Questions you'd like answering, regardless of how trivial they may seem

[Alex321]

The conditions you see for bluebells in Spring can often be seen in Autumn. Why don’t we see examples of bluebells in the Autumn?

Because they need the cold spell of winter first.

AIUI, there needs to be a long enough spell of cold enough weather to cause a certain chemical reaction in part of the seed. And until that reaction has occurred, the seed will not germinate.

I don't know the detailed mechanics of what chemical this is, either before or after the reaction.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Because they have only just gone to sleep. In the spring they get their cues to wake up and grow. during the summer they are storing energy for winter. At the end of the summer they die back and close down. just like you when you go to sleep. They aren't going to wake until they have had a rest.

Hmm, seems you’re making it up and don’t really know

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Because they need the cold spell of winter first.

AIUI, there needs to be a long enough spell of cold enough weather to cause a certain chemical reaction in part of the seed. And until that reaction has occurred, the seed will not germinate.

I don't know the detailed mechanics of what chemical this is, either before or after the reaction.

How cold and how long as some mild winters you won’t see prolonged cold spells at all?

 

[Gillstay]

How cold and how long as some mild winters you won’t see prolonged cold spells at all?

Best you look into Gibberellins for the answer you need as they and other hormones control a lot of plant growth.

 

[KnittyNorah]

The conditions you see for bluebells in Spring can often be seen in Autumn. Why don’t we see examples of bluebells in the Autumn?

And don't forget (many) plant's internal 'clock'. They 'know' they should flower as the days are getting longer, not when they're getting shorter. They are 'programmed' (if you like) to respond to multiple stimuli, not just one or two.

 

[icowden]

Hmm, seems you’re making it up and don’t really know

Ok - here is some stuff about bulbs:-
https://www.tulipworld.com/about-flower-bulbs.aspx

and some about seeds:-
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar... has two hormones,right time to start growing.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Ok - here is some stuff about bulbs:-
https://www.tulipworld.com/about-flower-bulbs.aspx

and some about seeds:-
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/seeds-use-tiny-brains-decide-when-germinate-180963625/#:~:text=The seed has two hormones,right time to start growing.

On a semi related topic, the periodic Circada's 17 year life cycle has always fascinated me.
https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-some-cicadas-appear-only-every-17-years

 

[Jameshow]

How do ice rinks stay cold?

Massive condenser??

Why does petrol combust with a spark whilst diesel with a squeeze?!

 

[Accy cyclist]

Why do train fare dodgers get fined for example about £400 for not buying a £3.50 ticket? Yes, I know 'you have to so why shouldn't they', but why such a high fine for such a small offence? In the old days of inspectors suddenly appearing on buses, if you didn't have a ticket you were told to leave leave the bus, not arrested like train fare dodgers are.🤔

 

[Mike Ayling]

Why do train fare dodgers get fined for example about £400 for not buying a £3.50 ticket? Yes, I know 'you have to so why shouldn't they', but why such a high fine for such a small offence? In the old days of inspectors suddenly appearing on buses, if you didn't have a ticket you were told to leave leave the bus, not arrested like train fare dodgers are.🤔

I would fine the bar stewards GBP 4,000 not 400!

 

[Alex321]

Why do train fare dodgers get fined for example about £400 for not buying a £3.50 ticket? Yes, I know 'you have to so why shouldn't they', but why such a high fine for such a small offence? In the old days of inspectors suddenly appearing on buses, if you didn't have a ticket you were told to leave leave the bus, not arrested like train fare dodgers are.🤔

They don't get fined anywhere near that much.

On most of the national rail network, it is £20 or twice the single fare amount, whichever is the greater. In London, it is £80, reduced to £40 if paid within 21 days.

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/187936.aspx
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/penalty-fares-and-how-to-pay-them

I don't know where you get the £400 from, unless that was a case of somebody refusing to pay the penalty fare and being taken to court for it. In which case, they really deserve to be clobbered for at least that much, and should have been more, since the court case will have cost more than that.

 

[Alex321]

They don't get fined anywhere near that much.

On most of the national rail network, it is £20 or twice the single fare amount, whichever is the greater. In London, it is £80, reduced to £40 if paid within 21 days.

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/187936.aspx
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/penalty-fares-and-how-to-pay-them

I don't know where you get the £400 from, unless that was a case of somebody refusing to pay the penalty fare and being taken to court for it. In which case, they really deserve to be clobbered for at least that much, and should have been more, since the court case will have cost more than that.

I've found a few stories online about different people being charged around that amount by the courts.
One example - https://www.warringtonguardian.co.u...fined-400-not-buying-4-northern-train-ticket/

They are always similar, somebody who has refused to pay the penalty fare after repeated attempts, then being taken to court. The fine always seems to be £220, then there are the value of the fare, court costs and "victim surcharge" on top of that.

But if you end up being taken to court, that is your own fault for not paying up prior to that.

 

[icowden]

I've found a few stories online about different people being charged around that amount by the courts.

And they are always billed as a fine of £400. Which of course is untrue. It's a fine of £220, the original fares plus the court costs. If you go to court, you are always going to have to pay the £150 court fee if you lose. This also means that the COurt has assessed his ability to pay and set the fine at £220 accordingly. He may also not have to pay the sum in full, but may be paying it back over a period of weeks or months, depending on his ability to pay.

 

[colly]

235/55 R16

It's a tyre size. Easy to understand and all. But....Metric and imperial sizes combined. Why?

235/55/R406 would make just as much sense.

How do they do it in Europe? Metric and imperial l guess.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

235/55/R406 would make just as much sense

Except that 406 is nominally 20” not 16”