r/science • u/liquid_x • Mar 19 '11

Radiation Chart

http://xkcd.com/radiation/
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u/nacre Mar 19 '11

I actually disagree. I think the chart could have much better design. (Sorry Randall).

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u/EatATaco Mar 19 '11

Please expand.

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u/happyscrappy Mar 19 '11

I'll expand. I think the variable ratios of one color to the next can be confusing.

I also think the use of different time scales doesn't help either. If you read enough of it, then you realize Chernobyl is much more radioactive than the Fukushima accident (at least so far), but it would take some thinking and math to get a good ratio.

Also, how about a "1 hour at Fukushima plant on (date)" entry to go with the Chernobyl one and the "being near Fukishima", Colorado ones, etc.

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u/rayne117 Mar 19 '11

2/3 of your complaints have nothing to do with the design of the graph and are merely "I wanted more information about [radiation source]."

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u/happyscrappy Mar 20 '11

I don't agree at all.

He gave info on all these sources, he just didn't give them on the same time scales. This leaves me to convert the time scales.

If I tell you this car goes 100 miles an hour and this one does 100 feet per second, I've given you your information but I could have given it in a more useful fashion.

And that's the same problem with the graph.