Why Dead Fish Float Upside Down

If youve seen dead fish in a pond or your aquarium, youve noticed they tend to float on the water. More often than not, theyll be belly up, which is a dead giveaway (pun intended) youre not dealing with a healthy, living fish. Have you ever wondered why dead fish float and live fish dont? It has to do with fish biology and the scientific principle of buoyancy. Key Takeaways Dead fish float in water because decomposition fills the fishs gut with buoyant gases.The reason fish typically go belly up is because the spine of the fish is more dense than its belly.Healthy living fish dont float. They have an organ called a swim bladder that regulates the amount of gas present in the body of a fish and thus its buoyancy Why Living Fish Don't Float To understand why a dead fish floats, it helps to understand why a live fish is in the water and not on top of it. Fish consist of water, bones, protein, fat, and a smaller amount of carbohydrates and nucleic acids. While fat is less dense than water, your average fish contains a higher amount of bones and protein, which makes the animal neutrally buoyant in water (neither sinks nor floats) or slightly more dense than water (slowly sinks until it gets deep enough). It doesnt require much effort for a fish to maintain its preferred depth in the water, but when they do swim deeper or seek shallow water they rely on an organ called a swim bladder or air bladder to regulate their density. How this works is that water passes into a fishs mouth and across its gills, which is where oxygen passes from the water into the bloodstream. So far, its a lot like human lungs, except on the outside of the fish. In both fish and humans, the red pigment hemoglobin carries oxygen to cells. In a fish, some of the oxygen is released as oxygen gas into the swim bladder. The pressure acting on the fish determines how full the bladder is at any given time. As the fish rises toward the surface, the surrounding water pressure decreases and oxygen from the bladder returns to the bloodstream and back out through the gills. As a fish descends, water pressure increases, causing hemoglobin to release oxygen from the bloodstream to fill the bladder. It allows a fish to change depth and is a built-in mechanism to prevent the bends, where gas bubbles form in the bloodstream if pressure decreases too rapidly. Why Dead Fish Float When a fish dies, its heart stops beating and blood circulation ceases. The oxygen that is in the swim bladder remains there, plus decomposition of the tissue adds more gas, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. Theres no way for the gas to escape, but it presses against the fishs belly and expands it, turning the dead fish into a sort of fish-balloon, rising toward the surface. Because the spine and muscles on the dorsal side (top) of the fish are more dense, the belly rises up. Depending on how deep a fish was when it died, it might not rise to the surface, at least not until decomposition really sets in. Some fish never gain sufficient buoyancy to float and decay under the water. In case you were wondering, other dead animals (including people) also float after they start to decay. You dont need a swim bladder for that to happen. Sources Chapin, F. Stuart; Pamela A. Matson; Harold A. Mooney (2002). Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology. New York: Springer. ISBN 0-387-95443-0.Forbes, S.L. (2008). Decomposition Chemistry in a Burial Environment. In M. Tibbett; D.O. Carter. Soil Analysis in Forensic Taphonomy. CRC Press. pp. 203–223. ISBN 1-4200-6991-8.Pinheiro, J. (2006). Decay Process of a Cadaver. In A. Schmidt; E. Cumha; J. Pinheiro. Forensic Anthropology and Medicine. Humana Press. pp. 85–116. ISBN 1-58829-824-8.

Free Will Compatible With Determinism Essay - 1634 Words

Elizabeth Donis Professor Ryan Hay Phil. 190 11 December, 2015 Free Will Compatible With Determinism Free will – a concept that always brings forth the question, â€Å"Does free will exist?† There are various arguments that come from both sides of the discussion, those in favor of free will based on religious text, and those that can argue that free will is a concept and ideal created to give humans the illusion that they have the ability to choose what they can do in life.The question is, do we really have the ability to choose what we please or do our actions come forth from the past events? In this case, compatibilist would question both but accept them at the same time. This paper will present both sides for and against free will and also argue how determinism is compatible with freedom. For those that do not know, compatibilists agree that determinism is true in which it implies that every choice is linked to past events in the world. Compatibilists believe that our future is controlled by our past but we have the ability to choose our future as well. In simple terms, a person has the ability to go through life with past events controlling their life or have the ability to freely choose the next step moving forward or even a combination of both. Determinism, especially the variation of soft determinism (cf.William James) or compatibilism, is supported as a theory of free will by a many of philosophers, each with special vested interests in one orShow MoreRelatedThe, Frankfurt, And Wolf Are All Compatibilists. They Hold That Free Will And Determinism Are Compatible2160 Words   |  9 Pagesare all compatibilists. They hold that free will and determinism are compatible. In this paper, first I will define and explain key terms determinism, free will, and compatibi lism. Next, I will discuss the individual views of each compatibilist and how they object to parts of determinism; then compare and contrast their views. They all believe in parts of determinism and parts of free will, even though determinism holds we are not morally responsible and free will holds we are morally responsible;Read MoreWhat Is Stace s Position On The Problem Of Free Will And Casual Determinism Are Compatible1258 Words   |  6 Pagesthe problem of free will, as presented in Religion and the Modern Mind. I will explain Stace’s position on how free will and casual determinism are compatible. I will consider the following two objections against Stace’s position of free will: compatibilism is too weak a notion of free will that it conflicts with determinism, and there is no real difference between free and constrained action. Compatibilism, also known as soft determinism, is the position or view that causal determinism is true, butRead MoreFree Will Vs. Determinism1349 Words   |  6 Pagesquestions regarding free will and determinism. Free will is a human value that has inspired many individuals throughout history. These concepts of free will and determinism have inspired many poets, spiritualist, philosophers, and activist. There have been numerous philosophers who believe free will is a part of our human nature, and are continually questioning the concept of free will, constantly attempting to understand its true meaning. In contrast to free will, there is determinism, which seems toRead MoreArgument For Incompatibilism By Peter Van Inwagen854 Words   |  4 PagesIn his essay, â€Å"An Argument for Incompatibilism,† Peter van Inwagen concludes that free will and determinism cannot be compatible. The type of argument that van Inwagen uses, the Consequence Argument, has become the maxime pop ularis way for incompatibilists to assert that, determinism, and free will, are in conflict. The Consequence Argument attempts to display that, if there is an assumption that determinism is true, and then there is a further assumption that for any action that has taken placeRead MoreFree Will Vs. Determinism879 Words   |  4 PagesFree Will vs. Determinism What determines and influences human behavior? Humans have been looking the answer for this question during several eras, thus they developed various theories attempting to explain human behavior. Determinism is the belief that one event is the consequence of a previous action, similar to a chain. According to some philosophers who support determinism, the will of an agent follows physical laws, and every action is explicable and predictable by physical conditions. By thisRead MoreCompatibilism vs. Imcompatibilism: Is There Really Free Will1043 Words   |  5 Pages　　Compatibilists and Incompatibilists debate determinism and free will. Determinism is the idea that our actions are determined by past events. In other words, in our present state we do not have control over our actions and they are pre-determined. Only one thing can happen given a certain condition and nothing else can occur. 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And it could apply to everything in the universe with causal laws. With the discovering laws, we could make predictions. Over the years, there are more than one determinism been developed over time. Hard determinism claims all the actions of human beings or consequences of events are determined by external conditions, with such conditions satisfied there willRead MoreDeterminism, Soft Determinism And Libertarianism982 Words   |  4 PagesDeterminism supporters claim that all consequences are inevitable since conditions are met and nothing else would occur by any chances. And determinism could influence and controlling everything in the universe with causal laws. According to determinism, we could make predictions about the occurrences of certain events or actions of human beings. There three types of determinism that I will discuss in the following, the Hard determinism, Soft determinism and Libertarianism. Hard determinism claimsRead MoreDeterminism Vs. Free Will893 Words   |  4 Pagesthe future is already determined is known in philosophy as determinism.   There are various definitions of determinism available; but in this essay, I shall use the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy definition, which is ‘the metaphysical thesis that the facts of the past, in conjunction with the laws of nature, entail every truth about the future This idea presents a difficult problem for the concept of free will:  how can we make free choices if all our actions are determined by the facts of the

Philip Larkin analysis Essay Example For Students

Philip Larkin analysis Essay This is a melancholy poem, which reflects on the subject of marriage. The poem deal with Larkin’s view on young mothers watching their children playing in a playground and he concludes that marrying young leads to the mothers losing their identity. Larkin’s description of young mothers taking their children to a playground seems like normal but the narrator’s point of view on life is expressed. What seems like an ordinary, everyday occurrence highlights the theme of change and how it cannot be avoided and the passing of time. Larkin’s choice of words, symbolism and imagery clearly portrays this passage of time and the routines of these mothers’ lives. The first line sets the scene at the beginning of autumn, â€Å"summer is fading. † Seasons are used to symbolise certain stages in life. In autumn, most life starts to fade away in front of our eyes. This illustrates how these mothers lives are deteriorating, and how their family have become the only thing they live for. ‘Fading’ further emphasises how their lives are vanishing. We will write a custom essay on Philip Larkin analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now This links to the title of the poem and the use of plural suggests he is not discussing only one day but several days which shows how this is routine for these young mothers. They are doing the same things every day which show how monotonous their lives are. It could also express the stage of their lives they have reached. They are not in the early morning which could symbolise childhood but have not reached ‘night’ which could symbolise old age. The emptiness of these mothers lives are shown through Larkin’s choice of words. Larkin describes, â€Å"In the hollows of afternoons Young mothers assemble Setting free their children. † This shows just how mundane these women’s lives are. ‘Hollows’ illustrates how empty their lives are, and the only thing their days are fulfilled is by caring for their children. Their lives seem disciplined which is shown through the fact the ‘assemble’ together. It also suggests they are expected to do this every day as you do not usually have the choice to attend an assembly. There is a contrast between the lives of these mothers and their children. They can be ‘set free’ which shows they can do whatever they please, they have the freedom and opportunity to live their lives unlike their mothers who are trapped by their monotonous lives. They cannot change the life they have created for themselves and they have no control over their options in life; marriage and motherhood have decided their life for them. This shows that these mother’s lives will never change. They watch as their children play freely while time passes them by and they do not have a future to look forward to as it will be the same as every other day. The choice of words emphasises this, and shows the theme time. The narrator’s observations of these women’s lives show just how much time has affected them. As the poem continues it implies how this mother past has been forgotten, â€Å"And the albums, lettered Our Wedding, lying Near the television. † This shows how the women’s lives are drained of romance. A woman’s wedding day is the happiest day of her life which would be a significant and special memory. However, the narrator describes the pictures from this day are sitting next to the television which shows how they are just seem like a piece of clutter. The television is also a routine in which we all fall into. This suggests the television has more importance than the memory of the woman’s wedding or the fact her wedding was just an ordinary day. This expresses the theme of time as it shows as these women’s lives become more of a routine and the most important days in her past are forgotten and are not considered to be a valuable memory. While these mothers stand back and watch their lives pass by, their children are carefree and are enjoying life. â€Å"Their children, so intent on Finding more unripe acorns, Expect to be taken home. .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03 , .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03 .postImageUrl , .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03 , .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03:hover , .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03:visited , .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03:active { border:0!important; } .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03:active , .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03 .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3b4d95f9bc5282a1b5aa7931cae0cf03:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Analysis Paintings The Heart of the Andes, The Battle of the Amazons and Barge Haulers on the Volga Essay† This shows how their lives have been flooded with the responsibilities of having a child. These women do not have the choice to care for their children, they must do it. ‘Unripe’ shows how these children still have time to make something of their lives which contrasts with their mothers. The children have the opportunity to live life and make choices before being bombarded with the responsibilities of being a mother and wife. The fact that these children are ‘intent’ on finding insignificant objects also shows how they have no worries i n their lives. They do not have to search for anything of importance which further emphasises the contrast between the children and mothers. Larkin suggests the way in which these mothers have dealt with motherhood have changed them physically and mentally. â€Å"Their beauty has thickened. † This illustrates how these once beautiful women have been destroyed by life. They no longer have time to care for themselves so they have forgotten that they should be looked after as well as the children. It also could symbolise how they have became ‘thick-skinned. ’ These mothers have just learned to carry on with life as they know nothing will change the dull lives they possess. This theme of time and ageing is created by describing the demands of these children. These women’s lives have been ruled by the demands of their children. The last two lines in the poem show the loss of control these women have regarding their lives. â€Å"Something is pushing them To the side of their own lives. † This implies these women have no control and the only thing controlling them is the demands of their family. Their feelings are no longer valued, they cannot make a choice for themselves, and it has to benefit their family. This also suggests the narrator does not believe it is these mothers fault for the emptiness in their lives. They are not seen as worthy people, they are there to serve the needs of their children and husbands. This shows just how these women’s lives have been affected by time. Their lives have diminished in front of their eyes, and now they will have to watch their children do the same.