### Session B2: Biophysics

2:00 PM–3:50 PM, Friday, May 16, 2008
Miller Room: 102

Chair: Bethe Scalettar, Lewis and Clark

Abstract ID: BAPS.2008.NWS.B2.4

### Abstract: B2.00004 : Characteristics of Waves in Plants

3:00 PM–3:12 PM

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#### Author:

Orvin Wagner

In my older literature I didn't recognize that plant frequencies are isotropic. I use the idea, however, in equating vertical and horizontal frequencies to get vertical to horizontal velocity ratios. In these calculations I use averages of reciprocals of representative samplings of vertical and horizontal internodal spacings A$_{v}$ and A$_{h}$. The resultant equation is v$_{v}$A$_{v}$=v$_{h}$A$_{h }$or v$_{v}$/v$_{h}$=A$_{h}$/A$_{v}$. These velocity ratios can also be obtained by direct measurement or by taking ratios of needles per unit length in some cases. These ratios are related to the shape of the plant due to gravity interaction, for example for p.pine 3/1 or for apple 4/3. The velocity increases with the plant part's angle to the horizontal. It is possible that waves in plants are related to sound like waves in WIMPS (if WIMPS are the actual particle) because of their very low velocities (larger than ionic velocities, near 5 m/s outside of plants, 1.25 m/s on sun's surface) both inside and outside of plants. Some object to my approach because they say the WIMP density could not be large enough on the earth's surface. My experiments seem to suggest otherwise. See 1999 Physics Essays 12:3-10 and my website home.budget.net/$\sim$oedphd.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2008.NWS.B2.4