fandomhigh | Applied Science | Monday, 8/31 |Period 1

Oh, hey, a new semester! That meant Tyler was on time, actually put on a tie, and -- in honor of the early hour -- had a huge tank of coffee and stack of cups on a back table.

"Hi," he said as the class filed in, gesturing a little with the coffee mug that probably would not leave his hand in the next 15 classes. "Welcome to applied science. I'm Tyler Durden. Tyler works, Mr. Durden works ... not a big fan of 'hey you' in the classroom."

"Usually I make soap the first week, but this doesn't feel like a day for it." By which he meant he wasn't quite ready to repeat the class yet, and was saving it. "So today, we're talking about one of the most basic concepts in physics -- simple machines."

"Basically, a simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force -- the simplest mechanisms that use leverage to multiply force. A simple machine uses a single applied force to do work against a single load force. Ignoring friction losses, the work done on the load is equal to the work done by the applied force. They can be used to increase the amount of the output force, at the cost of a proportional decrease in the distance moved by the load. The ratio of the output to the input force is called the mechanical advantage."

"Six things are classically considered simple machines." He moved over to stand in front of a counter of such, holding each up as he talked. "The lever, like this hammer. The wheel and axle. The inclined plane, or ramp. The screw. The wedge. The pulley."

The lecture continued for a while, then: "Today we're going to introduce ourselves -- name, grade, and who you would fight if you could fight anyone, living, dead or imaginary -- then try to see how each of these simple machines are useful by trying to build something." He nodded to a student in the first row. "You first. And I need a TA or two." Not looking at Ino ~~if she was there~~, there. "Talk to me during the introductions or after class if you're interested."

[OOC: TAs have been chosen OOCly.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Spock's mother had raised him with at least a baseline understanding of human cultural norms. He knew that when someone wouldn't look at you that meant they did not want to talk about it. Still, he had never met anyone who could simply think into someone's head, without even touching. "Is this a common method of communication in or on your world?" he ventured.

If Jonothon kept ignoring him he would drop it.

//Not particularly,// Jonothon replied, looking up again. The other boy didn't really seem like he was prying, just that he was looking to understand. Understanding was... good. //Seems to be more popular 'round here than it is in my own neck of the woods. Every other person I've bumped into here is a bloody telepath.//

Karla, Jean, that bus driver with the cloak...

Edited 2009-08-31 22:34 (UTC)

"Fascinating," Spock said. Shut up, he liked that word. "My people are commonly touch-telepaths, but it is not an ability I had been aware of in humans until I came here."

... Another telepath.

Something inside Jonothon's head was going to need a moment to start working again. Why did people have mouths in the first place, at this rate?

//I'm not exactly the dictionary definition of 'human,' mate. A different type of human.// And a bit of a freak. //Yer aren't from around here then, I take it?//

Around humans, not around Fandom. Jono spoke 'Vague' as a second language, sometimes.

"No, I am from a planet called Vulcan, approximately two hundred and forty years in the future. Your answer implies you are a type of human, so you differ..." Spock inclined his head. "How?"

An alien and a time-traveller. And here Jono figured that he was a little misplaced. Go figure.

//It's all in the genes. Are you familiar with the term 'mutant' where yer from? When yer from?//

"Of course," Spock said. "Simply because it is the future does not mean genetic mutation has ceased to exist."

They...weren't talking about the same kind of mutant.

They really, really weren't.

//'Mutant' and 'mutated' aren't quite the same, mate. I'm not a bloody cat with an extra dewclaw.//

Although, in retrospect, life would probably have been easier as a cat with six toes.

"That much is evident," Spock agreed.

Jono wrinkled his nose a little. This one seemed like he had a talent for stating the obvious.

That might have been slight understatement.

//Mutants are humans born with a different gene in 'em. Manifests around puberty, usually gives them abilities that no normal human would possess.//

Ergo, telepathy.

Spock was reasonably sure that wasn't how mutation worked in his universe. "Fascinating."

//Innit, though.//

If Jono was kind of staring oddly at Spock right then? He hoped the Vulcan wouldn't take it wrong. That was really... Not the sort of reaction he usually got to this sort of thing.

... He kind of liked this guy.

Applied Science | Monday, 8/31 |Period 1

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