# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=695 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 696 --- ## [Do some towns choose to be unincorporated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-towns-choose-to-be-unincorporated/792445)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-towns-choose-to-be-unincorporated/792445 "2017-08-02T15:21:56Z")
Was traveling up in northern Wisconsin. In Wisconsin when entering a town, you are either greeted by a green sign that says “TOWN - Pop. 1234” or “TOWN - Unincorporated” Usually the term unincorporated is for very very … --- ## [How to charge 4 marine batteries with a single solar panel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-4-marine-batteries-with-a-single-solar-panel/792491)
**Author:** [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-4-marine-batteries-with-a-single-solar-panel/792491 "2017-08-02T13:08:40Z")
I’m interested in maintaining charge on 4 12V marine batteries. Can I use a single solar panel like this one and 4 solar charge controllers such as these? Would I be able to switch the batteries on to boat power without… --- ## [Titration question from AP teacher - NOT HW.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/titration-question-from-ap-teacher-not-hw/792596)
**Author:** [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2017, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/titration-question-from-ap-teacher-not-hw/792596 "2017-08-02T09:00:25Z")
I got AP Chem curriculum from a teacher who used to grade the actual test, through his protege, so to speak. I’ve been over this with a tutor a couple times, so I’m not just jumping over here to be lazy. It’s only my 2nd… --- ## [WET/FLOODED Sealed Top vs Top-up Batteries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wet-flooded-sealed-top-vs-top-up-batteries/792558)
**Author:** [@Loyuod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loyuod)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2017, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wet-flooded-sealed-top-vs-top-up-batteries/792558 "2017-08-02T08:41:29Z")
There are two main types of WET Lead vehicle batteries in my area, the ones you can unscrew caps on the top to top up the water/electrolyte. And the ones that are sealed on top/maintenance free & can’t be topped up, as t… --- ## [How Much For A ~5mm BBO Crystal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-for-a-5mm-bbo-crystal/792548)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2017, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-for-a-5mm-bbo-crystal/792548 "2017-08-02T03:24:24Z")
In this video, a scientist is quite proud of his BBO crystal and shows it to the camera. He also treats it with great care. Guessing the size of things isn’t my strong suit, but I’m guessing this crystal is in the range… --- ## [Cellphone Apps--a question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellphone-apps-a-question/792457)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellphone-apps-a-question/792457 "2017-08-01T23:16:32Z")
I have a Tracfone–buying phone time, texts & web access from prepaid cards. Question–do apps burn online time when you use them? Or just on download? And, if it varies by type, which does what? --- ## [Pi](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pi/791924)
**Author:** [@abashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abashed)\ **Replies:** 233\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pi/791924 "2017-08-01T21:23:19Z")
Why is Pi never going to be precisely calculated? --- ## [What happens to the energy emitted by stars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-energy-emitted-by-stars/792052)
**Author:** [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-energy-emitted-by-stars/792052 "2017-08-01T19:38:05Z")
This comes from having only a low level of knowledge of physics and cosmology but here goes… The sun emits a tremendous amount of energy. Only a tiny bit of it hits and is absorbed by things orbiting it (Me on the beach… --- ## [Relativity Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relativity-question/792485)
**Author:** [@abashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abashed)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relativity-question/792485 "2017-08-01T19:01:23Z")
I might have this wrong but I remember reading that when a rocket ship is moving away from the earth at some significant fraction of the speed of light, time will pass more slowly on the moving ship relative to time pass… --- ## [Backdoor Roth IRA conversion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backdoor-roth-ira-conversion/792533)
**Author:** [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backdoor-roth-ira-conversion/792533 "2017-08-01T18:53:28Z")
I’m no financial genius, and I’m trying to wrap my head around this. If we could stay on point about this, it would be appreciated. Tangents and what-ifs will only confuse the issue. I think I’ve got the gist of it, a… --- ## [How big a population can the USA support?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-population-can-the-usa-support/791828)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-population-can-the-usa-support/791828 "2017-08-01T18:28:38Z")
The US currently has a population of approx 300 million (very rounded). To how many could that population safely grow before the US has to import food? --- ## [True crime question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-crime-question/792522)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-crime-question/792522 "2017-08-01T15:46:51Z")
Years ago- probably during the late 80s or early 90s, I read a magazine article about the hunt for a serial killer. They eventually caught a man they were certain was the killer, but didn’t have enough evidence to try h… --- ## [When do trains in US blow their whistles/horns?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-trains-in-us-blow-their-whistles-horns/791328)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-trains-in-us-blow-their-whistles-horns/791328 "2017-08-01T15:12:08Z")
I know they do it for a road crossing. Are there any other places they do it on a regular basis? A train near me blows their horn and I don’t think they are near a road crossing . There are 2 road bridges over t… --- ## [A legal question about impeaching witnesses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-legal-question-about-impeaching-witnesses/792145)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-legal-question-about-impeaching-witnesses/792145 "2017-08-01T12:49:17Z")
A Baltimore police officer has been accused of planting drugs at a crime scene. The evidence against him is really strong; he left his bodycam running and if shows him planting the drugs. But at this point, he is legall… --- ## [Entry into Canada](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entry-into-canada/789609)
**Author:** [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entry-into-canada/789609 "2017-08-01T07:16:30Z")
Does a 17 year old traveling with a parent need a passport to enter Canada or is a Drivers License and birth certificate enough? --- ## [the Indeterminacy principle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indeterminacy-principle/792392)
**Author:** [@abashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abashed)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indeterminacy-principle/792392 "2017-08-01T06:04:53Z")
Why is it that we cannot both know the momentum\* and\* position of a sub-atomic particle? --- ## [Chest freezer problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-freezer-problem/792525)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-freezer-problem/792525 "2017-08-01T04:48:42Z")
I have a chest freezer–Fricon THG 6S GILF–bought off Craig’s List for $75 seven years ago. It has a metal box inside on one side, rising around 1/4 the height of the interior and filling maybe 1/3 of the bottom. The comp… --- ## [Powering 12v Clock Without a 12v Battery?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powering-12v-clock-without-a-12v-battery/792401)
**Author:** [@ntsallfour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ntsallfour)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powering-12v-clock-without-a-12v-battery/792401 "2017-08-01T01:43:49Z")
I have an old Cessna aircraft clock (CA-6254) that was powered off of a 12v aircraft system. The reverse of the clock has terminals labeled Ground and Battery. Is there any way to power this clock (to accurately tell tim… --- ## [Wake up, hello zero gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wake-up-hello-zero-gravity/792450)
**Author:** [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wake-up-hello-zero-gravity/792450 "2017-08-01T00:30:25Z")
Hypothetical question… : What would happen if we all went to sleep one evening and the next morning the world wakes up zero gravity. Gravity has completely removed from earth. Would our buildings start floating? Presum… --- ## [What does "transgender" actually mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-transgender-actually-mean/792439)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-transgender-actually-mean/792439 "2017-07-31T23:56:55Z")
I had assumed it meant someone who had undergone hormonal treatments, surgery, etc. and had actually changed their gender. But having read the figure of 1.4 million transgender Americans, including up to 15,000 in the m… --- ## [How many people can the U.S. hold?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-can-the-u-s-hold/792535)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-can-the-u-s-hold/792535 "2017-07-31T21:38:53Z")
My title is clumsy; I am asking how large a population of people could live inside the U.S., given its geographic size and current population density. A year and a half ago, I moved from South Florida to Denver, Colorad… --- ## [Why Does it Feel Weird to Eat Aluminum Foil?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-feel-weird-to-eat-aluminum-foil/792139)
**Author:** [@pansy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pansy)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-feel-weird-to-eat-aluminum-foil/792139 "2017-07-31T19:14:23Z")
Thanks --- ## [What is the 2nd fastest thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-2nd-fastest-thing/791540)
**Author:** [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-2nd-fastest-thing/791540 "2017-07-31T18:32:46Z")
We all know that light is the fastest thing in the universe. (And please don’t start an argument about that. Take it as a given.) So, what is the 2nd fastest thing? I’m thinking electricity. Has the speed of electricit… --- ## [Legal Q: My own dog bites me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-q-my-own-dog-bites-me/792472)
**Author:** [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-q-my-own-dog-bites-me/792472 "2017-07-31T18:29:30Z")
This should be a simple one. So to start this isn’t based on anything involving me, it is 100% hypothetical (based partly on a recent episode of “Judge Judy”), but I know you’re not my lawyer. Suppose Mr X and Mr Y eac… --- ## [Whats the deal in USA with 1 litre soda pop, is USA on metric?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-in-usa-with-1-litre-soda-pop-is-usa-on-metric/124825)
**Author:** [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)\ **Replies:** 154\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-in-usa-with-1-litre-soda-pop-is-usa-on-metric/124825 "2017-07-31T18:15:22Z")
I live in Toronto, Canada and we use metric measurement. And I understood that the US opted out and continue to use the imperial measurements. Then can someone tell me why I see soda pop/mouthwash being sold in litre bo… --- ## [What opthalmic lenses/microscopes are capable of viewing eye floaters in the vitreous humor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-opthalmic-lenses-microscopes-are-capable-of-viewing-eye-floaters-in-the-vitreous-humor/792506)
**Author:** [@cowardsflight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowardsflight)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-opthalmic-lenses-microscopes-are-capable-of-viewing-eye-floaters-in-the-vitreous-humor/792506 "2017-07-31T16:20:04Z")
This is a personal venture of mine but very important. I suffer from eye floaters that I definitely didn’t have 5 years ago despite what some doctors say about everyone having them. Quite bothersome. They are translucen… --- ## [What are the most powerful engines in the world, absolutely and by app?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-powerful-engines-in-the-world-absolutely-and-by-app/792454)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2017, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-powerful-engines-in-the-world-absolutely-and-by-app/792454 "2017-07-31T16:06:14Z")
Spinoff from a thread mentioning the HP of the propeller engines on aircraft carriers. As to the query, would the number one spot, perhaps by cheating of some semantic sort, go simply to power electric plants (nuclear, … --- ## [Accuracy of unfilled job reports](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accuracy-of-unfilled-job-reports/792501)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accuracy-of-unfilled-job-reports/792501 "2017-07-31T14:43:21Z")
I occasionally see news articles about how many unfilled jobs there are. It seems to me that the numbers might be misleading, because there is a lot of duplication. If a company advertises the same position on their own… --- ## [I have decided to Rob my own Gun Shop](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-decided-to-rob-my-own-gun-shop/791792)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-decided-to-rob-my-own-gun-shop/791792 "2017-07-31T14:12:30Z")
I have been reading about a lot of gun store burglaries. With no proof at all, I suspect some of these are cases where the shop owner cooperates with (or is himself) the burglar. Such guns would of course find there way … --- ## [Pregnancy without fallopian tubes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnancy-without-fallopian-tubes/792480)
**Author:** [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2017, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnancy-without-fallopian-tubes/792480 "2017-07-31T10:13:28Z")
Relevant article, this is a biological GQ question and not a debate about this particular event. “Luikenaar’s surgical plan was to include a hysterectomy, the removal of both fallopian tubes and the excision of one ovar… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=694) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=696)