KUALA LUMPUR: The number eight is significant not only for the Chinese, but also in mathematics, science, religion, arts, sports, astrology and not surprisingly, superstition.
In mathematics, eight is a composite number with its proper divisors being 1, 2, 4 and 8 itself.
In physics, the eight-fold way is used to classify sub-atomic particles. In chemistry, eight is also the atomic number of oxygen.
In biology, there are eight known B vitamins that are important in cell metabolism. All spiders have eight legs. An octopus has eight tentacles. In dentistry, the human adult has eight teeth in each quadrant of the jaw.
In architecture and engineering, various types of buildings are usually eight-sided (octagonal), such as single-roomed gazebos and multi-roomed pagodas.
In physics, the eight-fold way is used to classify sub-atomic particles. In chemistry, eight is also the atomic number of oxygen.
In biology, there are eight known B vitamins that are important in cell metabolism. All spiders have eight legs. An octopus has eight tentacles. In dentistry, the human adult has eight teeth in each quadrant of the jaw.
In architecture and engineering, various types of buildings are usually eight-sided (octagonal), such as single-roomed gazebos and multi-roomed pagodas.
In astrology, Scorpio is the eighth astrological sign of the Zodiac and in the middle ages, eight was the number of "unmoving" stars in the sky, symbolising the perfectioning of incoming planetary energy.
In music, a note played for one-eighth of a beat is called a quaver. There are eight notes in an octave.
There are eight musicians in an octet. "Eight maids a-milking" is the gift on the eighth day in the Christmas carol The Twelve Days of Christmas.
In football, eight has historically been the number of the central midfielder.
In rowing, an "eight" refers to a sweep-oar boat with eight rowers, plus a coxswain.
Similarly in baseball, eight represents the centre fielder's position.
In chess, each side has eight pawns and the board is made of 64 squares arranged in an eight by eight lattice.
"Eight ball billiard" is played with 15 balls, with the number eight black ball being the middle and most important one.
A "figure of eight" is a type of knot frequently used by climbers.
In units of measurement (US unit), there are eight fluid ounces in a cup, eight pints in a gallon, eight tablespoons in a gill and eight furlongs in a mile.
Last of all, the 2008 Olympic Games will begin in Beijing, China, today!
In music, a note played for one-eighth of a beat is called a quaver. There are eight notes in an octave.
There are eight musicians in an octet. "Eight maids a-milking" is the gift on the eighth day in the Christmas carol The Twelve Days of Christmas.
In football, eight has historically been the number of the central midfielder.
In rowing, an "eight" refers to a sweep-oar boat with eight rowers, plus a coxswain.
Similarly in baseball, eight represents the centre fielder's position.
In chess, each side has eight pawns and the board is made of 64 squares arranged in an eight by eight lattice.
"Eight ball billiard" is played with 15 balls, with the number eight black ball being the middle and most important one.
A "figure of eight" is a type of knot frequently used by climbers.
In units of measurement (US unit), there are eight fluid ounces in a cup, eight pints in a gallon, eight tablespoons in a gill and eight furlongs in a mile.
Last of all, the 2008 Olympic Games will begin in Beijing, China, today!
No comments:
Post a Comment