For the mafia techs...trunk lid shapes

[danewilson77]

What are these shapes caused by...?

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/IMG_20101203_220843.jpg

[pyreguy]

snow.

[danewilson77]

Ahhh...you got jokes?

[pyreguy]

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTLI-kOwttHIRN74gGuRVsR9AgH5ZDVA7Kjv3pRRRE_SJm_6ZSC

[Marcus-SanDiego]

:helicopter:

[danewilson77]

You guys...

[pyreguy]

It looks like what the frame of the trunk would be to me... but that doesn't explain anything. So, aliens?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

It's something under the trunk lid that is putting off heat in that shape. Doesn't make a lot of sense, since there shouldn't be anything under there doing that. It's akin to the defroster wires on your window when it starts warming up.

Otherwise, I am going with the helicopter theory.

[kayger12]

It looks like what the frame of the trunk would be to me... but that doesn't explain anything. So, aliens?

IF that's where the frame of the trunk is, then the metal is obviously thicker there and would have more heat energy to transfer to the snow than the thinner areas around those frame pieces which would run out of heat to transfer more quickly than the thicker areas causing the thin areas to reach a temperature low enough to not melt the snow while the thicker areas still had just enough heat to transfer to melt the snow for a little longer. And THAT my friends is an example of both the Second Law of Thermodynamics AND the worst run-on sentence I've ever written...

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I can help you with the writing; I needed you for the thermodynamics lesson, though.

[kayger12]

Lol-- sounds like a deal. Last time I'll attempt that kind of post before my obligatory morning coffee. My father was an English teacher and a journalist. I might get disowned over a post like that.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Well, even though I am a writing snob, you won't get any grammar comments (criticism) from me. While I appreciate quality sentences, it's not expected at an online forum.

Therefore, no worries, Kayger.

[pyreguy]

IF that's where the frame of the trunk is, then the metal is obviously thicker there and would have more heat energy to transfer to the snow than the thinner areas around those frame pieces which would run out of heat to transfer more quickly than the thicker areas causing the thin areas to reach a temperature low enough to not melt the snow while the thicker areas still had just enough heat to transfer to melt the snow for a little longer. And THAT my friends is an example of both the Second Law of Thermodynamics AND the worst run-on sentence I've ever written...

Right, so wouldn't the obvious explanation for something breaking the Second Law of Thermodynamics be aliens? :p

[kayger12]

Sounds like irrefutable logic here. :)

[danewilson77]

It looks like maybe those shapes could be in there...

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/190.png

[zhp43867]

I think the shapes may be where the metal is thicker underneath the trunk lid carpeting. If you peel it off, I'm sure you could see, but IIRC there are some "cutouts"with thin sheet metal in the middle of the shapes and thicker metal on the edges.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I think there have been some good answers in this thread but if anyone wants an alternative explanation, I think this could be it:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/marcussandiego/crop-circles.gif

[danewilson77]

I think the shapes may be where the metal is thicker underneath the trunk lid carpeting. If you peel it off, I'm sure you could see, but IIRC there are some "cutouts"with thin sheet metal in the middle of the shapes and thicker metal on the edges.

I think this is spot on...