nonsense will stop soon but the way things are going it seems highly unlikely. I have a number of female colleagues who are genuinely worried about this and I hope they win their battles against this unscientific nonsense. 

 Anyway here is my Tribute to science in general I hope you enjoy it. 

                                                         Ode To Science

In the midst of Man’s inanity,

Science brings a voice of sanity.

Getting rid of superstition,

You improve our condition.

 

Vested interests they despair,

When the truth is bought to bear.

Only with you will we find,

What it is that drives Mankind.

Tribute to David Attenborough part 2

 This is the second batch of poems paying tribute to David Attenborough's life series. This time we cover 

1) Reptiles 

2) Birds 

3) Mammals this one focuses on our nearest primate the chimpanzee

I dare say others will follow in the fullness of time But 'Uncle David' for your achievement in helping bring nature close to us. I salute you 

The first poem is on reptiles which are closely related to dinosaurs what happened to the dinosaurs is an interesting scientific problem and as yet there is still no answer. It is amazing to think that they ruled the earth for 150 million years whilst human civilisation has only been around for about 100,000 years and recorded history about 20000 at the most. Anyway here is the poem 

                                     Reptiles

 

                                            Relics of an age long gone,

                                            Nature still allows you to throng.

                                            From the lizard to the crocodile,

                                            You’ll still be here for a while.

 

                                            When Dinosaurs ruled the earth,

                                            You were there, at their birth.

                                            Now they are gone, I wonder why,

                                            What it was, caused them to die.

And here is a picture of a magnificent crocodile best keep your distance 

The second one is on birds very inspiring creatures with their ability to fly, they have always inspired us long may they do so.

Birds

 

From the eagle that soars,

To the talking Macaws.

In variety there are plenty,

Without you life would be empty.

 

When you take flight,

It’s a truly wonderful sight.

Helping us to aspire,

To all that we desire.

Here is a picture of a an Eagle wonderful 

Finally here is a poem about the species closest to us namely the chimpanzee. I hope the days when chimps were used to entertain us via chimpanzee's tea parties are long gone. Never to return 

                                     Chimpanzees

 

We used to laugh at the Chimpanzee,

Making them drink our tea.

But now we know this primate,

Is our species closest mate.

 

Closer to them than we thought,

Let us treat them as we ought.

Open the zoos and let them free,

Swinging from tree to tree.

 

I will start publishing a whole load of poems about science and mathematics soon 

Tribute to David Attenborough Part 1

 Hi these two poems have been inspired by David Attenborough's 'Life series' a truly amazing set of DVD's There are five specialist titles in the series 

Life of Plants

Life in the Undergrowth

Life in Cold Blood 

Life of Birds 

Life of the Mammals 

These two poems are about flowers and insects. Which complement each other nicely. It is normal to stress how nature is essentially about competing species fighting for scarce resources. However plants and insects cooperate with each other in a way that is beneficial to both. One doesn't have to be a creationist or particularly religious to admire the ingenuity in which both insects and plants cooperate with each other. How does a particular orchid know for example how to disguise it's flowers as a female wasp so that it will attract male wasps. Truly amazing and without 'Uncle David' this amazing fact about nature would be hidden from us. So a truly amazing series and if you haven't seen it then I would urge you to get hold of it. Start with life on earth the best introduction to evolution there is even if the photography is a bit dated.

                                                Flowers

 

                                            Your blooms are such a sight,

                                            Giving us all great delight.

                                            But all that, you have planned,

                                            To get insects, on you to land.

 

                                            The little bug might think,

                                            They have had a nice free drink.

                                            But for you, it’s also great,

                                            Now you have a chance to mate.

 

                                   

  

And here is the one on insects generally speaking we avoid insects and indeed David Attenborough shows some pretty gruesome ones including a giant millipede which preys on bats. However without them the soil would not be aereated and of course the flowers would not be pollinated.

                                             Insects

Nasty horrible little things,

That quite often stings.

But if you did not toil,

The earth would have no soil.

 

The flowers would not grow,

They would not put on a show.

On you so much depends,

To help nature meet it’s ends.

 

Three more poems

 For some inexplicable reason I have been inspired to write some poems on all sorts of topics which I will post over the next few weeks Today's batch are three more poems about animals 

1) Urban Foxes 

2) Little Mousey

3) Boris the Spider 

Here is the first one/ Unlike seagulls which are a menace it is nice to see foxes in the urban areas so here is my tribute to them 

Urban Foxes

Escaping to the Towns,

             Running from the nasty hounds

                                                And the men in red,

Who just want you dead.

                                            Coming out, just at night,

So that you don’t get a fright.

Let us hope you have found,

A place that’s safe and sound

And a cute picture 

The second one is about mice, unfortunately round about the start of Autumn or Spring the little critters seem to want to come out of their hiding holes and I usually see one or two of them during this time of year. Unfortunately I am not allowed to have a cat in my house so I just have to do my best to catch them. I usually lay open traps and then let them free but I dare say they come back again. Anyway here we are (with apologies to Rabbie Burns :) 

                                       Little Mousey

                                            Help I saw a mouse,

                                            Running about the house.

                                            Now you see me, Now you don't 

                                            Try to catch me, but you won’t

                                           Under the floors, through the doors

                                           Up the wall and in the hall.

  Think I need a cat.

                                          But one that’s not too fat. J

and here is a not so cute picture 

Finally here is a satirical one about spiders and our useless Prime Minister Boris Johnson who basically helped deceive the people into voting for Brexit. Just so he could be come leader of the Conservative party and prime minister. The full effects have been masked by COVID but we are already seeing shortages in the shops and it can only get worse as time moves on. I have written a whole series of poems about Fake nationalism both English and Scottish and will publish them in due course. I believe quite strongly that both the SNP and the Tories are destroying this country by appealing to a false sense of patriotism to disguise the unfairness of society and to deflect peoples attention from what is truly wrong with our society. Dr Johnson said that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel and even though he was a High Tory for once I agree with him. 

                                             Boris the Spider

                                What a tangled web you weave,

                                Hoping for the Flies to deceive.

                                Hanging there by a thread,

                                Wishing they were all dead.

 

                                Your nickname is Boris,

                                Do you have a friend called Doris?

                                But something far more sinister,

                                You’re the same as our prime minister.

And here is one of the best pictures of 2019 

 Of course the fact that Boris Johnson illegally prorogued parliament, didn't stop people voting for him or the opposition parties falling into his trap of calling for an early election. It is arguable had they resisted we would have had another European Referendum and could possibly still be part of the EEC. As it is we will just have to make it on our own, and unlike the two world wars there will be no one to help us out. 

Anyway hope you enjoy these poems. The next sequence will be ones which celebrate the David Attenborough 'Life Series'. Then after that I will publish ones on maths and science including and I believe this is unique one on Bessel Functions 😃😃. I am about 2/3 the way through finishing the second of the Cambridge 1st year maths papers and hope to get it out early in September. 

Regards Chris