Meet our chemist, Harriet.

這是我們的化學家 – 哈莉特

She has a chemical reaction that needs to occur more quickly.

她需要加速一個化學反應

A chemist has some processes at her disposal

化學家通常有一些可以採用的程序

that can help her speed up her reaction,

來加速化學反應

and she knows of five ways.

她知道五個方法

And to remember them she thinks back to her days

為了記住這五個方法

as a high school student,

她回想她中學時期

and the day she got a date for the dance.

遇到舞伴的那天

Harriet was in high school, studying between classes.

中學時的哈莉特有天 正利用下課時間讀書

She had lost track of time and was going to be late to class.

讀著讀著忘了時間，趕不上下堂課

Unbeknownst to her, Harold, who was just around the corner, was running late too.

她絕沒料到 快遲到的哈洛德也正巧在轉角處

They both sprinted to class,

他們倆都奮力衝向教室

and as it happened, sprinted directly into one another.

說時遲那時快，他們直接撞在一起

Now, this was no small collision.

現在看來，那可不是個小小的碰撞

They ran squarely into one another in such a way that he knocked the books right out of her hand.

這一撞，把哈莉特手上的書都撞掉了

"I'm sorry," he said. "Let me help you with your books."

哈洛德：「對不起，讓我幫妳把書撿起來」

He kindly helped her re-collect her belongings,

他和善地把她的東西撿起來

and politely offered to walk her to class.

還很紳士地陪她走到教室

And you'll never guess who went together to the dance later that year.

你絕對猜不到那年 誰和誰去參加舞會

Yup, those two.

沒錯，就是這兩位

So, as we can see from this example,

所以囉，由此可見

the key to getting a date for the dance

找到舞伴的秘訣就是

is to collide with someone and knock the books out of their hands.

和某人相撞而且還要把他們手中的書撞掉

Now, you're probably already aware that not all collisions lead to dates for the dance,

現在你大概知道 不是隨便撞就可以撞出一個舞伴吧

thankfully.

好加在

The collisions must have two important characteristics:

這碰撞呢必須有兩大特性

One, correct orientation that allows books to be knocked from one's hands,

第一：正確的角度，可以把書撞掉的角度

and two, enough energy to knock the books out.

第二：足夠的力量，足夠把書撞掉的力量

Shortly after this incident,

事發不久後

Harriet decided to tell me, her chemistry teacher, all about it.

哈莉特決定把經過通通告訴她的化學老師 也就是我

I noticed some interesting parallels

我發現這和化學反應有些有趣的共同點

between her story and chemical reaction rates,

我發現這和化學反應有些有趣的共同點

which happened to be what she was studying in the hallway the day of the collision.

這正是那天她撞上 哈洛德之前在走廊讀到的

Together we decided to set out on two missions.

我們決定一起執行兩個任務

Harriet wanted to help all chemistry students

哈莉特想幫助所有化學課的學生

and chemists remember how to speed up the rate of chemical reactions,

還有化學家們記住加速化學反應的方法

and I, being the nice guy that I am, decided to make it my mission

而我這樣的好人，我的任務是

to help create educational environments

幫助建立一個學習環境

in which more book-dropping collisions can take place

有更多碰撞掉書發生的學習環境

to increase future chemists' chances

來增加未來化學家

of getting a date for the dance.

得到舞伴的機會

In order to facilitate this improved dance/date-getting process,

為了促進這個加強版的舞伴速配過程

I propose five changes to all schools

我建議所有的學校要有五項改革

that parallel Harriet's five ways to increase chemical reaction rates.

這和哈莉特加速化學反應的方法類似

First, I propose that we shrink the size of the hallways.

第一：我建議走廊要變窄

This will make it more difficult to safely navigate the hallways,

要安全地在走廊上遊蕩就更難了

and will cause more collisions than in larger hallways.

這比起寬敞的走廊 會製造更多碰撞的機會

And by increasing the number of collisions, we increase the likelihood

一旦碰撞次數增加

that some of those collisions will have the correct alignment

其中一些有正確定位、有足夠能量的碰撞

and enough energy to create a date to the dance.

會增加速配的機率

Now, chemically speaking, this is equivalent

化學上的說法，等同於

to lowering the volume of a reaction vessel or a reaction mixture.

減少反應容器或反應混和的體積

In doing so, the individual particles are closer together,

這樣一來，粒子與粒子間更近了

and more collisions will occur.

就更容易發生碰撞

More collisions means a greater likelihood that

越多的碰撞

collisions with the appropriate energy and configuration will happen.

就提高了具備適合能量 與配置的碰撞的可能性

Second, I propose increasing the overall population of the school.

第二：我建議增加學校的人數

More students equals more collisions.

學生人數與碰撞次數成正比

By increasing the number of particles available for collision,

藉由增加碰撞的粒子數

we create an environment where more collisions can take place.

製造一個容易發生碰撞的環境

Third, we must reduce the time allowed between classes.

第三：我們必須縮短課與課間的時間

Heck, let's just cut it in half.

哎呀，就減半好了！

In doing so, students will need to move more quickly to get from one class to the next.

這麼一來，學生必須更迅速地趕下一堂課

This increase in velocity will help make sure collisions have the

增加速度可以確保碰撞發生時

appropriate amount of energy necessary to ensure book-dropping.

有足夠的能量把書撞掉

This is analogous to increasing the temperature

這點和提高反應混和的溫度相似

of the reaction mixture.

這點和提高反應混和的溫度相似

Higher temperature means particles are moving faster.

溫度越高，粒子移動速度越快

Faster moving particles means more energy,

粒子移動速度越快，就有越多的能量

and a greater likelihood of the reaction causing collision.

發生碰撞的可能性也越高

Fourth, students must stop traveling in packs.

第四：學生別再集體行動了

By traveling in packs, the students on the outside of the pack

因為集體行動時，外圍的同學

insulate those in the middle from undergoing any collisions.

會阻止中間的同學發生碰撞

By splitting up, each student has more area exposed

分開走的話，每個同學暴露在外的面積變大

that is available for a collision from a passing student.

和路過同學碰撞的機會也變多

When particles travel in packs,

當粒子成群移動時

the surface area is very small, and only the outside particles can collide.

總表面積變小，且只有外圍的粒子會發生碰撞

However, by breaking up the clumps into individual particles.

然而，把粒子群個別拆散

The total surface area is increased,

總面積就會增加

and each particle has an exposed surface that can react.

每個粒子都有可以產生化學反應的接觸面

Fifth and finally, we hire a matchmaker.

第五點也是最後一點：我們要雇個媒婆

Is this colliding and book-dropping too violent?

又是相撞、又是掉書的，太暴力了嗎？

Is there an easier way to get a date that requires less initial energy?

找約會對象有沒有 比較不費力、簡單一點的方法呢？

Then a matchmaker will help with this.

那媒婆就派上用場了！

The matchmaker makes it easier for a couple to get together

有媒婆從中撮和就更容易成雙成對了

by coordinating the match.

有媒婆從中撮和就更容易成雙成對了

Our matchmaker is like a catalyst.

媒婆就像催化劑

Chemical catalysts function by lowering the activation energy.

化學催化劑的作用是減低活化能量

In other words, by lowering the energy required to start a reaction.

換言之，就是減低 誘發化學反應所需的能量

They do this by bringing two particles together

目的在於讓兩個粒子碰頭

and orienting them correctly in space so that the two can meet

導引它們正確的方位、讓它們

at the correct configuration and allow a reaction to take place.

在正確的結構配置下接觸並產生化學反應

So, to sum up:

結論是：

If a future chemist wants a date for the dance,

如果有化學家想找舞伴

he must collide with another person and knock the books out of their hands.

他必須和另一人相撞並把他的書撞掉

And if a chemist wants to make a chemical reaction occur,

如果化學家要製造化學反應

the particles must collide in the correct orientation

粒子相撞的方位要正確

with an appropriate amount of energy.

且要有適當的能量

And both of these processes can be accelerated using the five methods I've described.

要加速以上兩個過程 我說的五個方法都適用