Does smell have a measurable velocity?

The speed of light might be measured as instantaneous from the point
of reference of the photon. It may be measured as X metres per second,
yet contradictory in measurement by arriving at different distanced
targets instantaneously, as nothing is faster than light. It may also
be measured in relation to our Sun, in taking 7 to 8 minutes to reach
Earth, or from the Million Stars Galaxy some 17,000 light years
distant.

Sound might be measured using light as the reference point of zero. As
in the sound of leather against willow in a cricket match arriving
shortly after the cover drive has been played. The Doppler Effect of
expansion and contraction of sound waves has been well illustrated in
observing say an Ambulance siren changing pitch as it approaches and
recedes from the listener.

Can the speed of smell be measured in a similar way? If so, where
resides the propogation point of measurement? Is it from the source of
the pungency, or can it be measured only from the olfacatory nerves to
the brain's response?

Phil

fun question Phil,

I'd say, considering the article I just read, that it can't be
measured the same way as light or sound............

http://www.cshl.edu/public/releases/smell.html

Just to clear things up, smell is not a wave like light(sortof) and
sound. You smell an object when particles evaporate off of it and
float into your nose where they stimulate tiny sensor cells.

Sence the oder particals are extreamly light and must travel to your
nose, they are greatly influended by what ever atmosphere you are in
and how it is moving. If there is wind blowing the oder to you (you
are downwind) the smell will reach you quickly. If you are upwing of
an oder you may not smell it at all. If the velocity ot the air is
greater than the dispertion velocity of the particles. The smell will
reach you even if the air is not moving because of the particals will
naturaly mix with the air and disperse throught it because of the
natural random motion of atoms in a gas (called Browning motion).

This leads to some interesting conclutions. You can smell underwater
and in any liquid that does not destroy the oder moluclues. Although
the oder of the liquid its' self could overpower your nose. Humans
have VERY weak sences of smell. Furthermore, in space, no one can hear
you scream, but thay can sure smell your farts.

More information here:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question139.htm

anotherbrian has it right.

AB,

Thank you for your informative answer. I presume the experience of
smelling underwater would be short-lived.

Phil

I have long been troubled by a related question: what is the speed of
dark?  For example, think of a room that is 372,000 miles wide by
372,000 miles long with a single light source directly in the middle
of the ceiling.  Thus, it is 186,000 miles to any of the four walls
from the light source.  If one were to extinguish the light source,
how long would it take for the "dark" to reach a wall?

Hmmmmmm

I'm not sure .... What about a fart?

Yet Another Bryan

Hello Bryan with a Y,

A pleasure to read your insightful words again. I trust that all is
well with you. Thank you for your valuable input.

Phil

Bryan,

Correction. Thank you for your output.

Phil

Ipfan,

Firstly, if your rather large room is equally wide as it is long, it
is 372,000 miles square. Your single light source had better be
greater than a 100 watt light bulb to take effect. You make no mention
of the height of your room. I presume you expect to see the floor
darkened (at say 8 feet below) before the walls are darkened. Maybe,
maybe not. Instead of viewing your room, picture a light source at the
centre of a sphere with a radius of 186,000 miles. We might then find
discussion and argument between the answers of one second or
instantaneous darkness. In other words, I don't know either.

Phil

RE: Darkness

It would take the amount of time for the last light wave leaving the
source to hit the wall.  After it hit it would be dark.  So the speed
is the same as the speed of light, and in this siutation, it would
take a second.

Hi Silver

Ref to ?Tattoo?, definition -- drumbeat. So a bit of a coincidence.
Glad you enjoyed the show.

Speed of smell etc, how about this one -- at dawn, do birds start
singing in an absolutely smooth wave in response to the growing light,
or is it partially granulated in response to neighbouring song?

Best

Heeeyyyy Guzzi,

Glad to see your words again.

Well yes, there were LOTS of drums. Thank you for answering the
definition. I have since learnt that the TV show was about a tribute
to Aussies. They played Waltzing Matilda at least three times. Your
famous Scottish castle was recreated in great detail, to be put on
show in Sydney, Aus. I'm not musical at all Guzzi, with my two left
feet and all. But I can't properly express my amazement of the
choreography and talent on show. I won't attempt a typed explanation
of the detail I saw, as I am inept to portray justice to the
spectacle. I just have to say that it was pure mathematics played to
music. Bloody fantastic.

I will have to think on your dawn birds question. I'm leaning toward
your reference of a granulated cacophony in direct proportion to the
increasingly accellerated spread of light from first dawn. A more
scientific theory bouncing around my limited mind is that a Forward
Scout bird is nominated to announce Reveille. They take it in turns.
At first, one hears a single bird of no particular species, with a
tired and slow "Tattoo" beat. Then we hear one more, then
2,3,5,8,13,21 and so on. But wait, there's more. I think I have
tripped upon the Fibonacci Sequence of all things natural, relating to
Phi. Please consider the following link Guzzi.

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=447632

Then again, maybe I should think more on your question. ?

Phi(l)

Hiya Phil,

I doubt whether it will help you enjoy the "dawn singers" more by knowing the
"why's and how come's", but........

I got curious by Guzzi's question and found something that might explain it......
..for what it is worth.....

hit the wrong button.........

http://www.bna-naturalists.org/magazines/sprg-summ02/dawn-chorus.html

That was interesting link am777. A big subject. I like the image of a
wave of birdsong spreading over the land, racing in front of the light
at a thousand miles per hour.

And you and I Phil, four left feet between us. But doesn?t hinder our
appreciation of music, and perhaps even enhances it. Fibonacci,
interesting idea. Just saw a 2 hour documentary on "The da Vinci Code"
(hosted by Tony Robinson, Baldrick) which tried to be fair but
ultimately...... Hell though, I shouldn?t put thoughts into your head
-- is there room for them all :-)

Best,
Andy

Hi Anne-Marie and Andy,

An interesting link indeed AM. It makes sense that the early bird
chasing the worm depends on the breed of birds. I guess it's a
hierachy of the species.

Andy, please at least visit: brainstormings. It's a group thing I
started thanks to Anne-Marie's direction of help. I promise not to
hound you for ideas, so don't feel obliged to contribute unless you
really want to. It may be of interest to you though and I would look
forward to your input. You are correct as always. My mind is full at
present, so do hold those thoughts. The 'flu has not helped my present
mindedness either.

Catch you lot again soon, Phil

Phil,

http://www.kingcards.com/htdocs/occasion/getwell/pinkelephant.htm

Anne-Marie

Hi Phil

Many thanks for the invite and direction to the site which will serve
your loquacious typing. (Loquacious of Borg? A tragic ?Trekie? pun). I
get lost with convoluted threads so I shall lurk and laugh in the
background. But maybe the odd interjection :-)

Oh, and speed of smell = ((FxAxRxT)/(s+b+d))*k

Best (get well soon)
Drew

Anne-Marie,

Fanks for your card and good wishes. I'm gedding worse. My speed of
smell has reduced to zero.

Godda ged some sun and vidamins.

Talk again lader. Phil

Drew,

Now thad was synchronicity. Us posting ad the same time. Please do
inderjeckt any dime you wish.

I will run your equation through Excel!

Phil