In light of the NFL season starting today, let’s consider the action that occurs around a line of scrimmage. A defensive line crashes into an offensive line – hoping to find a gap that allows access to the quarterback, while simultaneously trying to close gaps that allow access for the running back. The offensive line does the same thing but in reverse. Most of the time, the two lines crash in a stalemate – no quarterback is sacked and no rushing yards are gained.
But if we are talking about the Seattle Seahawk’s defensive line, they probably crashed into the offense in just the right way to cause a reaction that would end with a quarterback laying on the ground. If we are talking about the Dallas Cowboy’s offensive line, they probably crashed into the defense in just the right way to allow Ezekiel Elliot a passage into the end zone.
Chemical reactions basically work the same way. Atoms and molecules flow around the environment and occasionally bump into each other. Like with football, these collisions usually result in nothing happening. But if they collide in just the right way – with enough force and at the right angle – a chemical reaction occurs. Today’s post will explore kinetics, the science of how those collisions affect the rate of reactions.
Wiser Daily 