THE EXETA

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The Morrison house was no different today. Simon was sited with Marlon and that were as usual plunged into the world of science. This time, there were not in the living room but outside. The same sport Simon had caused the experimental accident the last time. The air was cool and the atmosphere serene. Cassie was in making sure everything was okay and keeping an eye on both Simon and Marlon. Simon was trying to help Marlon solve a question.

            “So that is it. We want to calculate the amount of energy an electro emit after is transits to a higher of lower energy level.” Simon said scribbling a lot of equation of the white board.

            “Yes, and the formula is what I have written there.” Marlon added.

            “Great so we just have the substitute and we hope to get what we went.” Simon said…..

            “I see, I guess that is what I did initially. Let me try it again.” Marlon said and worked id out in her book as she took her calculator and punched the figures. Excited she raised he head and bellowed,

            “I got the same 345 kJ – kilo joules of energy. But that is not right answer.” Marlon complained. Simon looked on unperturbed.

            “Yes because you missed something.” Simon replied.

            “Really!...what did it miss?” Marlon asked. Simon then re – wrote the equation again this time added a small symbol that Marlon had ignored on the board.

            “You did not add the permittivity of free space….” Simon said.

            “Oh….I get it all now….let me work it all over again.” Marlon worked it out and this time it was correct. She then beamed with smiled.

            “Great…I got it now.” Marlon shouted. “That is exciting …” Simon said and started wiping the board.

            “No its not, can we do something more fun…Anything you like to share with me.” Marlon asked. Simon was not getting that.

            “Me…?” Simon thought. “Yes…anything, you have studied, and you think is worth sharing.” Marlon wheedled. Simon then shook his head. He has gotten an idea.

            Simon then took pictures from his bag and pasted then on the white board. Simon was ready to talks about the pictures he had been pasted on a white board as was also eager to listen. 

            “Okay so this science story.  From time immemorial thus before Jesus Christ to be more precise, thus the B.C’s the first theory of the solar system was proposed by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle said that, the earth was a round sphere rather than a Hat plate. Aristotle thought the earth was stationary and that the sun, the moon, the planets, and the stars moved in circular orbits about the earth. He believed this because he felt, for mystical reasons, that the earth was the center of the universe. And as time went by after Aristotle was no more another philosopher came in called Ptolemy. Ptolemy proposed that, the earth stood at the center, surrounded by eight spheres that carried the moon, the sun, the stars, and the five planets known at the time, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Ptolemy’s model provided a reasonably accurate system for predicting the positions of heavenly bodies in the sky. Aristotle believed the heavily bodies moved in a circular fashion, but Ptolemy thought they rather moved in an oval fashion. And this was adopted by the Christian church, thus the roman Catholic Church as the picture of the universe. This theory was called the geocentric theory or egocentrism. Then as time went on…”

            Simon the moved to the board and open a new picture of the history for the solar system. Marlon was fascinated the more and just enjoyed Simon talk. He kept on stunning her anytime they met, and he was beginning to like his clairvoyance. She was excited he came and she was listening to the teaching with rapt attention.

            “But, in 1514, a Polish priest, Nicholas Copernicus came out with a different view and image of the solar system. His theory was properly called the heliocentric theory or heliocentrism. And this theory talked about the fact that the sun was rather is the center of the solar system while all other heavenly bodies like the earth moved in orbit round the sun. With this discovery, there was a friction between the geo and the helio theory of the universe. Copernicus feared that the church at the time will brand him as a traitor – heretic so he circulated his findings secretly. But that was the correct theory.”

            Simon paused a little at this while and considered the face of Marlon. It was conspicuous she wanted more. She had never heard about all these before. The story was intriguing and informative.

            “So what happened Simon. What did Copernicus do with the truth? Simon smiled on hearing that.

            “He hid it, he was afraid the Church would arrest him and torture him because his theory was against the accepted theory of the church that was the geocentric theory. But luckily, after a century had passed new scientist emerged called Johannes Kepler a German and another called Galileo Galilei an Italian discovered that Copernicus theory was the correct one. So, Kepler was able to modify the Copernicus theory that the planets did not move in a circular fashion but rather they moved in an elliptical fashion. Like an ellipse. Then in 1909, in Italy, Galileo Galilei was able to manufacture his first telescope and with that he observed the skies and saw Jupiter. With that it all went to confirm that, Copernicus theory – the heliocentric theory of the universes was the current one.” Simon said excited. A glare of excitement also crossed the face of Marlon.

            “So that was it. Galileo Galilei was brave and tried to ague out his discovery with the church. After he argued he was cast in prison, thus placed under house arrest since he was also a Roman Catholic. With that, he ended writing a lot of books about his discovery and after he died in prison those books were again circulated unto the time of Sir Isaac Newton and a lot of work on astronomy has been done till now, and finally the truth of the universe as we know currently is the heliocentric theory. So that it my story.” Simon ended his talk. Marlon was a bit jealous and excited at the same time.  She then gave out an involuntary clap. Simon was surprised that Marlon was clapping for him.

            “Wow! Simon that was a lot. So you studied al these in school or what?” Marlon asked.

            “School…no studied on my own. My Dad is a physicist and has a lot of books on physics and Astronomy. Also, these books: The Wonders of the Universe and A Journey to the Stars all by Jacob A. Osae, was really helpful.” Simon explained.

            Marlon nodded her head impressed and spell bound. What else could she say. She thought she was the only smart person until she met Simon.

            “So what about you any scientific story you like to share with.” Simon inquired from Marlon. Marlon was absented minded for a while. Simon was looking at her.

            “Did you hear what I said?” Simon said again. Marlon then quickly turned back and looks at Simon.

            “Me…yes a story, maybe some other time…But I can tell you this.

Marlon then narrated the story of her famous scientist and role model, Madame Marie Curie –  Polish and French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity with the help of her husband Pierre Curie. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person and only woman to win twice, the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different sciences – thus in Chemistry and Physics for her exploits in the discovery of two chemical elements Polonium and Radium. Simon was impressed to know that, as he also admired Marie Curie.

“The afternoon is wheezing away so fast, will you like to join me for lunch?” Marlon asked with a smile. Simon looked on not expecting that.

            “Am not really sure…I can do that.” Simon replied tentative. Marlon then begun to pack all the book that they have used. Simon also followed suit.

            “Come on…you need not to worry about anything.” Marlon cajoled Simon with a smile.”

            “Ungakhathazeki Simom, yilokho izivakashi ziphathwa khona ekhaya lami.” Marlon teased in her native tongue. Simon looked on confused as she followed her to the living room.

            “And what does that mean?” Simon inquired, but Marlon was already gone