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mirandaf
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« on: October 31, 2009, 08:57:32 AM » |
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So in my quest to enhance Miranda Jr's science learning, I stumbled across The Elements Song ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmwlzwGMMwc) by Tom Lehrer. He doesn't sing them in the order they appear on the periodic table (as highlighted here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFIvXVMbII0&feature=related). Just curious: Anyone know why he sings them in the order he does? Any scientific reason, or just because it rhymes this way? Thanks for any info. Lots of cool chemistry stuff (songs, lessons, etc.) on Youtube. Since my research methods students always seem to confuse dependent and independent variables, among other things, maybe I should write a little song to help them remember it... set to the tune of jingle bells, maybe... MirandaF, who has no real musical abilities |
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scampster
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« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2009, 09:02:07 AM » |
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Just curious: Anyone know why he sings them in the order he does? Any scientific reason, or just because it rhymes this way? Thanks for any info.
I had always assumed it was just because it sounded good in that order. Although given the way the song starts, sometimes I think he thought he might do it alphabetically and then changed his mind :-) (Yes, I know that Antimony is not the first element alphabetically). |
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When you are a scientist your opinions and prejudices become facts. Science is like magic that way!
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polly_mer
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« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2009, 09:04:33 AM » |
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Just curious: Anyone know why he sings them in the order he does? Any scientific reason, or just because it rhymes this way? Thanks for any info. Since I can't see any reasonable pattern, I vote for making this order falling in proper rhythm and rhyme. Speaking of science songs, do you know about the Atoms Family? |
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« Last Edit: October 31, 2009, 09:05:17 AM by polly_mer »
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You can never know everything, and part of what you do know will always be wrong. Perhaps even the most important part. A portion of wisdom lies in knowing this. A portion of courage lies in going on anyway.
--Robert Jordan
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galactic_hedgehog
Procrastinating, Python-quoting, Blue Blazer-drinking, chocolate-chip cookie-eating, Pastafarian, Not So
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Posts: 17,915
Mind Ninja
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« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2009, 09:43:42 AM » |
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I've always liked this version of the song better. Aren't the lyrics just nonsense words he made up? |
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"A pun is primâ facie an insult to the person you are talking with. It implies utter indifference to or sublime contempt for his remarks, no matter how serious." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Hedgie loves to read. |
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polly_mer
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« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2009, 09:54:53 AM » |
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Aren't the lyrics just nonsense words he made up?
They are according to my students. |
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You can never know everything, and part of what you do know will always be wrong. Perhaps even the most important part. A portion of wisdom lies in knowing this. A portion of courage lies in going on anyway.
--Robert Jordan
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mirandaf
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« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2009, 01:12:13 PM » |
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Speaking of science songs, do you know about the Atoms Family? Oooh, no, I hadn't found that one yet. Thanks, Polly. Miranda Jr. likes this one too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48uRRZUumWg&feature=relatedAren't the lyrics just nonsense words he made up?
I find it hard to believe that einsteinium and nobelium are actually the names of real elements. Nope, I don't believe it. No, no, no... Didn't someone discover krytonitium last year? (Okay, yes, I made that up.) |
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I am some stranger on the internet advising you about your uterus. I am not sure how much weight you should give to my advice. |
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mystictechgal
Happy in my "full, rich adulthood", and as a
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One step at a time
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« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2009, 01:34:25 PM » |
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Speaking of science songs, do you know about the Atoms Family? Oooh, no, I hadn't found that one yet. Thanks, Polly. Miranda Jr. likes this one too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48uRRZUumWg&feature=relatedAren't the lyrics just nonsense words he made up?
I find it hard to believe that einsteinium and nobelium are actually the names of real elements. Nope, I don't believe it. No, no, no... Didn't someone discover krytonitium last year? (Okay, yes, I made that up.) Believe it; they are real elements. Both were discovered in the '50s, so they've been around awhile. |
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If a pouting pluot ploughman planted pluots in a plot, and the plot were ploughed on Pluto, would his pluot ploy play out?
"Is all the same, only different" -- Dr. H. L. |
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mirandaf
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« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2009, 02:39:12 PM » |
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Believe it; they are real elements. Both were discovered in the '50s, so they've been around awhile.
Oh, you and your pesky facts. Now I suppose you'll tell me there really was a Dr. Mendeleev. And Bill Nye didn't die in a huge, fiery vinegar-baking-soda explosion... well, I'll just go verify your "facts" on Wikipedia... < walks off chuckling to self> |
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I am some stranger on the internet advising you about your uterus. I am not sure how much weight you should give to my advice. |
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mystictechgal
Happy in my "full, rich adulthood", and as a
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Posts: 9,403
One step at a time
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« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2009, 03:11:42 PM » |
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Believe it; they are real elements. Both were discovered in the '50s, so they've been around awhile.
Oh, you and your pesky facts. Now I suppose you'll tell me there really was a Dr. Mendeleev. And Bill Nye didn't die in a huge, fiery vinegar-baking-soda explosion... well, I'll just go verify your "facts" on Wikipedia... < walks off chuckling to self> I though it was a Mentos explosion that killed Bill Nye. It wasn't? *hmmmph* |
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If a pouting pluot ploughman planted pluots in a plot, and the plot were ploughed on Pluto, would his pluot ploy play out?
"Is all the same, only different" -- Dr. H. L. |
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barred_owl
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« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2009, 03:24:56 PM » |
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Believe it; they are real elements. Both were discovered in the '50s, so they've been around awhile.
Oh, you and your pesky facts. Now I suppose you'll tell me there really was a Dr. Mendeleev. And Bill Nye didn't die in a huge, fiery vinegar-baking-soda explosion... well, I'll just go verify your "facts" on Wikipedia... < walks off chuckling to self> I though it was a Mentos explosion that killed Bill Nye. It wasn't? *hmmmph* Ed Begley, Jr. had better be careful if anything happens to Nye--they're neighbors/competitors, you know. |
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...I can't help rooting for the underdog underbird. |
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mystictechgal
Happy in my "full, rich adulthood", and as a
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 9,403
One step at a time
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« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2009, 03:33:58 PM » |
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Believe it; they are real elements. Both were discovered in the '50s, so they've been around awhile.
Oh, you and your pesky facts. Now I suppose you'll tell me there really was a Dr. Mendeleev. And Bill Nye didn't die in a huge, fiery vinegar-baking-soda explosion... well, I'll just go verify your "facts" on Wikipedia... < walks off chuckling to self> I though it was a Mentos explosion that killed Bill Nye. It wasn't? *hmmmph* Ed Begley, Jr. had better be careful if anything happens to Nye--they're neighbors/competitors, you know. I'd forgotten about that. Their competition to be "greenest" is kinda funny, although I gather Begley's wife isn't all that amused by some of the lengths he's willing to go to. |
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If a pouting pluot ploughman planted pluots in a plot, and the plot were ploughed on Pluto, would his pluot ploy play out?
"Is all the same, only different" -- Dr. H. L. |
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barred_owl
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« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2009, 03:59:33 PM » |
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Believe it; they are real elements. Both were discovered in the '50s, so they've been around awhile.
Oh, you and your pesky facts. Now I suppose you'll tell me there really was a Dr. Mendeleev. And Bill Nye didn't die in a huge, fiery vinegar-baking-soda explosion... well, I'll just go verify your "facts" on Wikipedia... < walks off chuckling to self> I though it was a Mentos explosion that killed Bill Nye. It wasn't? *hmmmph* Ed Begley, Jr. had better be careful if anything happens to Nye--they're neighbors/competitors, you know. I'd forgotten about that. Their competition to be "greenest" is kinda funny, although I gather Begley's wife isn't all that amused by some of the lengths he's willing to go to. Yea--I haven't quite decided if I like that show or not. It just seems a little too staged or something. We met Begley once when he gave a talk on his green lifestyle choices; your description, MTG, of his wife was echoed in his talk. He seems like a nice, down-to-earth guy, though (to whom my SO bears an uncanny resemblance, or vice versa). Okay--back to the chemistry trivia. :) |
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...I can't help rooting for the underdog underbird. |
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mirandaf
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« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2009, 05:18:03 PM » |
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So speaking of child-friendly TV scientist types, what's the deal with Beakman & Beakman's World? His assistant is a big guy in a rat costume. Why? That said, I suppose it's preferable to having a < shudder> clown for an assistant. For fora folk who know not of whom I speak, here you go: http://www.beakmansworldtv.com/. A friend suggested it, so I rented a DVD of Beakman's best experiments. Actually, it's pretty good - the experiments are pretty easily replicated at home (some overlap with Bill Nye experiments), and it seems to hold MJ's intererst, so that's the main thing. Can you imagine the kick-off planning meeting where they came up with the concept? "Oh, I know! I know! We'll have Bob dress up like... a mouse? No... a moose? No... big puppy? No... oh, I got it. A rat! Yes! It's just perfect! Rats and science go so well together..." |
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I am some stranger on the internet advising you about your uterus. I am not sure how much weight you should give to my advice. |
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fizmath
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« Reply #13 on: October 31, 2009, 05:33:40 PM » |
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galactic_hedgehog
Procrastinating, Python-quoting, Blue Blazer-drinking, chocolate-chip cookie-eating, Pastafarian, Not So
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 17,915
Mind Ninja
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« Reply #14 on: November 01, 2009, 12:02:52 AM » |
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"Protons define the element, its chemistry..." Um, isn't the chemistry of an element defined by its electronic structure? |
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"A pun is primâ facie an insult to the person you are talking with. It implies utter indifference to or sublime contempt for his remarks, no matter how serious." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Hedgie loves to read. |
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