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Flat Earthers

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Lefty Frizzell said:
253 miles
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Your claim got me thinking, so thank you - it is nice to do a maths puzzle now and then.

At any given height (h) above a sphere (assuming a perfect, smooth sphere) (radius r), what percentage (p) of that sphere can you see and what is the field of view (v) needed to see it? I came up with 2 equations:
v = 2x arcsin(r/r+h)
p = arccos(r/r+h) / 1.8

If you are 2m high, you can only see a maximum of 0.8% of the planet and need a 177 degree viewing angle to see it.
On board the ISS, you can see 11.1% of the planet, but need a 140 degree field of view.

If you can notice the curve at 11.1% is entirely subjective and can depend on the resolution of what you are viewing with along what you measure with. A small visible curve can be measured with sensitive measurements, we have been talking about looking with eyes and really being able to notice. 11.1% is a fair size (try making a pie chart in excel to visualize) so it is pretty reasonable to say you can see the curve of the earth from there.

The 4th answer on this thread, which I found after my playing with figures, is quite good.
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Playing around with the figures a bit more to consider where you need to be to see as much as possible, you find that to see 50% of the earth, you need to be an infinite distance away! You can see 48% at 92,000 km but have to go to 196,000 km to see 49%. That is just over half way to the moon.
 
Yankee Mackem said:
It could be, but only in the sense of a Calabi-Yau manifold. The flat earth conceptualisation can be explained by a hyperelliptic surface of a brane interacting between higher dimensional space, and, potentially, other branes operating in other dimensions. These could influence our our brane and thus introduce effects percieved in more standard cosmological models.
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Playing to small audience there. There are probably only about three of us on this board that have even heard of a Calabi-Yau manifold before this thread. :lol:
 
DaveH said:
Your claim got me thinking, so thank you - it is nice to do a maths puzzle now and then.

At any given height (h) above a sphere (assuming a perfect, smooth sphere) (radius r), what percentage (p) of that sphere can you see and what is the field of view (v) needed to see it? I came up with 2 equations:
v = 2x arcsin(r/r+h)
p = arccos(r/r+h) / 1.8

If you are 2m high, you can only see a maximum of 0.8% of the planet and need a 177 degree viewing angle to see it.
On board the ISS, you can see 11.1% of the planet, but need a 140 degree field of view.

If you can notice the curve at 11.1% is entirely subjective and can depend on the resolution of what you are viewing with along what you measure with. A small visible curve can be measured with sensitive measurements, we have been talking about looking with eyes and really being able to notice. 11.1% is a fair size (try making a pie chart in excel to visualize) so it is pretty reasonable to say you can see the curve of the earth from there.

The 4th answer on this thread, which I found after my playing with figures, is quite good.
You must be logged on to see external links


Playing around with the figures a bit more to consider where you need to be to see as much as possible, you find that to see 50% of the earth, you need to be an infinite distance away! You can see 48% at 92,000 km but have to go to 196,000 km to see 49%. That is just over half way to the moon.
Click to expand...

Too much math for me that like :lol:
 
DaveH said:
Your claim got me thinking, so thank you - it is nice to do a maths puzzle now and then.

At any given height (h) above a sphere (assuming a perfect, smooth sphere) (radius r), what percentage (p) of that sphere can you see and what is the field of view (v) needed to see it? I came up with 2 equations:
v = 2x arcsin(r/r+h)
p = arccos(r/r+h) / 1.8

If you are 2m high, you can only see a maximum of 0.8% of the planet and need a 177 degree viewing angle to see it.
On board the ISS, you can see 11.1% of the planet, but need a 140 degree field of view.

If you can notice the curve at 11.1% is entirely subjective and can depend on the resolution of what you are viewing with along what you measure with. A small visible curve can be measured with sensitive measurements, we have been talking about looking with eyes and really being able to notice. 11.1% is a fair size (try making a pie chart in excel to visualize) so it is pretty reasonable to say you can see the curve of the earth from there.

The 4th answer on this thread, which I found after my playing with figures, is quite good.
You must be logged on to see external links


Playing around with the figures a bit more to consider where you need to be to see as much as possible, you find that to see 50% of the earth, you need to be an infinite distance away! You can see 48% at 92,000 km but have to go to 196,000 km to see 49%. That is just over half way to the moon.
Click to expand...
Look. I'm was biggest NASA fan out there. Was at Space camp back in 96 and have seen it all. Unfortunately some bits just don't add up.
 
BigPete said:
Not surprised by that post seems you'd struggle to put 2+2 together ;):lol:
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Look son, let's not get in to a he said, she said argument about this. My math is accurate.

GK said:
What bits?
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Pal, it's obvious over previous discussions on the matter, that you're way in over your head. Let's leave the science to the big boys. Let's get you back to worrying about Brexit and Trump, with what you read on facey b, that's more your level.
 
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Lefty Frizzell said:
Look son, let's not get in to a he said, she said argument about this. My math is accurate.


Pal, it's obvious over previous discussions on the matter, that you're way in over your head. Let's leave the science to the big boys. Let's get you back to worrying about Brexit and Trump, with what you read on facey b, that's more your level.
Click to expand...

I'm not on about ya math mate never mind was a joke
 
Lefty Frizzell said:
It was a good effort, but didn't take in to consideration certain factors. I enjoyed your equation, was a good effort


It's no laughing matter. That emoji is more globe like than the earth
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What factors? You clearly have greater knowledge would you be able to share that in any way? You said your maths adds up. Show us?

Otherwise you are in danger of looking like a bullshitting wum, and I know that can’t be true.

Life is full of learning, I’m looking forward to greater wisdom in your reply.
 
Personally I liken flat earthers to remainers who think their little bit of the planet is all that matters, when in reality they’re living on a small section of a massive globe with endless and ever increasing possibilities and opportunities.
 
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