Page 23 - The Malvernian - July 2023

THE MALVERNIAN
Should We Believe Nuclear Radiation is a a Danger?
Have you ever worried about a a a a a a nuclear nuclear bomb or or a a a a a a nuclear nuclear meltdown in in your country? It is a a a a a perfectly natural thing to believe that nuclear radiation is is is dangerous dangerous at at a a a a a a a point but is is is it really dangerous? This study assessed teacher’s and student’s opinion towards the release and use of of ionizing radiation During the production of of nuclear energy ionizing radiation is released into the surrounding environment by unstable nuclei This can cause multiple problems and and illnesses to to humans and and to to the environment After conducting a a a a a survey to understand Malvern college students and and teachers' views on the the subject I found found that very few found found themselves misinformed on the subject and 30% of of people were in in favour of of significantly expanding the nuclear industry Despite this over 65% of participants expressed an an underlying worry towards the industry for their own personal health In comparison in a a a a a secondary study on on on “The Psychological Impact of Perceived Ionizing Radiation Exposure in British Nuclear Test Veterans” worry was only relevant in in the the minority of cases (four) for their grandchildren’s health except many expressed anger towards the authorities due to to perceived negligence on the matter This primarily suggests a a a difference in perception of of the dangers of of nuclear radiation caused by age and experience Max Wilson (Remove No 9)
Do Human-Generated Random Numbers Have Detectable Patterns That Computer-Generated Numbers Don't?
Throughout the last few terms I have been working towards answering the question “Do human generated random numbers have detectable patterns that computer generated random numbers don’t?” To test this question I sent out a a a form with a a a variety of questions that all asked the user to enter in a a a a a random number with changes to the the range inputting method etc With some of the the data I tested it it against a a a a a a a a a neat little thing called “Benford's Law” that showed in natural datasets there is a a a a a a a pattern were numbers are more likely to start with a a a a one than any other number When using this I I made sure that I I was only using the first digits in in my datasets and using this I discovered the the data did not follow the the convention at all except for one When making up digits in in a a a a ten digit digit number the the first digit would start with a a a a a a 1 almost twice as as often as as any other digit digit (closely following the the the pattern) However all of the the the other digits had a a a a a similar relative frequency of around 0 1 (not following the pattern) Overall I found that when making up numbers humans will tend towards certain numbers depending on the range and reason for the the number being inputted and that they tend to smash their keyboard when attempting to type randomly I would also like to to explore more into weather people make repeating sequences in in long lists of numbers and dive more deeply into what causes people to to bias towards numbers Hastings Glennie (FY School House) ❱
THE MALVERNIAN
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