Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
stimulate the group's curiosity.
The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
strings parallel?
"charlieb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Now about those space ships approaching each other
> at the speed of light and both turn on their headlights
> - could either pilot/dirver see the on coming vehicle's
> lights?
I just had a vision of the alien guy from Mars wearing the Spartan helmet on
the TV cartoon. ;~) Bugsbunny IIRC
Thanks for that one.
42
--
Lloyd Baker
"Russ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ok then... In recent news;
> ***
> In a recent study, mathematician George Sparling of the University of
> Pittsburgh examines a fundamental question pondered since the time of
> Pythagoras, and still vexing scientists today: what is the nature of space
> and time? After analyzing different perspectives, Sparling offers an
> alternative idea: space-time may have six dimensions, with the extra two
> being time-like.
> ***
>
> So if I turn a six dimensional bowl on my quantum lathe, primarily taking
> advantage of the additional time-like dimensions, how long do I have to
> work the finish in before it dries?
> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> strings parallel?
Theoretically, no, but I doubt if you could measure the difference if
they were just 50 feet apart. If the 2 bobs were, say, a couple
thousand miles apart, they'd both be pointing towards the center of
the earth, so they definitely wouldn't be parallel.
Isn't that the principle that led to the first calculations of the
earth's diameter? Some guy looking down wells... OK, google tells me
it was Eratosthenes, in Alexandria.
Andy
On Apr 20, 1:46 pm, GROVER <[email protected]> wrote:
> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
> stimulate the group's curiosity.
>
> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> strings parallel?
You guys are right on the money. I'll have to thinks up a harder
question if I hope to stump the group.Joe G
On 20 Apr, 19:09, Russ <[email protected]> wrote:
> Ok then... In recent news;
> ***
> In a recent study, mathematician George Sparling of the University of
> Pittsburgh examines a fundamental question pondered since the time of
> Pythagoras, and still vexing scientists today: what is the nature of
> space and time? After analyzing different perspectives, Sparling offers
> an alternative idea: space-time may have six dimensions, with the extra
> two being time-like.
> ***
>
> So if I turn a six dimensional bowl on my quantum lathe, primarily
> taking advantage of the additional time-like dimensions, how long do I
> have to work the finish in before it dries?
The finish goes on FIRST, fool.
On Apr 20, 5:13 pm, "Lee Gordon" <[email protected]> wrote:
> They would sure appear to be parallel and for all practical purposes would
> be, but in truth they would be between 1 and two ten-thousanths of a degree
> off.
>
If we are going to split hairs then:
The error from the theoretical parallels would vary both with altitude
and location on the globe.
A geodesic error will cause different errors on the two strings as the
earth is not a perfect sphere.
On Apr 20, 6:53 pm, Robatoy <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Apr 20, 5:13 pm, "Lee Gordon" <[email protected]> wrote:> They would sure appear to be parallel and for all practical purposes would
> > be, but in truth they would be between 1 and two ten-thousanths of a degree
> > off.
>
> If we are going to split hairs then:
>
> The error from the theoretical parallels would vary both with altitude
> and location on the globe.
> A geodesic error will cause different errors on the two strings as the
> earth is not a perfect sphere.
I am going from the standpoint that the centre of the base (at 25
feet) is at a perfect 90-degrees to the line running to the centre of
the planet. The errors to that line will be different for each bob.
Thought I'd clarify my position.
On Apr 20, 8:00 pm, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Robatoy" wrote in message
> > If we are going to split hairs then:
>
> > The error from the theoretical parallels would vary both with altitude
> > and location on the globe.
> > A geodesic error will cause different errors on the two strings as the
> > earth is not a perfect sphere.
>
> Not only that, but you would certainly need to do gravity meter surveys to
> insure that the gravity field is equivalent at both locations prior to
> embarking upon any calculations.
>
> You can't be too careful ...
>
assuming you can freeze the measuments in time so not to be exposed to
planetary rotational pendulum forces which ALL plumbobs have a problem
with. The farking things just never hold still. I understand bourbon
has a stabilizing influence on planetary rotational sidewalk-in-the-
faceness.
Say what?
A glorious weekend so far.. no work in the shop for me. Angela and our
daughter are off to Birch Run MI (Between Flint & Saginaw) where there
are ONE HUNDRED A FIFTY FACTORY OUTLETS, DAD!!!
I put a little something in Angela's birthday card yesterday (the big
40) and they're OUTTA HERE!!..LOL.
*whispers* And I'm off to see if Dave Eisan has any good deals on a
General table saw....
That was easy....LOL
On Apr 20, 8:41 pm, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> And tomorrow night we'll see how many red 3's Leon can gather up in a game
> or two of "Hand 'n Foot". ;)
>
4 decks of regular cards (Canasta style) or a fancy schmancy dedicated
deck?
I'm a Euchre kinda fella myself. I like the speed.
I had a small bout with bridge, but that you have to play all the
time, me thinks.
On Apr 21, 1:51 am, [email protected] (J T) wrote:
> Fri, Apr 20, 2007, 10:46am (EDT-3) [email protected] (GROVER)
> physics us with:
> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> strings parallel?
>
> Maybe. Unless the wind is blowing.
>
> However, you left out too many pertinent details to give an
> absolute answer:
> How long are the plumb bob strings?
> Are the strings the same length?
> What are the strings attached to?
> What type of knots were used?
> Were both strings tied with the same type of knot?
> Are both strings attached at the same level?
> Can you see both plumb bobs at the same time?
>
The weight, material and shape of the BOBs come into play in a windy
model. Or not.
Either way, plug in all the info, wind up the ol' 'puter out comes the
answer and BOB is your uncle.
On Apr 20, 1:54 pm, "efgh" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "GROVER" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
> > group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
> > decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
> > stimulate the group's curiosity.
>
> > The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> > strings parallel?
>
> I would say they are as close to parallel as one would care for them to be.
> If you want to get technical, they are not exactly parallel due to the
> curvature of the earth. One would assume that the bottom of the plumb bob
> is pointing at the exact centre of the earth due to gravity and since we're
> on a ball, they wouldn't be exactly parallel. At 50 feet apart, the
> difference wouldn't be enough to care about.
Also, the plumb bobs contain mass, and exert gravitational attraction
upon each other. That would further take the strings out of
parallel.
On Apr 21, 7:58 am, [email protected] (Larry W) wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,GROVER <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <...snipped...>
>
> >The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> >strings parallel?
>
> No, they have to be approximately 12,500 miles apart for that.
Or one directly over the other.
On Apr 21, 7:58 am, [email protected] (Larry W) wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,GROVER <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <...snipped...>
>
> >The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> >strings parallel?
>
> No, they have to be approximately 12,500 miles apart for that.
>
??
On Apr 22, 10:33 am, "Morris Dovey" <[email protected]> wrote:
> GROVER wrote:
>
> | Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
> | group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
> | decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
> | stimulate the group's curiosity.
> |
> | The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are
> | the strings parallel?
>
> Since you make it a physics question rather than a woodworking
> question, the answer is that two separate strings can never be
> parallel.
>
> "The proof is left as an exercise for the student." :-)
>
If the 'strings' are mere physical props for something bigger, such as
the imaginary line between two points, one would have to address the
question: "why strings?"
In an equation, one can force the issue that they are perfectly
parallel and bend the universe around them to make it fit. Simply
metaphysics, really. To me those strings are perfectly parallel and
what is anybody going to do about it?
Other than that, I bolt onto Rick M's black pepper theory... or as
they say on an Eastern mountaintop in Nepal, and I translate loosely:
"no need to sort mosquito turds by size."
r
GROVER wrote:
> On Apr 20, 1:46 pm, GROVER <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
>> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
>> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
>> stimulate the group's curiosity.
>>
>> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>> strings parallel?
>
> You guys are right on the money. I'll have to thinks up a harder
> question if I hope to stump the group.Joe G
>
Hell, to hear the way some folks around here talk, you'd think their
table saws were adjusted to tighter tolerances than the differences
between those two plumb bobs. :-)
Russ wrote:
> Ok then... In recent news;
> ***
> In a recent study, mathematician George Sparling of the University of
> Pittsburgh examines a fundamental question pondered since the time of
> Pythagoras, and still vexing scientists today: what is the nature of
> space and time? After analyzing different perspectives, Sparling offers
> an alternative idea: space-time may have six dimensions, with the extra
> two being time-like.
> ***
>
> So if I turn a six dimensional bowl on my quantum lathe, primarily
> taking advantage of the additional time-like dimensions, how long do I
> have to work the finish in before it dries?
That one is ridiculously easy..... It depends on what rpm you're
running the lathe.
Lew Hodgett wrote:
> Bridge is OK, but if you want a cut throat game, give me 3 handed
> Hearts if 4 players, the military version of double deck pinochle.
>
> Throw out the "9"s, 50 to open, 20 meld minimum, 20 tricks minimum to
> save, 500 for game.
>
> If you are after blood, $0.10/point.
Forgot to add, $5/set, now that gets your attention.
Lew
"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> >
>> No way to answer this question without knowing your definition of
>> "parallel".
>>
> Parallel has only one definition. It's not open to interpretation. You're
> a
> Bill Clinton fan, aren't you?
>
You are not really into geometry, are you?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-euclidian_geometry
Oh, you are making a pun on Clinton sounding like Euclid!
"Roy Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Glen <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> efgh wrote:
>> > "GROVER" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> > news:[email protected]...
>> >> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
>> >> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
>> >> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
>> >> stimulate the group's curiosity.
>> >>
>> >> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>> >> strings parallel?
>> >>
>> >
>> > I would say they are as close to parallel as one would care for them to
>> > be.
>> > If you want to get technical, they are not exactly parallel due to the
>> > curvature of the earth. One would assume that the bottom of the plumb
>> > bob
>> > is pointing at the exact centre of the earth due to gravity and since
>> > we're
>> > on a ball, they wouldn't be exactly parallel. At 50 feet apart, the
>> > difference wouldn't be enough to care about.
>> >
>> >
>> I was in HS when they built the Verrazano Bridge in NY. I remember one
>> of my teachers explaining that the uprights had to be 6" out of parallel
>> due to the curvature of the earth. I don't know if the number is
>> accurate, but that is what I recall (after forty years or so).
>>
>> Glen
>
> Let's do some quick math.
>
> The towers are about 700 feet tall, and the Earth's radius is about 4000
> miles. 700 feet / 4000 miles is about 1 part in 30,000.
>
> Since arc length is proportional to radius, the tops of the towers are 1
> part in 30,000 further apart from each other than their bases. The towers
> are about a mile (call it 5000 feet) apart, so the tops are about 5000 /
> 30,000, or 1/6 of a foot further apart than the tops. Call it two inches.
>
> Now, let's got to the video tape. Wikipedia says:
>
>> Due to the height of the towers (690') and their distance apart (4260'),
>> the
>> curvature of the earth's surface had to be taken into account when
>> designing
>> the bridge -- the towers are 1-5/8 inches farther apart at their tops
>> than at
>> their bases.
>
> Not bad for back of the envelope, huh?
You're a star. :)
"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote:
>You are not really into geometry, are you?
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-euclidian_geometry
That was my initial reaction, but on reflection, the definition of
parallel lines is not different in the three geometries, just the
number of parallel lines.
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently.
"Robatoy" wrote in message
> If we are going to split hairs then:
>
> The error from the theoretical parallels would vary both with altitude
> and location on the globe.
> A geodesic error will cause different errors on the two strings as the
> earth is not a perfect sphere.
Not only that, but you would certainly need to do gravity meter surveys to
insure that the gravity field is equivalent at both locations prior to
embarking upon any calculations.
You can't be too careful ...
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 2/20/07
Ok then... In recent news;
***
In a recent study, mathematician George Sparling of the University of
Pittsburgh examines a fundamental question pondered since the time of
Pythagoras, and still vexing scientists today: what is the nature of
space and time? After analyzing different perspectives, Sparling offers
an alternative idea: space-time may have six dimensions, with the extra
two being time-like.
***
So if I turn a six dimensional bowl on my quantum lathe, primarily
taking advantage of the additional time-like dimensions, how long do I
have to work the finish in before it dries?
If a guy says something - out loud - and there's no
woman around to hear what he said - is he still wrong?
Of the fifty or so women, ages maybe early 20s to mid
80s, all but three immediately said "Yes" and most added
"of course". The three exceptions requested more info
before anwering the question.
Surprisingly - or not - all but three of the 40 or 50 guys
I asked, ages 20s to mid 80s, also said, without hesitation,
"Yes" or "Sure". Two if the three exceptions said "I'll get
back to you on that." Still waiting for their responses.
The third guy's response was "WHAT!? He flew a
Mosquito during WWII and then worked around jet air
craft for another 30 years. Nice guy. Deaf as a post.
Now about those space ships approaching each other
at the speed of light and both turn on their headlights
- could either pilot/dirver see the on coming vehicle's
lights?
There is no such thing as "matter". It's ALL different
manifestations of energy. The Everything Is Everything
gurus from the 60s were right.
Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
charlie b
CW wrote:
> Parallel has only one definition. It's not open to interpretation. You're a
> Bill Clinton fan, aren't you?
Parallel - each point on line A equidistant from its counterpart on
Line B
- in plane (as in two dimensions) geometry. In 3-D things get a bit
trickier,
double helix for example - pairs of points equidistant but the
"lines" aren't
straight. Euclidian and Non Euclidean geometry have different sets
of
Theoroms and Axioms. And when you want to play in "n" dimensions
Analytical Geometry is pretty handy. You can describe a closed shape
that
has an infinite surface are and no volume and another that has
infinite
volume but no surface are. The mobius strip has either no outside
surface
or no inside surface. Besides, we don't live on a plane but rather
more or
less of a sphere - and we're basically stuck operating on or above
the
surface. Then there's Einstein's "deformed/curved space" idea that
raises all kinds of hell with plane geometry.
charlie b
> >The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> > >strings parallel?
> >
> > No, they have to be approximately 12,500 miles apart for that.
> >
>
>
> ??
>
I think we're picking fly shit out of the black pepper once again.
Plumb bobs in use are never parallel unless one is inside the other ... in
which case they would be coaxial as well. In our imperfect world, they're
often close enough to being parallel as not to cause us worry. That doesn't
stop the pepper pickers however.
Go make some sawdust.
GROVER wrote:
| Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
| group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
| decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
| stimulate the group's curiosity.
|
| The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are
| the strings parallel?
Since you make it a physics question rather than a woodworking
question, the answer is that two separate strings can never be
parallel.
"The proof is left as an exercise for the student." :-)
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
Han wrote:
| Actually it depends on the mass of the plumb bobs. If massive
| enough they would attract each other.
Just to add aggravation: the /strings/ will attract each other...
...and both the strings and the bobs will share a mutual attraction
with every other object in (at least) /this/ universe.
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
Robatoy wrote:
| If the 'strings' are mere physical props for something bigger, such
| as the imaginary line between two points, one would have to address
| the question: "why strings?"
Indeed - or even "why plumb bobs?" or "why pepper?" ;-)
| In an equation, one can force the issue that they are perfectly
| parallel and bend the universe around them to make it fit. Simply
| metaphysics, really. To me those strings are perfectly parallel and
| what is anybody going to do about it?
I'm willing to agree without reservation as soon as you post the
equations that accounts for the effect of all other masses to which
the strings and bobs are attracted. The equations will, of course, be
different for each (string,bob) pair...
I'm not sure what anyone else is going to do about it, but I'm going
to go have lunch. :-)
| Other than that, I bolt onto Rick M's black pepper theory... or as
| they say on an Eastern mountaintop in Nepal, and I translate
| loosely: "no need to sort mosquito turds by size."
...nor moonbeams by pitch.
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
Fri, Apr 20, 2007, 10:46am (EDT-3) [email protected] (GROVER)
physics us with:
The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
strings parallel?
Maybe. Unless the wind is blowing.
However, you left out too many pertinent details to give an
absolute answer:
How long are the plumb bob strings?
Are the strings the same length?
What are the strings attached to?
What type of knots were used?
Were both strings tied with the same type of knot?
Are both strings attached at the same level?
Can you see both plumb bobs at the same time?
When you can provide answers to these questions, then you can
receive a viable response to your original question. Unless more
questions come up in the meantime that is. Next time properly research
your questions, before you ask them.
JOAT
Expensive tennis shoes won't cure a sore toe.
- Bazooka Joe
"GROVER" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
> stimulate the group's curiosity.
>
> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> strings parallel?
>
No.
"GROVER" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
> stimulate the group's curiosity.
>
> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> strings parallel?
>
No way to answer this question without knowing your definition of
"parallel".
It is also somewhat site specific. There could easily be gravitational
and/or magnetic anomalies that will affect their positions much more than
the curvature of the earth.
So, the answer might be "pretty much".
:)
"Buddy Matlosz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > >
> > > No way to answer this question without knowing your definition of
> > > "parallel".
> > >
> > Parallel has only one definition. It's not open to interpretation.
You're
> a
> > Bill Clinton fan, aren't you?
> >
> That depends on what your definition of the word "fan" is.
>
> B.
>
>
Roy Smith <[email protected]> writes:
> Let's do some quick math.
>
> The towers are about 700 feet tall, and the Earth's radius is about 4000
> miles. 700 feet / 4000 miles is about 1 part in 30,000.
>
> Since arc length is proportional to radius, the tops of the towers are 1
> part in 30,000 further apart from each other than their bases. The towers
> are about a mile (call it 5000 feet) apart, so the tops are about 5000 /
> 30,000, or 1/6 of a foot further apart than the tops. Call it two inches.
> [snip]
>
> Not bad for back of the envelope, huh?
Ding Ding Ding Ding. We have a winnah!
"Leon" <[email protected]> writes:
> "GROVER" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
> > group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
> > decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
> > stimulate the group's curiosity.
> >
> > The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> > strings parallel?
> >
>
> No.
Second question - How far apart are the values?
Patriarch <[email protected]> writes:
> "Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in news:4ObWh.5794$H_5.4139
> @newssvr23.news.prodigy.net:
>
> >
> > "GROVER" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
> >> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
> >> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
> >> stimulate the group's curiosity.
> >>
> >> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> >> strings parallel?
> >>
> >
> > No.
> >
>
> According to which theory?
String Theory
"Russ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> So if I turn a six dimensional bowl on my quantum lathe, primarily
> taking advantage of the additional time-like dimensions, how long do I
> have to work the finish in before it dries?
Since you are probably working in imaginary time, I'd say the finish was on
the piece even before your first cut. So don't worry about it.
dwhite
"Robatoy" wrote in message
> A glorious weekend so far.. no work in the shop for me. Angela and our
> daughter are off to Birch Run MI (Between Flint & Saginaw) where there
> are ONE HUNDRED A FIFTY FACTORY OUTLETS, DAD!!!
> I put a little something in Angela's birthday card yesterday (the big
> 40) and they're OUTTA HERE!!..LOL.
>
> *whispers* And I'm off to see if Dave Eisan has any good deals on a
> General table saw....
>
> That was easy....LOL
Way to go ... quite reigns! Or does it?
No gig's this weekend! I'm off to sit on the porch with a glass of wine and
visit with a band mate to go over the latest roughs from the new CD project,
then walk around the corner to the park to sit on the grass and listen to a
string quartet in the gazebo ... it should be a beautiful, cool evening here
in H town.
And tomorrow night we'll see how many red 3's Leon can gather up in a game
or two of "Hand 'n Foot". ;)
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 2/20/07
Russ <[email protected]> wrote in news:3h7Wh.1980$np4.1820
@bignews4.bellsouth.net:
> Ok then... In recent news;
> ***
> In a recent study, mathematician George Sparling of the University of
> Pittsburgh examines a fundamental question pondered since the time of
> Pythagoras, and still vexing scientists today: what is the nature of
> space and time? After analyzing different perspectives, Sparling offers
> an alternative idea: space-time may have six dimensions, with the extra
> two being time-like.
> ***
>
> So if I turn a six dimensional bowl on my quantum lathe, primarily
> taking advantage of the additional time-like dimensions, how long do I
> have to work the finish in before it dries?
Did you soak it in LDD?
"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
<snip>
> You can't be too careful ...
>
Yes, you can.
;)
Patriarch
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in news:4ObWh.5794$H_5.4139
@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net:
>
> "GROVER" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
>> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
>> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
>> stimulate the group's curiosity.
>>
>> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>> strings parallel?
>>
>
> No.
>
According to which theory?
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
>
> "Patriarch" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>>
>>>> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are
>>>> the strings parallel?
>>>>
>>>
>>> No.
>>>
>>
>> According to which theory?
>>
>>
>
> I forget the name of the theory but it goes something like, 2 rays
> originating from 2 different points and going towards a single point
> are not parallel.
>
>
>
It was a question regarding string theory. Sorry I missed the emoticon.
I gotta go to the bank now...
Patriarch
GROVER <[email protected]> wrote in news:1177091182.736587.218780
@n59g2000hsh.googlegroups.com:
> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
> stimulate the group's curiosity.
>
> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> strings parallel?
>
Actually it depends on the mass of the plumb bobs. If massive enough they
would attract each other.
But I believe that would only be quite near to a black hole.
--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid
For woodworking - parallel enough.
For scientific purposes - not quite.
This is assuming, of course, that you're doing this on the earth's surface.
GROVER wrote:
> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
> stimulate the group's curiosity.
>
> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> strings parallel?
>
On 20 Apr 2007 10:46:22 -0700, GROVER <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
>group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
>decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
>stimulate the group's curiosity.
>
>The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>strings parallel?
Technically - no.
For single story building construction - close enough ;-)
John
Robatoy wrote:
> I'm a Euchre kinda fella myself.
How about "66"? Uses a Euchre deck.
Bridge is OK, but if you want a cut throat game, give me 3 handed
Hearts if 4 players, the military version of double deck pinochle.
Throw out the "9"s, 50 to open, 20 meld minimum, 20 tricks minimum to
save, 500 for game.
If you are after blood, $0.10/point.
Lew
In article <[email protected]>,
GROVER <[email protected]> wrote:
>Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
>group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
>decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
>stimulate the group's curiosity.
>
>The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>strings parallel?
>
Nope. I'm getting about a 1/2 second of arc between them.
In article <[email protected]>,
GROVER <[email protected]> wrote:
<...snipped...>
>The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>strings parallel?
>
No, they have to be approximately 12,500 miles apart for that.
--
When the game is over, the pawn and the king are returned to the same box.
Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland - lwasserm(a)sdf. lonestar.org
On 20 Apr 2007 10:46:22 -0700, GROVER <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
>group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
>decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
>stimulate the group's curiosity.
>
>The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>strings parallel?
No. Both will point toward the center of gravity (somewhere inside
the earth).
GROVER <[email protected]> wrote:
>Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
>group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
>decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
>stimulate the group's curiosity.
>
>The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>strings parallel?
Two answers:
A1) No, since each will hang toward the center of the earth (ignoring
gravitational pulls of other less massive or more distant bodies).
A2) Yes, if the correctness of the answer is going to be determined by
empirical methods using measurement tools available to the average
homeowner.
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently.
"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > >
> > No way to answer this question without knowing your definition of
> > "parallel".
> >
> Parallel has only one definition. It's not open to interpretation. You're
a
> Bill Clinton fan, aren't you?
>
That depends on what your definition of the word "fan" is.
B.
efgh wrote:
> "GROVER" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
>> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
>> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
>> stimulate the group's curiosity.
>>
>> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>> strings parallel?
>>
>
> I would say they are as close to parallel as one would care for them to be.
> If you want to get technical, they are not exactly parallel due to the
> curvature of the earth. One would assume that the bottom of the plumb bob
> is pointing at the exact centre of the earth due to gravity and since we're
> on a ball, they wouldn't be exactly parallel. At 50 feet apart, the
> difference wouldn't be enough to care about.
>
>
I was in HS when they built the Verrazano Bridge in NY. I remember one
of my teachers explaining that the uprights had to be 6" out of parallel
due to the curvature of the earth. I don't know if the number is
accurate, but that is what I recall (after forty years or so).
Glen
"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >
> No way to answer this question without knowing your definition of
> "parallel".
>
Parallel has only one definition. It's not open to interpretation. You're a
Bill Clinton fan, aren't you?
> GROVER <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
>>group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
>>decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
>>stimulate the group's curiosity.
>>
>>The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>>strings parallel?
>
OK, here is a wreck answer.
They would be parallel if it could be measured by a fifty foot rule from Lee
Valley. (Rob Lee, here is an idea for you next April 1st tool)
BTW how parallel is string anyway? Any horizontal measurement of a vertical
string would change its position.
"GROVER" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
> stimulate the group's curiosity.
>
> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> strings parallel?
>
I would say they are as close to parallel as one would care for them to be.
If you want to get technical, they are not exactly parallel due to the
curvature of the earth. One would assume that the bottom of the plumb bob
is pointing at the exact centre of the earth due to gravity and since we're
on a ball, they wouldn't be exactly parallel. At 50 feet apart, the
difference wouldn't be enough to care about.
In article <[email protected]>,
Glen <[email protected]> wrote:
> efgh wrote:
> > "GROVER" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
> >> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
> >> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
> >> stimulate the group's curiosity.
> >>
> >> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
> >> strings parallel?
> >>
> >
> > I would say they are as close to parallel as one would care for them to be.
> > If you want to get technical, they are not exactly parallel due to the
> > curvature of the earth. One would assume that the bottom of the plumb bob
> > is pointing at the exact centre of the earth due to gravity and since we're
> > on a ball, they wouldn't be exactly parallel. At 50 feet apart, the
> > difference wouldn't be enough to care about.
> >
> >
> I was in HS when they built the Verrazano Bridge in NY. I remember one
> of my teachers explaining that the uprights had to be 6" out of parallel
> due to the curvature of the earth. I don't know if the number is
> accurate, but that is what I recall (after forty years or so).
>
> Glen
Let's do some quick math.
The towers are about 700 feet tall, and the Earth's radius is about 4000
miles. 700 feet / 4000 miles is about 1 part in 30,000.
Since arc length is proportional to radius, the tops of the towers are 1
part in 30,000 further apart from each other than their bases. The towers
are about a mile (call it 5000 feet) apart, so the tops are about 5000 /
30,000, or 1/6 of a foot further apart than the tops. Call it two inches.
Now, let's got to the video tape. Wikipedia says:
> Due to the height of the towers (690') and their distance apart (4260'), the
> curvature of the earth's surface had to be taken into account when designing
> the bridge -- the towers are 1-5/8 inches farther apart at their tops than at
> their bases.
Not bad for back of the envelope, huh?
SWDeveloper <[email protected]> wrote:
>On 20 Apr 2007 10:46:22 -0700, GROVER <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
>>group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
>>decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
>>stimulate the group's curiosity.
>>
>>The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>>strings parallel?
>
>No. Both will point toward the center of gravity (somewhere inside
>the earth).
At high tide, anyway. <g>
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently.
"Robatoy" wrote in message
> On Apr 20, 8:41 pm, "Swingman" wrote:
>
> >
> > And tomorrow night we'll see how many red 3's Leon can gather up in a
game
> > or two of "Hand 'n Foot". ;)
> >
> 4 decks of regular cards (Canasta style) or a fancy schmancy dedicated
> deck?
5 decks, regular style ... one more than the number of players. Automatic,
battery operated shuffler mandatory.
> I'm a Euchre kinda fella myself. I like the speed.
> I had a small bout with bridge, but that you have to play all the
> time, me thinks.
Bouree' for me ... or, as Lew said, double deck pinochle, like it's played
in the military.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 2/20/07
"Charlie M. 1958" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> GROVER wrote:
>> On Apr 20, 1:46 pm, GROVER <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> Since I've been enjoying the topics and discussions of this news
>>> group, and I see that there are many posters who are quite bright, I
>>> decided to pose a question concerning the laws of physics to
>>> stimulate the group's curiosity.
>>>
>>> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>>> strings parallel?
>>
>> You guys are right on the money. I'll have to thinks up a harder
>> question if I hope to stump the group.Joe G
>>
> Hell, to hear the way some folks around here talk, you'd think their table
> saws were adjusted to tighter tolerances than the differences between
> those two plumb bobs. :-)
So *that's* what's causing my kickbacks??? The earth's curvature? Knew it
had to be something.
jc
"Patriarch" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>
>>> The question is: If you hang two plumb bobs, say 50 feet apart are the
>>> strings parallel?
>>>
>>
>> No.
>>
>
> According to which theory?
>
>
I forget the name of the theory but it goes something like, 2 rays
originating from 2 different points and going towards a single point are not
parallel.