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submitted 2 days ago by xkcdbot@lemmy.world to c/xkcd@lemmy.world

xkcd #3158: Shielding Chart

Title text:

Sharks can occasionally travel short distances through air when pursuing prey, but their attenuation coefficient is pretty high.

Transcript:

Transcript will show once it’s been added to explainxkcd.com

Source: https://xkcd.com/3158/

explainxkcd for #3158

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[-] Landless2029@lemmy.world 3 points 22 hours ago

Am I wierd for wanting a poster of this?

[-] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 1 points 22 hours ago

Not weird at all! It would be a good poster!

[-] Devjavu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago

Why does the faraday cage not have a gray, but a purple? I thought it completely blocks radio.

[-] Scirocco@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

It depends on the wavelength of the radio waves.

This is visible in microwaves, where the wavelength is about 12cm, but the tiny holes of 1mm are small enough that zero (or super tiny?) radiation/radio/EM in that wavelength can pass through, but light (visible light that you can see) has a much, much smaller wavelength and passes just fine.

So, you could say that a larger mesh (chain link fence?) of conductive material is also a faraday cage, but only affects things with a really large wavelength.

thus, faraday cages have a variable effect, depending on their configuration.

[-] Devjavu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago

Yeah, I did read some time ago that the max hole size was like half the wavelength and there existed also a penetration depth. I guess this makes sense with light making it through fences.

[-] jawa22 13 points 2 days ago

This is the best one in quite a while imo.

[-] ludrol@bookwyr.me 18 points 2 days ago

the demon core for neutron source is funny

[-] LawfulPirate@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Lead/Water type has pretty good defensive coverage but sound and heat might be dominant

[-] muzzle@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 days ago

Neutrinos are sorely missing

[-] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Armor would block radio waves?

[-] Linen04@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Yes, a complete set of metal armor would work as Faraday cage

[-] mEEGal@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Heat ç sound are the hardest to block

this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2025
375 points (100.0% liked)

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