Wow, great to see a new what-if! After no updates for a couple of years (?), I thought we had seen the final one…
Looks like 156 and 155 were both in March 2017, so about one year.
I see. I guess it just feels longer :)
Earth-Moon Fire Pole
11–20 of 72 posts
Re: Earth-Moon Fire Pole
#12> There's one more problem: The Moon doesn't always stay the same distance from Earth. Its orbit takes it closer and farther away. Then use a pole that is strong enough to eliminate this problem.
What material would you suggest is strong enough to handle the orbit of two massive bodies (relative to girth of a poll one could realistically hold onto)? And what do you suppose the consequences of altering the moons orbit would be?
Something with elasticity would be a better option than something that is strong but even that wouldn't resolve some of the other issues presented; such as the moons surface not being geostationary to any point on the Earth.
Re: Earth-Moon Fire Pole
#13Reminded me of the Space Elevator: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator
Re: Earth-Moon Fire Pole
#14Wouldn't attaching the pole at a pole (heh) be a better strategy to avoid uncomfortable relative velocities?
It would also have the advantage of providing a fixed place on the earth to find a stash of warm clothes and an energy drink.
Re: Earth-Moon Fire Pole
#15I initially assumed this was Randall's suggestion for a new password.
It would need 'staple' on the end:
Earth moon firepole staple
Re: Earth-Moon Fire Pole
#16Wouldn't attaching the pole at a pole (heh) be a better strategy to avoid uncomfortable relative velocities? It would also have the advantage of providing a fixed place on the earth to find a stash of warm clothes and an energy drink.
If you fix it to a point on the earth, how will it get to the moon?
Re: Earth-Moon Fire Pole
#17It must be so fun to have a Dad that entertains your foolish ideas as a child, and play them out in immense detail for you :) I hope I can be that Dad one day.
Re: Earth-Moon Fire Pole
#18Wouldn't attaching the pole at a pole (heh) be a better strategy to avoid uncomfortable relative velocities? It would also have the advantage of providing a fixed place on the earth to find a stash of warm clothes and an energy drink.
The Moon orbits the Earth on the Ecliptic plane.
Re: Earth-Moon Fire Pole
#19I would imagine that what the five year old who asked wanted was an intuitive sense of how far away the moon is. My answer would have been far less interesting. I would assume a reasonable rate at which a child slides down a pole, say 1 meter per second, multiplied by roughly 384,000km from the moon to Earth, and it would take a little over 12 years.
Let me guess - your favorite map projection is Goode Homolosine. You like easy solutions. You think we wouldn't have so many problems if we'd just elect normal people to Congress instead of Politicians. You think airlines should just buy food from the restaurants near the gates and serve that on board. You change your car's oil, but secretly wonder if you really need to.
Re: Earth-Moon Fire Pole
#20> There's one more problem: The Moon doesn't always stay the same distance from Earth. Its orbit takes it closer and farther away. Then use a pole that is strong enough to eliminate this problem.
What material would you suggest is strong enough to handle the orbit of two massive bodies (relative to girth of a poll one could realistically hold onto)? And what do you suppose the consequences of altering the moons orbit would be? Something with elasticity would be a better option than something that is strong but even that wouldn't resolve some of the other issues presented; such as the moons surface not being g…
> such as the moons surface not being geostationary to any point on the Earth.
The pole would also solve that problem ...