Connection Across Time- Technology/Techniques

Though the common reason for why we study history is so that we learn from history's past, I've come to realize that a lot of things are repeated. Usually we like to point out the negative things that are often repeated, but in this case, I would like to point out what seems to be the positive advances of the technology used in WWI (note that I am not saying they are positive because that kill people or are used in war but that they represent technological and scientific advances and a greater understanding/ learning of objects). One thing that made in appearance in WWI was the tank, reaching speeds up to a whopping 4 mph. Today, tanks are reaching speeds anywhere up to about 43 mph (http://www.yourdiscovery.com/greatest_ever/tanks/index.shtml). Though this may not seem like much, keep in mind that that's over 10 times as fast as their ancestor tanks.

(http://www.peachmountain.com/5star/Tanks_Patton_Tanks_M32_tank.aspx)

Next, and probably most popular we look to bombs. We know that by WWII the atom bomb was created. Before the atom bomb, bombs were simply dynamite. Now thanks to the greater understanding of the physical nature of the atom, we have atomic bombs. However just like Einstein, (the creator of the structure and nature of the atomic bomb) my excitement in the atomic bomb is merely out of the wonders of this advancement, not for the deaths of people.

(http://ceoworld.biz/ceo/2009/12/22/top-10-military-technology-achievements-that-changed-the-face-of-war)

Last, we can look at the advancement of the planes used today versus the planes used in WWI.

(http://www.aviation-central.com/1914-1918/aca60.htm)
(http://dummidumbwit.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/northrop-grumman-b-2-spirit/)

The plane on the left is an example of the planes used in WWI. As you can tell, these planes were rather large, and probably noisy due to the propeller on the front end. These planes were mainly used for spying though they did occasionally get involved in fights as with the famous Red Baron. Next we look to the plane on the left. It is know as a stealth bomber, which, as you can guess, was stealthy and bombed places/people/things. We discussed these planes in my AP Physics class and what is neat about them is that their paint is actually undetectable on radar so the enemy would never be able to know where these planes were unless they were to be in the sky following one. They also fly above the clouds so they could not be spotted on land either. Of course this paint and technology was not available to the plane builders of WWI so these planes would go on noticeable.

I find it fascinating that such things can be done. It always amazes me that people think of things like atomic reactions versus dynamite and undetectable paint coating. If these things can be done in less than a century, imagine what we can expect for the future!