Do the math

Imagine a taut rope is put perfectly center around a smooth earth. Now add a metre to the rope and pull it taut upwards so that the rope is raised evenly above the earth's surface.

How high will the rope be above the earth?

You're thinking a fraction of a fraction of a millimetre right? So did I. And we'd be wrong.

Apparently, if you do the math, the answer always rounds off to 16 centimetres.

Not convinced? Neither was I. heh. So here's the formula. All calculations are in metres.

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Pi = π ≈ 3.14
Circumference = 2 x π x radius(r)
∴ Add a metre to the circumference = Add 16 centimetres to the radius
∴ 2 x π x r + 1[metres] ≈ 2 x π x (r + 0.16[metres])
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Now this may still be a little hard to believe so take out your calculator and substitute r with any number.

Now go post it on your own blog and watch the geeks start to 'digg' it.