I was with my cousins and they had asked me for a science experiment that they could do for their exhibition? I thought for some time and recollected one that I had done during my school days. Floating a needle on water.
Yes this is possible; but only if we have a bloating paper. The paper absorbs water and can slowly be made to settle down. The reason as most of us know is because of the surface tension of water.
No matter how many times you try it without paper; the experiment fails. What is the reason for this; the surface tension of water still exists be there paper be there no paper. So what is the difference that makes the experiment a success in one case and failure in other.
As I understand this the paper provides the needle time to be stationary. We need to be patient to see the result. Surface tension of water is quite a weak force but o exploit it one need s to be patient and calm. Some of the greatest forces in nature open up once we are calm and open. Well we often say science and nature cannot go hand in hand. Science is nothing but understanding of the nature.
This whole experiment taught me apart from many things two important lessons.
1. However hard we may try sometimes there is a need for external agent (I am leaving this agent unnamed because it could be guru in some case, consciousness in other and something else for somebody else)
2. The way you approach a relationship is very important (the more it is for a cause the less are the chances for it being successful; in this case the surface of water and the pin are indifferent towards each other)
I will complete this post with a zen story a read shortly;
Once a Zen guru pointing towards a heavy rock, where is this in the mind our outside it?
The student says that according to Buddhism “everything is a projection of the mind. So it is in the mind.”
The Zenmaster replied aren’t you tired of carrying this load?
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3 comments:
Hey Agam,
Exactly, by allowing the surface of water to be still and behave like a membrane and not get disturbed by the force of insertion of the needle is the key to the experiment. Nice point of comparing it with everyday life and experiences.
Loved the example of what we see is very often a projection of what we perceive in our mind.
Thanks, I finally got the funda :P
Liked the point about the external agent...very true :)
Loved the ending.
It's really nice concept Agam.
So, the needle has it to float on water (of course, surface tension depends on both the surfaces, so not to discredit the water itself), but it needed to be stationary -- something that that paper did.
That exemplifies that even in bad times, one can pull through. One needs to be stable, composed, for that, and the people who come to your rescue in bad times play the role that the absorbing paper played in case of the needle. Even if they couldn't get you out of those bad situations, they could enable you to cope up with it. :)
Loved the point.
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