Tuesday, September 11, 2012

On Glass Half full/Half Empty



The process of filling or emptying a glass or any other container is simply that -- a process. Nothing more. To attempt to impart psychological or philosophical qualities to an inanimate physical process is ridiculous. If the container is being filled and the filler reaches the half-way mark, the container is half full. If the container is being emptied and the level reaches the half-way mark, the container is half empty.

According to the Chemistry Cat: "The optimist sees the glass half full. The pessimist sees the glass half empty. The chemist sees the glass completely full, half in the liquid state and half in the vapor state."

1 comment:

  1. September 26, 2013
    Since writing this last September, I have come across a feature of the About.com/Chemistry site administered by Anne Marie Helmenstine highlighting humor associated with chemistry ala the meme called Chemistry Cat. On this subject the Chemistry Cat observes:
    "The optimist sees the glass half full. The pessimist sees the glass half empty. The chemist sees the glass completely full, half in the liquid state and half in the vapor state." I like that!

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