A question my psychologist asked me...

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Oh no!!

I mentioned to my partner that I had posted this thread...and it seems I wrote the question wrong!!

A thousand apologies, this will completely change the context of the question. How on earth could I have remembered it wrong?

The question was apparently worded thus:

"What goes on a road?"

There is no mention of surface (where did that come from?) Anyway, my answer was still tarmac and white lines!!

I'm very very sorry, and I didn't mean to make such a big mistake....I'm going to go sulk at myself now...

Cars.

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. Now I just have to post something on the thread on the other forum . . .

I think my answer probably would've been the same Hard to say, though.

From your initial post. Though I did notice you rephrased in a later posting inadvetendly.

only in wp u can get this much convos about roads

gravel, tar, paint.... asphalt
the road existed before it was finished with these things, so it's an accurate answer.

I just realized that I think of 'tarmac' as being the surfacing at an airport, and 'asphalt' as the surfacing of a road. Does anyone know if they're of differing composition? I had always thought that tarmac was thicker, to support the weight of the planes.

Thanks to Wikipedia:

Tarmac (short for tarmacadam, a portmanteau for tar-penetration macadam) is a type of highway surface, pioneered by John Loudon McAdam in around 1820. Strictly speaking, Tarmac refers to a material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901. The term is also used, with varying degrees of correctness, for a variety of other materials, including tar-grouted macadam, Tarvia, bituminous surface treatments and even modern asphalt concrete.


Asphalt is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits sometimes termed asphaltum. It is most commonly modeled as a colloid, with asphaltenes as the dispersed phase and maltenes as the continuous phase (though there is some disagreement amongst chemists regarding its structure). In U.S. terminology, asphalt (or asphalt cement) is the carefully refined residue from the distillation process of selected crude oils. Outside North America, the product is called bitumen.

The primary use of asphalt (Bitumen) is in road construction, where it is used as the glue or binder for the aggregate particles. The road surfacing material is usually called 'asphalt concrete' in North America or simply 'asphalt' elsewhere. The apparent interchangeability of the words 'asphalt' and 'bitumen' causes confusion outside of the road construction industry despite quite clear definitions within industry circles.


I think the key here is the "tar" -- I would think that for airports, where the surface is going to be exposed to the sun and elements all day, every day, the composition would need to be different. Asphalt for roads which can wind through different terrain wouldn't necessarily need the same make-up. Different purposes, different scenarios... just what my gut tells me.

For the record, I immediately thought "asphalt and paint -- in that order". Even after the "surface" reference was removed. Because a road can be dirt and then gravel and still be a road, but asphalt and paint go on top of it. I don't think of "going" as something that cars or vehicles do -- they drive.

Your interviewer doesn't appear to be very precise. Or maybe that was the point of the question as it was framed....

And yes, only on WP would we find so much discussion about what goes on a road...

I'm so at home here...

As you originally phrased it, I thought "Asphalt". I'm not sure, but I think I would have answered the same, even with the corrected phrasing.

I would have said:

"Most roads these days are covered with asphalt, but some are covered with gravel, the texture and thickness of which may vary. And of course there are still some cobble-stone roads in select locations. In addition, I think it would be safe to assume that new and/or experimental road surfacing materials are currently being tested. Of course, as a cautionary disclaimer, I must add that road surfaces are not a special interest of mine. For more detailed and accurate information, please consult a more authoritative source."

Huh. No wonder my psychiatrist said I obviously have AS.

blacktop

Still "car" with the reconciled question.

I thought tar initially. The roads in my city are very frequently tarred and graveled. The trucks come by and put tar and rocks on the surface of the road. That's what goes on the surface of the road, a new surface!

^How very logical.