In the physics section and no one answered. How rude is that.
The question was
How far can you lower an everlasting piece of string down a bottomless pit?
2007-01-22 01:35:03 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
People who study physics want a solid answer, like a number or even an estimate. You made a good choice asking this in philosophy. The obvious answer would be infinitely. The less obvious answers are as follows:
- Until the string disintegrates.
- At the point where the pit's width becomes thinner than the string (you didn't specify if the pit was perfectly cylindrical all the way down, or if the width of the string could ever exceed the width of the pit)
- Never, considering there is no such thing as a bottomless pit or an everlasting piece of string (that we know of).
- Until it hits a wormhole and starts coming back up (that would look cool).
- We could never know because a bottomless pit can go on infinitely and we cannot (being mortal humans and all).
- Until there is no string left on Earth.
- Until the string hits you on the back of your head (Infinitely Strong Telescope Theory).
Like I said, physics is all ones and zeroes, yes and no, paper or plastic... Philosophy means that the options are as infinite as the question itself.
2007-01-22 01:44:34 · answer #1 · answered by johnmfsample 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
was going to say how long is a piece of string but see some one got here before me ...also ..if its everlasting for ever I suppose ....no answer ..or until you meet the bottom of a bottomless pit .. gees try maths sure they have a formula
2007-01-25 20:27:29 · answer #2 · answered by bobonumpty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
:)
I'd say you didn't get an answer because you should have tried Philosophy first. Physicists! Ha, no sense of fun. :) (ps used to be one)
You can lower the string as far as you want until it either touches the bottom or you run out of string.
2007-01-22 17:47:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The laws of physics are rigid rules so dynamic questions require a more philosophical or malleable approach which physics does not allow.
The question reminds me of those perpetual machines which go on unassisted for ever. Much more research may be done in that field but I cannot see it happening myself.
PEACE
2007-01-22 18:26:07 · answer #4 · answered by Knobby Knobville 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how far can I personally do it?.... I'm not sure as I haven't tried it...if you could lead me to a piece of endless (I assume that's what you meant) piece of string and a bottomless pit I'll certainly have a go for you...
...but then I may need an endless ruler to measure how far it goes...
2007-01-22 09:46:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
How do you know the string is everlasting? It must have an end and all pits have a bottom.
2007-01-22 09:41:04 · answer #6 · answered by rusco21 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well, how long is a piece of (everlasting!) string?
2007-01-25 18:28:49 · answer #7 · answered by gam3fr3aks 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd say you'd eventually get bored and throw the whole lot down or give up.
2007-01-25 18:19:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where is this pit? I want to throw the wife in it!
2007-01-22 11:50:45 · answer #9 · answered by nick w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Extremely rude.
2007-01-22 11:34:56 · answer #10 · answered by ghds 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋