Ntokozo Mthembu

NM

My name is Ntokozo.
I have worked in many industries, particularly manufacturing and innovation, and technology. I am looking forward to this course.

Location South Africa

Achievements

Activity

  • Thank you

  • Thank you very much!

  • Wonderful

  • Good post - very immersed in the electronic concepts

  • Good post

  • Interesting.

  • Very interesting.

  • Still good, and interesting because the phenomenon of train-platform-passengers system is quite familiar. However, the physics and mathematics involved in the system is quite complex.

  • Interesting and advanced safety technogies. It is still being deployed, amd the challenge od retrofitring old stations and platforms is indeed an enormous challenge.

  • Protect passengers from dangers asso iated with movi g trains.

  • Good

  • Thank you. You are an excellent presenter who takes his audience along.

  • I enjoyed the content and a bit of history on the advent of digital technologies.

  • Very good lesson and revision.

  • About 7 kWh, but my calculation has excluded house lighting and the duration of use, such as cooking appliances that are not in constant use, washing machines that are used maybe thrice a week, and so forth.

  • Good

  • Very interesting.
    Interdisciplinary studies and alignment are the key. Problems ar never unidimensional, but are always multi-dimensional.

  • Interesting and informative video.

  • Both points raised are very good. But often times ingenuity is misplaced with complexity, which in real life, becomes expensive when.customers of the system consider it "not user friendly" - taking us back to the importance of Human Interaction in systems desgns.

  • Very interesting and lluminating examples from Tiangong 2.

  • Satellites are powered by converting sun's rays into electricity. Need good and robust solar panels, first to absorb the rays, and then convert to electricity. Generated energy is stored in batteries - need good batteries to store this energy

  • I wonder what lessons have learnt as scientific commnity from the 1989 solar flare disaster?
    Are there some nuggets of wisdom that the Birmngham Space Weather Research Group can share with us?
    We are 5 years from completing 1/2 a century since the solar flare incident.
    If it happens again, how well prepared are we to mitigate the effects thereof?

  • Agreed

  • A phenomena taking place in space due to the effects of variations on the surface of the Sun and its environment, and the impact on the surrounding planets in the solar system.

  • I could not find the recommended article on Human Interface Technologies Team.

  • Very well explained topic, and interesting too.

  • The course was great, illuminating, and informative. Tim is an excellent presenter because he does not rush hi presentation, but delivers it in a way that the listener understands.

  • A system consists of inputs, processes, and outputs - a set of interrelated elements that work together to produce a coherent outcome.

    A transducer converts one form of energy into another, like mechanical energy into electrical energy- a speedometer converts the rotational speed of your wheels into miles per hour.

  • Thanks. A very good demonstration.

  • Interesting, and thank you.

  • Thanks, Adam for simplifying the definitions of impedance and resistance. I was confused and even asked of this after the glossary presentation. Thank you.

  • Very interesting. A lot of work is involved in producing the music we enjoy. It is not just a matter of "banging the drums" to speak.

  • Very interesting discussion. I also like teh emphasis on the meaning of impedance in electronics in term of sensors, circuits an processors,

  • A sensor detects energy and converts it into electrical energy, whereas a transducer converts one form of energy into another. I guess the operative words are:
    sensor = energy detection;
    Examples: IoT, home automation, autonomous maintenance, air quality checks, climate control, security checks, etc.
    transducer = energy conversion
    Examples: strain gauges,...

  • Very informative.
    I have also watched Asaad recommended video, and it is very illuminating and simplifies the piezoelectric effect. Thanks for sharing Asaad. A similar video uses a physical example - the electric stethoscope to demonstrate the piezoelectric effect.

  • Thanks for thr tip Asasd.

  • You do that by pressing the keys on the keyboard, using a finger or a mouse or other imput device, touch screen ; press enter to allow the computer to accept your instructions, and process input data/information/instruction to give intended output.

    Understanding the computer, for example, Word, Excel, programmimg language - would make interaction between...

  • Ntokozo Mthembu made a comment

    Very interesting and useful.
    What is the difference between impendance and input resistance? They both have a cmmon factor ratio: voltage/current at the input termimal to a device or a subsystem ... ?

  • Very interesting and pignant examples shared by the team

  • I like the human analogy or metaphors such as cooking to which we can all relate. This is the best way for the instructor to infuse the course knowledge into his students.

  • Interesting introduction on both electrical and electronic systems

  • Very interesting

  • Thank you very much.

  • Interesting video and explanation.

  • Q1: I assume the velocity of about 220 km/s, and estimate the total mass contained within the Milky Way galaxy (to a radius of 50 kpc) = 11.13 x 10^41

    Q2: Total mass of all stars in the galaxy = 2.4 x 10^38
    Q3: Mass from planets =

  • Interesting
    1. av = 16.14 MeV
    2. aA = 20.39 MeV
    3. Scaling?
    4. Predicted mass number is 64
    5. Mass number range is from 18 to 56 nucleons.
    6. Mass of the neutron star is 8.37004 x 10^28 kg
    7. Mass of Neutron Star = 0.0421 solar masses?
    8. Volume = 3.62x10^11 m3
    9. Density = 2.3121x10^17 kg/m3

  • Interesting

  • Good reading.

  • This is interesting.
    Attempting to answer Dr Mikhail Bashkanov's question at the end of the video "Is the d* hexaquark the end of our periodic table or just the beginning?" I proffer to say that d* hexaquark is the beginning ... of our periodic table.

  • Q1: X-ray is not focused. all over the show and killing more healthy cells
    Q2: The proton beam is more focused on cancerous cells, with less damage on healthy cells
    Q3: Protm beam produced more energy to targeted tumor cell, and very less danger on surround healthy cells.

  • Greta stuff - treating cancer by destroying cancers cells through proton therapy ... (depositing large amounts of energy into the cells - ionising the atoms in the cell DNAs}

  • Great!
    Quantum entanglement - Spooky action at a distance - phantom mouse

  • A very interesting and educational video.
    At last, seeing applications to something most of us can relate to, although I do not understand the physics behind it. This is indeed fascinating to get into the world of applied physics beyond taking X-ray pictures in clinics, ECGs and MRI scans.

  • Interesting lectures and discussions with fellow students cement the learning process.

  • DW:
    I think the last statement is not a guarantee of the technology, but its intention. s the old saying goes, 'the test of the pudding is in the eating. perhaps a real test case would be to deploy these devices in radioactive places., and then measure the level of people's safety post the remedial actions. Unfortunately, the world is awash with...

  • While this is undoubtedly a wealth of information, I agree with John Gribben's remarks underneath about his challenges as well as the confidence of other students. I gues the majority are scholars of physics and are quite familiar with the concepts.

  • LH, do you think the American students and their sister counties using American English will agree with your grammar lecture on spelling?

    With all due respect, you are correct LH, considering that this lecture series is provided by the University of York - such misspellings will certainly make the Duke of York green with anger ...

  • Fascinating topic, but new to me. I need to go over this material again to get a prosper grasp, even at a high level.

  • Interesting topic.

  • Interesting.
    I had thought Einstein had most of the quantum mechanics mysteries figured out - " ‘spooky action at a distance" does not sound like a scientist's explanation of a scientific phenomenon, considering that 'spooks' belong to the mythical world of magic which science does not believe in - just an observation!

  • A very interesting topic. I remember during my high physics learning about terms such as squarks, and wave-particle duality, but never encountered 'the d* hexaquark', quite understandably because I have not touched a proper physics lecture since my first year in college (Physics 101) some many moons ago!

  • Perhaps, the 'tatti-ness' signifies the simplicity of his genius - as the saying says, a prophet is not recognised in his own village/country, Sad indeed!

  • I have enjoyed the discussion on the nanoscale, and looking forward to next week lecture,

  • Quantum mechanics is pharmaceuticals? A shocker for me, not negative but positive in terms of the extent the principles of quantum mechanics and computer modeling materials have proliferated biological industries. Talking about Ritonavir, which is superior to Ritonavir and ARVs commonly used in South Africa, for example?

  • Can't figure it out yet, but have observed the different movements of atom sin all 4 scenarios, but in the last scenario, the movement of electrons on the left side of the plate was more visible than on the right side. It seems to m that the electron barrier in the middle was preventing the movement of electrons from the cold side to move easily across. On the...

  • Memristive’ data storage technologies - a new term for me, but the "ristive'' part would suggest some resistance properties perhaps. Will see as I read along.

    Thermoelectric materials and the BMW prototype hybrid car, -Coating the cooling towers of power plants, and flexible ‘wearable’ thermoelectrics are all mind-boggling.

    In cooling towers and other...

  • I remember the Erwin Schrodinger equation in secondary/high school physical science. I won't reveal many decades past was that, let I reveal my ancient-ness/If I am n to mistaken, Shroedinger equation was about calculating both the position and velocity of an electron. I stand to correction here.
    Density functional theory (DFT) and CASTEP are new concepts to...

  • The current research leads me to advocate for more solar energy applications, hence reducing reliance on fossil energy like coal. However, we need to ensure the affordability and reliability of solar systems. With the suggested advances in solar technology discussed above, it is a matter of time before fossil energy is dispensed with, probably not entirely but...

  • Thanks.
    Very laborious and manual work.

  • Thanks

  • Interesting. I have not read about the wave theory for decades, and I am mesmerised.

  • Not certain
    1. flakes
    2. a virus - similar to Covid.
    3. - cellmembrane
    4. silica
    5. diamond/graphite flake
    6. sieve

  • Interesting discussion, but I am sinking a wee bit as this area throws me out of my comfort zone. But I am learning.

  • Interesting lecture at tiny sizes below the nanoscales - boggles the mind ...

  • What is OU?

  • Electron microscope! Very interesting indeed.

  • Very exciting.

  • Comparing our world and nono world is beyond normal comprehension!

  • I wonder how far down the nano scales can we go, not just theoretically, but in terms of biological entities at those nano measurements.

  • I have enjoyed the course, although there were some areas I got baffled such as the tokamak design. I did not fully understand the carbon calculator tool. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed the discussion of the application of low-temperature plasmas, maybe because it is easy to relate to their applications compared to astrophysics theory.

  • No, I'll let it pass. I don't even enjoy flying, always hoping for te arrival of our technology leaped to beaming technology I have seen in sci-fi movies. Press a button, then you are there, although I know it is not that simple ...

  • Interesting appplications

  • Interesting.

  • Interesting

  • Thanks, David. I was rowing the same boat as Sylvia.

  • Interesting.

  • Thanks, Pete for bringing applied science into the picture because you are dealing with laser processing in your industry. I think the big lesson here is to try and visit a laser processing plant near your industry and see these operations in real-time applications.

  • I don't have any chocolate in the house, I will do the exercise whenever I get a chance to buy one.

  • What is a Bose Einstein solid?

  • CO2 is also a big problem in my country as coal produces more than 90% of our energy. Recently, the government has received billions from international donors (through Cairo COP 22) to change to renewables, but it si a struggle in a democratic dispensation to satisfy everyone - jobs losses, coal interest groups, etc.
    Nuclear fusion, on the contrary, cannot be...

  • I guess my previous question about the gigantism-ness of the tokamak design and its deployment challenges is being answered here by the UK STEP project described above by Professor Wilson. I am optimistic that fusion will be the energy source of the future, which is still a wee far from here, a few decades into the future, based on the challenges and the...

  • This is a very complex system, and I m still trying to warp my head around it, tokamak design. As one of my colleagues said in the post below, I also feel like the man standing next to the machine in the diagram. Being such a complex system, how much will it cost? Obviously, it is a collaborative project involving many nations, and I can imagine the complex...

  • Fusing 2 x 2 (Deuterium) + Enerfy gain = I Tritium + I protium
    Therefore, Energy gain = I Tritium - 2x2 Deuterium - 1 Protium
    = 8.48 - 2x2(Deuterium) - 0.0 (Protium) =8.48 x 2(2.2) = 8.48-4.44
    = 4.04 Energy gain

  • It is an interesting concept with the noble objective of eliminating fossil fuels that are harmful to the environment. However, while the emphasis is to develop our own sun, I wonder if the negative effects of running such a system have been explored. Taking Newton's 3rd law, that for every action, there is an equal and opposite force to it, naturally, there...

  • Interesting introduction. I have known about the 3 states of matter, and have heard about plasma physics, but it is the first time I hear the term, 4th state of matter. I am looking forward to refreshing some of the fundamental concepts of physics.

  • I am from South Africa, retired, and consulting in the innovation and technology space. I did Physics 101 at the university many years ago. I just like to learn new concepts and technologies. In my technology consulting space, science and maths are integral to solving world problems entrepreneurs encounter and require some consulting advice to move forward.

  • Looking forward to the course

  • Hi Kate, my name is Ntokozo. I am joining your course because it has been many years since I did Physics 101, and I just need to refresh myself on the fundamental principles of physics. I think things have changed since then, but the basic principles still remain - the apple still falls from the tree, and not the other way around!!!

  • Yes indeed will check them.

  • i enjoyed the course and learned new concepts that have augmented my understanding of engineering maintenance