Challenge for...well...anyone.

[expos4ever]

Although the underyling physics of the universe would be different in a flat-Earth scenario, so who knows what that would look like.

I see what you are saying; however, while I understand that the physics of our actual universe generally makes planets spherical, I don’t think a flat earth is IMPOSSIBLE in our actual universe.

Do you?

 

[46AND2]

All I am saying is that if the earth were in fact flat - which I think is a possible state of affairs - the worldwide communications needed for the internet could still be implemented, even if not by satellites orbiting a spherical earth. Is that clear?

Sure. You may be correct. Not what I'm looking for.

 

[expos4ever]

Sure. You may be correct. Not what I'm looking for.

Well then, please clarify. A number of ys are unclear what you are asking.

 

[pitabread]

I see what you are saying; however, while I understand that the physics of our actual universe generally makes planets spherical, I don’t think a flat earth is IMPOSSIBLE in our actual universe.

Do you?

Flat Earthers argue for more than just a flat Earth though... Their entire concept of our solar system would be radically different. I have no idea how such physics are supposed to work in that universe.

 

[46AND2]

All I am saying is that if the earth were in fact flat - which I think is a possible state of affairs - the worldwide communications needed for the internet could still be implemented, even if not by satellites orbiting a spherical earth. Is that clear?

Sure it's clear. why do you think that?

 

[46AND2]

All I am saying is that if the earth were in fact flat - which I think is a possible state of affairs - the worldwide communications needed for the internet could still be implemented, even if not by satellites orbiting a spherical earth. Is that clear?

Awesome. Why do you think that? Do you know what the implementation was based one?

 

[46AND2]

Flat Earthers argue for more than just a flat Earth though... Their entire concept of our solar system would be radically different. I have no idea how such physics are supposed to work in that universe.

Awesome. Expand on that. I don't care about how FE is supposed to work. I want a chain. which I think exists, which depends on a spherical earth. WTH? Read my history. I'm not a flat-earther. I'm not defending any arguments which support it, unless they have a good point

TAKE THE CHALLENGE OR NOT.

Think outside the box. Use what you know. If you STILL don't know what I'm asking, then ask clarification questions!.

 

[Tom 1]

Perhaps someone should explain what you don't understand? I mean, the point is: the earth is round. We have technology and internet. Is there a way to show that such advances (in technology) would not be possible if the earth was flat?

Whether or not it would be possible is more like a question of how credible can you make a fictional world, as if the world were flat, everything we know about how the physical world works would no longer be applicable in the same way. How tech operates would be different. Navigation for example, if the world was flat there would be no need to allow for the drop off of the horizon when using a sextant; and how would GPS operate on a flat earth? Satellites would need to maintain static positions or perhaps travel from one end of the ‘vault’ and back again continuously, although that would mean the device being used would have to regularly switch satellites. On the positive side if the earth were flat and satellites somehow able to hold static positions probably you would need less than a minimum of 4 for an accurate fix. Basic hand held radios would work better too, not having the curvature of the earth to block the signal over a certain distance.

 

[Anguspure]

I'm sorry, 46.

I don't understand it either.

If my memory serves me correctly, VDTs became CRTs became CONSOLES became WORKSTATIONS became MONITORS became FLAT PANELS became LAPT...

Oh, wait!

You said FLAT EARTH ... not FLAT PANEL!

Nevermind!

Satellite technology, upon which the whole international internet thing is predicated assumes a celestial and terrestrial sphere. Doesn't just assume it, relies upon it.

 

[SeventyOne]

Perhaps someone should explain what you don't understand? I mean, the point is: the earth is round. We have technology and internet. Is there a way to show that such advances (in technology) would not be possible if the earth was flat?

Here's a Business Insider video showing the cables laid out in the oceans and that claim it transmits 99% of all the data, including the Internet. I do believe this would work on either flat or spherical configurations of the earth.

 

[SeventyOne]

Here's another from the BBC talking about how the our data is carried by cables and the amount ever presumed carried by satellites is insignificant.

.

 

[Strathos]

I see what you are saying; however, while I understand that the physics of our actual universe generally makes planets spherical, I don’t think a flat earth is IMPOSSIBLE in our actual universe.

Do you?

It would have to be made of an impossibly rigid material.

 

[Anguspure]

Here's another from the BBC talking about how the our data is carried by cables and the amount ever presumed carried by satellites is insignificant.

.

Insignificant perhaps by volume (remembering about 95% of the internet is porn or the like), but not insignificant by consequence. Whenever you hop on a commercial passenger aeroplane across the continent or ocean you are relying on technology that works because the mathematics used to make it work is under pinned by the spherical shape of the Earth.

 

[A_Thinker]

I see what you are saying; however, while I understand that the physics of our actual universe generally makes planets spherical, I don’t think a flat earth is IMPOSSIBLE in our actual universe.

Do you?

Science is about discovering the characteristics of our life context (i.e. the Earth, the universe, galaxy, etc.).

Engineering is about using scientific discoveries to benefit humankind.

If the Earth were flat, I have no doubt that inhabiting scientists would discover the particular characteristics of that context ... and that engineers would use those discoveries to benefit humankind similarly to how it is benefited in our world.

OTOH, a FLAT earth flouts the scientific discoveries made in our own life context. Science has discovered that the effect of gravity upon bodies of matter (particularly VERY LARGE bodies of matter) ... is to pull them into a spherical shape (as gravity pulls all points toward the center-point of all bodies of mass).

The gravitational force is similar to the atomic force which binds atoms together ... and is one of the (4) elemental forces which act in the universe.

So ... a FLAT EARTH may well be IMPOSSIBLE in our universe ) i.e. life context).

 

[dreadnought]

I hear that the Flat Earth Society has members all around the world

Absolutely true.

 

[SeventyOne]

Insignificant perhaps by volume (remembering about 95% of the internet is porn or the like), but not insignificant by consequence. Whenever you hop on a commercial passenger aeroplane across the continent or ocean you are relying on technology that works because the mathematics used to make it work is under pinned by the spherical shape of the Earth.

You forgot to add 'I assume' in there. Besides, the question basically was 'can tech and the Internet only work on round earth, thus disproving a flat one'. The answer is no, planes and cables would work on either.

 

[essentialsaltes]

UNLESS we know that the earth is round.

My reading of the challenge is not that its about whether technology would develop if the earth were flat, but rather whether it would develop if the earth was round, but we were ignorant of that fact.

In either case, I don't see why an information age couldn't develop. It would be a very strange world where we knew plenty of E&M and materials science, but were curiously ignorant of gravity and astronomy and simple geography. But I don't see how it could be "coherently, logically" disproven.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

I don't think it's likely to be a profitable argument against a flat Earth, given the uncertainties with flat Earth scenarios - for example, how could it form? how would gravity work on it? what would happen to the atmosphere? Could life as we know it develop at all?

If you throw out fundamental physics, and just make stuff up, anything goes... but you have to ignore all the available evidence and invoke vast planet-wide conspiracies.

There are far better observation-based arguments against a flat Earth.

 

[durangodawood]

So...I have been recently reading about some flat earth ideas....

I challenge you not to do this.

 

[46AND2]

My apologies all. Apparently I had a couple too many beers and was not in the best of moods last night.