2 long sticks on earth - Tilted Forum Project - TFP - Sexuality, Philosophy and Political Discussion

slant eyes · 08-09-2007, 12:15 AM

not sure where this goes, but sounded philosophical enough...

so say we have two really really long poles and we and stand them up how we want w/o any problems at all

say we stand one up perfectly perpendicular to the ground. then stood the next one up perfectly perpendicular to the ground, exactly 1 foot apart at the base.

seeing how the earth is round, do you think at some point or another along these 2 long poles that are both perfectly perpendicular to the ground, exactly a foot apart at the base, that they would be further apart?

Dilbert1234567 · 08-09-2007, 12:38 AM

yes, they would never be 1 foot apart except at the base.

xepherys · 08-09-2007, 01:04 AM

dilbert is, of course, correct. The amount that the poles grew apart would be exponential, but would start at an incredibly small amount. Probably for several dozen feet it'd be barely measurable by your average tool. After a hundred feet or so, it'd be easy. After a couple hundred feet it would be obvious to the naked eye.

Baraka_Guru · 08-09-2007, 05:44 AM

I think we're making an assumption that the ground is also "perfect." It would also be entirely possible that the poles would cross each other at one point, depending on the terrain.

pig · 08-09-2007, 06:17 AM

assuming that the poles were on a perfect sphere, this is a trigonometry problem.

Ourcrazymodern? · 08-09-2007, 07:03 AM

Um, just how long are these poles?

MSD · 08-09-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xepherys

dilbert is, of course, correct. The amount that the poles grew apart would be exponential, but would start at an incredibly small amount.

The distance between straight poles would grow continuously, not exponentially.

Redlemon · 08-09-2007, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSelfDestruct

The distance between straight poles would grow continuously, not exponentially.

And, they would meet at the center of the earth. Plus, they won't be two feet apart until they extend about 3955 miles from the surface (that's the approximate radius of the earth).

twistedmosaic · 08-09-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redlemon

And, they would meet at the center of the earth. Plus, they won't be two feet apart until they extend about 3955 miles from the surface (that's the approximate radius of the earth).

Like Redlemon said, the sticks will be 2 feet apart once they're a full radius (r) off the earth's surface.

As an asside, is the original poster aware that this 'philosophical' question mathematically translates to "Is the earth round or flat?"

Nimetic · 08-11-2007, 07:58 PM

Thanks. That claim was like a thorn in my side.

slant eyes · 08-28-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twistedmosaic

Like Redlemon said, the sticks will be 2 feet apart once they're a full radius (r) off the earth's surface.

As an asside, is the original poster aware that this 'philosophical' question mathematically translates to "Is the earth round or flat?"

wow...sorry haven't been back in a while...

i think my original post mentioned it being round...was always just curious whenever i see tall buildings but i guess that even we wouldn't even see it with the tallest buildings unless they were like 3000 feet high or so...

but thanks for the posts

twistedmosaic · 09-04-2007, 01:43 AM

Well, for a real life example, the main towers on long tall suspension bridges (golden gate, etc) are a couple inches farther apart at the tops than the bottoms. I'll google for specific numbers.

08-09-2007, 12:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
slant eyes Psycho Join Date: May 2003 Location: cali	2 long sticks on earth not sure where this goes, but sounded philosophical enough... so say we have two really really long poles and we and stand them up how we want w/o any problems at all say we stand one up perfectly perpendicular to the ground. then stood the next one up perfectly perpendicular to the ground, exactly 1 foot apart at the base. seeing how the earth is round, do you think at some point or another along these 2 long poles that are both perfectly perpendicular to the ground, exactly a foot apart at the base, that they would be further apart? __________________ no man or woman is worth your tears - and the one who is, won't make you cry question authority, don't ask why, just do it!

08-09-2007, 12:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central Coast CA	yes, they would never be 1 foot apart except at the base. __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

08-09-2007, 01:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
xepherys <3 TFP Join Date: May 2004 Location: Michigan USA	dilbert is, of course, correct. The amount that the poles grew apart would be exponential, but would start at an incredibly small amount. Probably for several dozen feet it'd be barely measurable by your average tool. After a hundred feet or so, it'd be easy. After a couple hundred feet it would be obvious to the naked eye. __________________ A good marriage is at least 80 percent good luck in finding the right person at the right time. The rest is trust. -- Nanette Newman The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible... -- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato My Homepage

08-09-2007, 05:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru In the 6th percentile Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto	I think we're making an assumption that the ground is also "perfect." It would also be entirely possible that the poles would cross each other at one point, depending on the terrain. __________________ "The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. [...] In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics.' All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred, and schizophrenia. When the general atmosphere is bad, language must suffer." —"Politics and the English Language," George Orwell "Humankind cannot bear very much reality." —"Burnt Norton," Four Quartets, T. S. Eliot

08-09-2007, 06:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
pig pigglet pigglet Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Locash	assuming that the poles were on a perfect sphere, this is a trigonometry problem. __________________ You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

08-09-2007, 07:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ourcrazymodern? still, wondering. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In beautiful Como Park, St. Paul, MN	Um, just how long are these poles? __________________ BE JUST AND FEAR NOT

08-11-2007, 07:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
Nimetic Junkie Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia	Thanks. That claim was like a thorn in my side.

09-04-2007, 01:43 AM	#12 (permalink)
twistedmosaic Inane Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wunderland	Well, for a real life example, the main towers on long tall suspension bridges (golden gate, etc) are a couple inches farther apart at the tops than the bottoms. I'll google for specific numbers. __________________ ☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻ ☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻ ☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻ ☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻