| |
| |
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
XLRI
The Principle of Relativity
In order to attain the greatest possible clearness, let us return to our example of the railway carriage supposed to be travelling uniformly. We call its motion a uniform translation ("uniform" because it is of constant velocity and direction, " translation " because although the carriage changes its position relative to the embankment yet it does not rotate in so doing). Let us imagine a raven flying through the air in such a manner that its motion, as observed from the embankment, is uniform and in a straight line. If we were to observe the flying raven from the moving railway carriage. we should find that the motion of the raven would be one of different velocity and direction, but that it would still be uniform and in a straight line. Expressed in an abstract manner we may say : If a mass m is moving uniformly in a straight line with respect to a co-ordinate system K, then it will also be moving uniformly and in a straight line relative to a second co-ordinate system K1 provided that the latter is executing a uniform translatory motion with respect to K. In accordance with the discussion contained in the preceding section, it follows that:
If K is a Galileian co-ordinate system. then every other co-ordinate system K' is a Galileian one, when, in relation to K, it is in a condition of uniform motion of translation. Relative to K1 the mechanical laws of Galilei-Newton hold good exactly as they do with respect to K.
We advance a step farther in our generalisation when we express the tenet thus: If, relative to K, K1 is a uniformly moving co-ordinate system devoid of rotation, then natural phenomena run their course with respect to K1 according to exactly the same general laws as with respect to K. This statement is called the principle of relativity (in the restricted sense).
As long as one was convinced that all natural phenomena were capable of representation with the help of classical mechanics, there was no need to doubt the validity of this principle of relativity. But in view of the more recent development of electrodynamics and optics it became more and more evident that classical mechanics affords an insufficient foundation for the physical description of all natural phenomena. At this juncture the question of the validity of the principle of relativity became ripe for discussion, and it did not appear impossible that the answer to this question might be in the negative.
Wireless and Power Line Data Communication Systems
by Tamal Gope, Sahil Modi & Brijesh Yadav
In recent times there has been a large growth in the number of small communications networks in the home or office. Cash registers, burglar alarms, computers and their peripherals all rely on small interconnected networks. A number of networking technologies are aimed purely at implementing these small home networks. Many remain costly, overly limited, or difficult to install in pre-existing buildings. This book details on these Communication Networking concepts. It goes on to demonstrate the wireless data transmission techniques and the power line data communication systems. The book aims to thoroughly explore the theoretical and practical aspects of power line carrier and wireless communications techniques.
As an engineering student, I had a special interest in Computer Networks. I have also felt the need for a book that had computer network theory basics along with a practical methodology to it. Special focus on real time networking concepts is the feature of this book. This book intends to have an impact on readers who look upon to have a practical, example oriented methodology.
This book gives an exhaustive reference on all computer networking concepts - from OSI model to RAID to FTP servers, this also has reference on networking concepts in Linux/UNIX environment - Installation & Configuring a Samba Server. Ranging over 300 pages, this also has glossary and appendix on all networking terminologies. Fully illustrated diagrams and tables help in grasping and understanding the concepts better. An additional chapter on Cable Creation and troubleshooting techniques also differentiates this book as a more practically approached methodology in networking. Special detail to attention on CCNA concepts and tested practice papers further helps the purpose to create a complete networking book.
This book has a lot more detailing than the books available in the market on the same subject. Most books when it comes to Computer network concepts treats the reader on the assumption that they already know something about computer networks beforehand which is usually not the case. So, I have made it sure that the book doesn’t miss out on Detailing aspects enabling virtually every reader to understand it in the first reading (Not the 3rd or the 4th time as is the case usually.)
Size 14 women are ‘happiest with life’
More than 43% of size 14 women also said they were as happy as they could be with their career, while almost a third say they couldn’t be more content with their love life. Second happiest were size 12s, followed by sizes 8, 16 and 10, reports the Sun.
A spokesman for Special K, which polled 3,000 women, said: “It’s great to discover that being a size zero wouldn’t necessarily bring you happiness. Size 14 woman are much more comfortable with their shape and have a happier outlook.”
The poll found that women size 24 or above were most miserable, with nearly one in five “extremely unhappy” with life. Less than 4% were happy with their career, and one in ten were extremely unhappy with their lovelife, the study also found.
LATEST ICC RANKINGS
ICC Test Championship
23 Dec 2008
| Team | Matches | Points | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 34 | 4409 | 130 |
| India | 43 | 5071 | 118 |
| South Africa | 37 | 4331 | 117 |
| Sri Lanka | 28 | 3032 | 108 |
| England | 41 | 4213 | 103 |
| Pakistan | 19 | 1895 | 100 |
| West Indies | 25 | 2034 | 81 |
| New Zealand | 30 | 2426 | 81 |
| Bangladesh | 20 | 0 | 0 |
ICC ODI Championship
30 Nov 2008
| Team | Matches | Points | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 28 | 3658 | 131 |
| South Africa | 29 | 3451 | 119 |
| India | 41 | 4865 | 119 |
| Pakistan | 28 | 3182 | 114 |
| New Zealand | 24 | 2714 | 113 |
| England | 32 | 3469 | 108 |
| Sri Lanka | 32 | 3416 | 107 |
| West Indies | 24 | 2178 | 91 |
| Bangladesh | 32 | 1494 | 47 |
| Ireland | 10 | 190 | 19 |
| Zimbabwe | 22 | 280 | 13 |
| Kenya | 7 | 75 | 11 |
Click here to access the full rankings on www.icc-cricket.com
South Africa does it AGAIN
South Africa has secured the most significant success in its cricketing history. It was a triumph that reached beyond sport. When Hashim Amla flicked another ball off his pads and scampered the winning run, he achieved more than a mere victory. It was a stroke that spoke for generations of Indian cricketers unable to compete for places in the national team. Suddenly they knew their records meant something, that they had been right, the champions of previous generations could play the game. When JP Duminy constructed his accomplished innings, he was representing a coloured community that languished for so many years in a twilight world. When Makhaya Ntini took wickets, he was uplifting downtrodden tribes. If hearts swelled with pride across the country it'd hardly be surprising. Others rejoiced in the peaceful revolution that made it possible.
Miraculously these varied characters were all playing for the same side. For so many hard decades it seemed a ridiculous dream, like the removal of the Berlin Wall. Yet there it was before our eyes, a devout Muslim stroking the decisive runs alongside a belatedly sane Salty Dick ( the term used by locals convinced that Englishmen have one foot in Africa and one in Australia). And there was Graeme Smith hugging Duminy and old stagers with tears in their eyes and Jacques Kallis taking his wife out to inspect the pitch and managers and support staff smiling from ear to ear. Rugby had led the way and now cricket has played its part. Amidst the crime and corruption there is hope.
And yet in this long awaited moment, this moment of exaltation, the South Africans behaved impeccably. Far from parading around in the disrespectful manner displayed by both parties last summer, before congratulating each other, the batsmen shook hands with opponents and umpires. Nor did their team-mates forget themselves when they came onto the field. For their part the Australians were gracious, none more so than Ricky Ponting at the awards ceremony. His team had been beaten fair and square. Australia had won both tosses. Far from claiming a low catch, too, Smith asked the umpires to check its legitimacy. Pity that did not happen last summer.
South Africa played intelligently, consistently and with the utmost determination. Throughout, Smith's side remained calm in adversity and retained confidence in itself. By no means has its rise been an overnight sensation. To the contrary, the team has been rising steadily throughout the year and even between matches. After failing in Perth, the visiting tailenders worked at their batting and played a vital role at the MCG. Unimpressed with their contributions in the first match, the fast bowlers toiled hard and improved markedly. Changes were also made between innings, with Neil McKenzie playing forward and Smith using a deeper mid-off for Matthew Hayden. Of course, the tourists caught superbly in the slips and ran sharply between innings. South Africa have played a lot of good cricket. Australia relied on superb individual performances from accomplished batsmen.
Along the way Australia have taken part in three of the greatest series ever staged, in the Caribbean, India and England. Always it has taken a mighty effort to bring them down, and that remains the case. Australia may not have been liked but they have commanded respected, sometimes amounting to fear. It has been a time of Waugh and Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne and broken moulds. But nothing lasts forever and now it is someone else's turn.
Target Rating Point's
A Television Rating Point (TRP) is a measure of the purchased television rating points representing an estimate of the component of the target audience within the gross audience. Similar to GRP (gross rating point) it is measured as the sum of ratings achieved by a specific media vehicle of the target audience reached by an advertisement. For example, if an advertisement appears more than once, reaching the entire gross audience, the TRP figure the sum of each individual GRP multiplied by the estimated target audience in the gross audience.
In the case of a TV advertisement that is aired 5 times reaching 50% of the gross audience with only 60% in the target audience, it would have 250 GRPs (= 5 x 50) -- ie, GRPs = reach x frequency - TRP in this case should be 60% out of 250 GRPs = 150 TRPs - this is the rating point in the target, 60% of the gross rating.
Both of these metrics are critical components to determine the marketing effectiveness of a particular advertisement.
Television Rating Points - TRP is the criterion that indicates the popularity of a channel or programme and this data is very useful for the advertisers Presently, INTAM (Indian Television Audience Measurement) is the only electronic rating agency functioning in India. INTAM uses two methodologies for calculating TRP. First is frequency monitoring, in which 'people meters' are installed in sample homes and these electronic gadgets continuously record data about the channel watched by the family members. 'People meter' is a costly equipment, which is imported from abroad. It reads the frequencies of channels, which are later, decoded into the name of the channels and the agency prepares a national data on the basis of its sample homes readings. But there is a drawback in the technique, as cable operators frequently change the frequencies of the different channels before sending signals to the homes. It may be very misleading to read a channel according to a particular frequency even if the down linking frequency is same all over India.
Second technique is more reliable and relatively new to India. In picture matching technique people meter continuously records a small portion of the picture that is being watched on that particular television set. Along with this agency also records all the channels' data in the form of small picture portion. Data collected from the sample homes is later on matched with the main data bank to interpret the channel name. And this way national rating is produced. 1 year ago