Stringing you along

[Wood Borer]

You get a length of non-stretch string and tie it around the earth’s equator so it is tight. You cut the string and add an additional 6 feet so now the string is a bit slack.

You get heaps of people in boats and on land etc to all lift the slack string an equal distance above the equator so the string is now tight. How far above the earth would the string now be?

- Wood Borer

[craigb]

Geez couldn't you have at least made it metric?

[silentC]

286mm

[Wood Borer]

Near enough Silent.

Common sense says if would be bugger all but the maths shows that no matter what size the original circumference was, adding 6 feet will increase the radius by approximately 291.062559926458190054134626455654 mm.

It doesn't seem right but do the maths yourself.

This applies equally to a tennis ball or the earth.

- Wood Borer

[Eastie]

29.1 cm

[silentC]

It is weird isn't it? I worked it on 1.8m instead of 6' which is why my answer was slightly different to yours.

[Eastie]

Come on Darren, it's 1.8288m - close enogh isn't good enough (I hope I'm close ).

I was scratching my head at the end but realised I was still in dia, not rad.

[silentC]

Come on Darren, it's 1.8288m - close enogh isn't good enough (I hope I'm close ).

I was scratching my head at the end but realised I was still in dia, not rad.

Yes, I know, not really good enough. I was wondering if I should ask at what interval the people were spaced and whether they were holding the string with one hand or two, because the answer would be different for a polygon

[Zed]

nerds!


no wonder you get beaten up. aint the world got enough geeks already ???

plesae come to my place - I am the wallet inspector and need to check yours.

[silentC]

Now Zeddy boy, you'll never get to be a splendid one to behold with that attitude. There's no need to be intimidated by our intellectual powers, there's room in the playpen for all of our brutish cousins.

[Wood Borer]

I edited my answer to be a little more accurate - 291.062559926458190054134626455654 mm


- Wood Borer (apprentice Nerd)

[Eastie]

Thanks for making the answer a bit clearer Borer. I was starting to think I was wrong with my calculation - it was a terrrible feeling and I hope I never have to feel like that ever again. As it turns out I was farily close (note the Scotish accent in the speeling there), which I'll put up with

[Ian007]

and most of you blokes get paid for doing this stuff all day????? :confused:
What is the world coming to? :eek:
Just as well i'm not your boss

I would be broke from the lack of work getting done.

[Ivan in Oz]

What value did you give pi?

Count

[Wood Borer]

3.1415926535897932384626433832795

I used the calculator in Windows 98 - is that wise? :confused:

- Wood Borer (Still at work since 8:00AM, only get paid from 8:30AM to 5:00PM!! :mad: but I don't mind doing my bit including working through lunch)