Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Ruy Lopez · 05-05-2003, 06:03 AM

The boy is only 11, so I think the equinoxes might be a bit over his head (so to speak).

If still possible, just tell the boy to go under the sun at noon on March 21 or Sept.21 (if these are the equinoxes); drive a stick vertically into the ground. If the stick casts no shadow at all, he's on the equator. Sorry about other times of the year.

SULPHUR · 05-05-2003, 06:23 AM

So you get increased weight at the poles. there an equation of gravitational attraction which seens abetter answer than centrifugal forces. some to do with the force being inversely proportional to the square of the distance

Aquila ka Hecate · 05-05-2003, 06:47 AM

Sulphur,

lol you got me

Yggdrasill · 05-05-2003, 06:53 AM

The easiest way would be to use GPS, it should show 0 degrees latitude on the equator. Alternatively, you could use a sextant.

asvani · 05-05-2003, 07:18 AM

The sweltering heat and the good alighnment of the geographical north pole with the magnetic north pole (it gets more accurate the further you are from the poles). You might also want to mention that it's permanently summer at the equator although we get to experience the monsoons. Oh, there's plenty of rainfall too, ~2000mm per year.

Quote:

The spin removes some of the weight.

The centrifugal force is hardly noticable even at the equator.

Shadowy Man · 05-05-2003, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by enigma555
If you're on the equator, assuming there is little to no light, you can see both the north and south poles in the stellar spheres.

This is probably the best one. (Not that I'm biased or anything.) You'd need a clear horizon too.

Salmon of Doubt · 05-05-2003, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aquila ka Hecate
(!)
Yes, No, Not Really:Bad Science and Coriolis Effect

explains it better than I can.

Huh! Loads of people were lying to me about that then! I wonder how that myth got started?

God Fearing Atheist · 05-05-2003, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Salmon of Doubt
Huh! Loads of people were lying to me about that then! I wonder how that myth got started?

Those damn Southern Hemisphere types are always trying to one-up us....

SULPHUR · 05-05-2003, 08:20 AM

A compass and a map showing true north and south and the deviations to SMPand NMP

Misso · 05-05-2003, 08:31 AM

You could measure the acceleration of a falling object. That's unique on every degree, I think. There are tables on what the value of the acceleration is on various degree. Of course you'd need instruments to measure it.

05-05-2003, 06:23 AM	#12
SULPHUR Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: hobart,tasmania Posts: 551	aquila the hun So you get increased weight at the poles. there an equation of gravitational attraction which seens abetter answer than centrifugal forces. some to do with the force being inversely proportional to the square of the distance

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05-05-2003, 06:03 AM	#11
Ruy Lopez Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Manila Posts: 5,516	The boy is only 11, so I think the equinoxes might be a bit over his head (so to speak). If still possible, just tell the boy to go under the sun at noon on March 21 or Sept.21 (if these are the equinoxes); drive a stick vertically into the ground. If the stick casts no shadow at all, he's on the equator. Sorry about other times of the year.

05-05-2003, 06:47 AM	#13
Aquila ka Hecate Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Luna City Posts: 379	Sulphur, lol you got me

05-05-2003, 06:53 AM	#14
Yggdrasill Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kongsberg, Norway. I'm a: Skeptic Posts: 7,597	The easiest way would be to use GPS, it should show 0 degrees latitude on the equator. Alternatively, you could use a sextant.

05-05-2003, 08:20 AM	#19
SULPHUR Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: hobart,tasmania Posts: 551	A compass and a map showing true north and south and the deviations to SMPand NMP

05-05-2003, 08:31 AM	#20
Misso Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 570	You could measure the acceleration of a falling object. That's unique on every degree, I think. There are tables on what the value of the acceleration is on various degree. Of course you'd need instruments to measure it.

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