this post was submitted on 05 May 2026
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Science Memes

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top 11 comments
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[–] 87Six@lemmy.zip 23 points 2 hours ago (3 children)

It's funny to be in this community as someone that is science illiterate because I always learn that I'm too stupid to even understand the joke but I still laugh

[–] rockerface@lemmy.cafe 11 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

So you know how you can turn any object around 360 degrees and it will return to its original position? With symmetric objects, that angle can be smaller, like you can turn an equilateral triangle by 120 degrees and it's still looking the same. You could assign numbers to these facts by saying that a normal asymmetrical object has a spin of 1 and an equilateral triangle has a spin of 3 (as in, it resets to its original position 3 times in one full rotation).

Now imagine an object that needs to be turned 720 degrees to return to the same position. Some particles are actually like that (electrons, for example). This is designated by a spin of 1/2 (as in, one full rotation flips it around, and it needs a second full rotation to reset).

This is obviously oversimplified, but then again, everything about quantum mechanics is.

[–] egerlach@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 hour ago

My understanding is that the "rotation" or "turning" of fundamental particles isn't analogous to macroscopic objects, and that's where I start to lose things. (not seeking an explanation today, just pointing out where QM goes all fuzzy for me)

[–] Klear@quokk.au 7 points 1 hour ago

Have you tried spinning? That's a good trick!

[–] happybadger@hexbear.net 4 points 2 hours ago

The only thing I learned from multiple physics classes was that I'm not a physicist. People would die if I had to do physics. It's nonsense made up by nerds to feel smart when real geniuses just eat the apple that falls on their head. Free apple.

[–] FartMaster69@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 2 hours ago (1 children)
[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 1 points 1 hour ago

Excellent point, FartMaster69.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 15 points 2 hours ago

Look, we might not be able to tell you what spin is but we're actually quite sure that it is not spinning but it is nonetheless angular momentum.

That's spinning, you say?

Wrong, idiot. You absolute buffoon.

[–] FiniteBanjo@feddit.online 7 points 2 hours ago

Spin is a funny way of saying Minute Differences in Polarity and Potential. The tiny balls aren't actually spinning. They're also not actually tiny balls. Everything is a field of energy which pools in some spots and spreads in others.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 hours ago

Spin is how a particular particle be vibin'

[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 1 points 1 hour ago

Is it that special something between 6 and 7?

and...
Where you can find Saddam at. 😜