Another Argument Against Flat Earth

[Radagast]

"The horizon always rises to one's eye-level."

When one is looking at the horizon, yes.

"Surveyors, engineers, and architects do not take curve into account."

False, of course.

"Planes would need to constantly dip their noses on a Globe Earth."

And they do, of course.

 

[trunks2k]

And they do, of course.

Not really. Keeping a plane flying level means balancing the forces of lift over the force of gravity pulling it to the ground. The net result between the forces will be 0, keeping the plane at a given altitude. So if we assume at a given moment, the net force is 0, in the next moment, the ground has fallen away slightly due to curvature. The ground falling away means the air is slightly less dense than it was a moment ago. That slightly less dens air means it's generating less lift, so the net force is no longer 0, gravity is winning out. So the plane gets pulled ever so slightly back towards the ground, until it has a net force of 0. It's an instantaneous thing that is constantly happening. Sorta like swinging a ball around your head with a bungee cord.

Of course planes do constantly adjust thrust and angle of attack to deal with the multitudes of other things that can change the balance of lift and gravity.

 

[Radagast]

It's an instantaneous thing that is constantly happening.

Yes.

I was referring to the fact that the artificial horizon in an aircraft needs to take account of the earth's curvature, or else constantly reset itself to the local gravity vector (see Attitude indicator - Wikipedia).

 

[USincognito]

In US Land surveys, townships are about 36 square miles. Each square mile is called a section. If you look at section boundary plats, you will find that the southern boundary is wider than the northern boundary. This is because corrections have to be made for the convergence of the meridians.

If the earth were flat, why aren't these sections perfectly square?

US Public Lands System

Section (United States land surveying) - Wikipedia

Are there any flat earth folks that want to actually address the OP?

 

[Bungle_Bear]

Are there any flat earth folks that want to actually address the OP?

No.

 

[SpiritualBeing]

Hey there is going to be a flat earth cruise. Anyone on this site going?

Flat-Earthers Are Organising a Massive Cruise And The Hypocrisy Is Just Too Much

 

[Lazarus Short]

Hey there is going to be a flat earth cruise. Anyone on this site going?

Flat-Earthers Are Organising a Massive Cruise And The Hypocrisy Is Just Too Much

Is the cruise making a circuit of the entire globe?

 

[Strathos]

Hey there is going to be a flat earth cruise. Anyone on this site going?

Flat-Earthers Are Organising a Massive Cruise And The Hypocrisy Is Just Too Much

They should try circumnavigating Antarctica, see how long it takes.

 

[Shemjaza]

They should try circumnavigating Antarctica, see how long it takes.

They could count all the unmarked carriers with black helicopters that defend the ice wall!

 

[Steve Petersen]

On the way there, they could take note of any new constellations visible.

 

[jayem]

Are there actually people who honestly, sincerely think we live on a flat planet? It's hard for me to accept that flat-earth belief is anything more than a farce. Sort of an affectation, or burlesque that's done for fun. Like Furries. Or the Doo Dah Parade.

 

[Radagast]

Are there actually people who honestly, sincerely think we live on a flat planet? It's hard for me to accept that flat-earth belief is anything more than a farce. Sort of an affectation, or burlesque that's done for fun. Like Furries. Or the Doo Dah Parade.

There are many flat-earthers on CF, and I think at least half are genuine.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Hey there is going to be a flat earth cruise. Anyone on this site going?

Flat-Earthers Are Organising a Massive Cruise And The Hypocrisy Is Just Too Much

The Guardian has had some amusing interesting articles on this - here's an earlier article on the subject.

 

[pitabread]

There are many flat-earthers on CF, and I think at least half are genuine.

Yeah, but how would tell which half is which?

 

[Radagast]

Yeah, but how would tell which half is which?

Not easily.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Yeah, but how would tell which half is which?

Hold them over the edge by their ankles.

 

[Radagast]

Hold them over the edge by their ankles.

Hold them upside down by their ankles and tell them that you walk with them that way until you reach the edge.

 

[chilehed]

Go to somewhere in North America or Europe.
Go outside on a clear night.
Point to the Southern Cross.

You can actually do that in South Florida, in late May. It's visible south of 25 degrees north.

 

[A_Thinker]

"The horizon always rises to one's eye-level."

When one is looking at the horizon, yes.

See ... that's my perspective ...

 

[SpiritualBeing]

The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories