KNOW WHY FLUSH HAS 2 BUTTONS !!

Modern-day toilets come with two flush buttons, one is smaller than the other. Have you ever imagined why there are two buttons? Let us discuss the reason behind this in the following article.

This type of arrangement is known as Dual Flush. Modern toilets have 2 types of levers or buttons and both buttons are attached to the exit valve. The two buttons dis-engage valves at different heights in the flush tank. Usually, the smaller one has its exit valve at a higher level which gives a smaller discharge of water. The second button is connected to the lower exit valve and empties the complete tank.

In short, pressing the big button gives 6 to 9 liters of water, and pressing the small button gives 3 to 4.5 liters of water. Clearly, the larger one is to flush solid waste and the smaller one is to flush liquid waste. This is a smart way of water conservation.

According to the reports, if Dual Flushing is adopted instead of Single Flush at a house, then 20 thousand liters of water can be saved annually. You must have been surprised to hear this, but it is true. Though the installation may cost you a little more than the normal flush, it is eco-friendly and helps cut down on water bills. So, the next time you use the toilet, flush as per your need.

KNOW WHY THIS FLAG LIKE STRUCTURE IS USED IN AIRPORTS !!

You might have seen these flag-like objects on airports and wondered what are these used for. This cone-like object plays a vital role in the aviation industry. In this article, we are going to discuss the importance and purpose of this object.

These objects are known as industrial windsocks or “wind cones” or sometimes “air cones”. It is a kind of kite tube manufactured from synthetic cloth, nylon or rubber in the shape of an ice cream cone that is open at one end by a stiff metal ring.

The main purpose of safety aviation windsocks installed on airfields, international airports, helipads, and heliports is to give the pilot a quick reference about wind direction and the approximate wind speed. Pilots need to calculate wind velocity during take-off and landing to ensure it is safe for the aircraft. The wind direction and speed can directly impact the distance a plane needs to travel on the ground before taking off or coming to a stop on the runway. Before accelerating before take-off, pilots take a quick glance at it and give the necessary input while strolling down the runway.

Although most airports also provide more accurate weather information for pilots, from automated weather observation systems but sometimes the windsock is the only indication of wind speed and direction.

Working of windsock:

Windsocks may be solid orange, yellow, or white and should not have any lettering or logos. The ones that are the best indicators of wind speed, however, have alternating colors—such as orange and white—or have stripes at key points.

The wind direction is the opposite of the direction in which the windsock is pointing. This means if the wind blowing from the West the windsock would point towards the East.

Windsock is made to orient against the wind when the wind speed reaches three knots (3.5 mph). At that wind speed, only the first segment of the windsock will extend. The second segment of the sock extends when the wind speed has reached six knots; the third segment, nine knots; and the fourth segment, 12 knots. At a wind speed of 15 knots (17 mph) or more, the windsock will fully extend and point away from the direction from which the wind originates.

Windsock data is used in every aspect of aviation, not just at airports large and small. In addition to being applied at military airstrips and private airfields, and at commercial or domestic helipads, windsocks are also used in areas where people take paragliding or parachute flights. You may even spot a windsock at a hot air balloon launch and landing site, to assist in safe flying.

KNOW WHY POLICE LIGHTS ARE RED AND BLUE INSTEAD OF JUST RED!

You might have seen police vehicles installed with red and blue light. Have you ever wondered why this combination is chosen? Can’t be there any other colour? Let us find out the answer in this article.

The aim of the police vehicle is to generate a sense of alertness among the people. These lights have a call to action which is to indicate people either slow down or stop. In nature, red is a warning color. We’re all programmed to respond when we see red colors— that’s why stop signs are red, for example. Red is a color of alertness, awareness, paying attention, and being cautious which are exactly the things police cars want people to do when they see a police light.

But, we see many colours on the road like white light of the headlamp of vehicle, yellow light of fog lamp and red light of the tail light. But we hardly see any blue light. So, in order to prevent the mixing of the red light of police vehicles with the tail light of other vehicles, additional light is added to make it stand out. As blue light is hardly present on roads, this light is chosen as an additional color.

Thus, a sense of urgency is created by red light, and to make it stand out, blue light is added. Also, it has been theorized that red lights are easier to see during the day, while blue lights are more likely to be visible at night. According to this theory, blue and red flashing lights are therefore adaptable and will be able to warn road users and pedestrians of a police vehicle’s presence regardless of the time of day. 

Finally, some experts believe using both red and blue lights eliminate problems associated with people who are colorblind. People who have trouble seeing red often have no trouble seeing blue. Using both red and blue lights thus helps to alert everyone, even those with colorblindness 

Although, the exact color of police lights varies by state, for the most part, red and blue are the norm. As mentioned above, red and blue flashing lights, when used with a police siren have a number of benefits that help to alert other road users of the presence of a police vehicle, which in turn makes the roads safer for everyone else to use.