What Grinds My Gears? Flat Earth Theory.
GPS technology wouldn't work as well as you think it will if the Earth is flat. It's a sophisticated tool that uses satellites to triangulate positioning along with the consideration of the planet's curvature. Also consider astronomy and centuries of celestial body mapping of the skies above. If you think the many space apps we have are all conspiring to trick your intellect, try getting hold of a telescope and do your own research. You'll soon find that the Earth is a sphere.
I've done this in university, even manually calculating positions on ground and in-space using basic geometry. So no, Earth is not entirely flat like a paper map spread wide on the table. It's a sphere made up of many flat planes. That said, I'm actually okay with conceding that some of the many things people believe cannot be disproved (or even worse in my case, cannot be proven).
After all, there are conspiracy theories which have over time, proven to be true. So yes, I don't necessarily have strong positions against every bizarre claims although I do, especially if claimants cannot prove their claims satisfactorily. Personally, I'm not even ruling out stuff like alien overlords. But for god's sake, the earth is not flat. It's not even a belief (excluding the default belief required to trust our own thoughts and senses). It's something that anyone - all 8 billion people in this world - can study and actually test the calculations out for themselves.
Actually there is a perfectly scientific way you can demonstrate that the earth is flat. You will be amazed.
I knew this was going to be the Vsauce video!
No, that's not evidence, that's misunderstanding of fundamental principles.
It's a thought experiment. If a flat Earth, as Kevin says had a "generator", that's pretty accurate to how acceleration due to gravity would act. The video, of course, demonstrates how a flat earth is a completely impossibility any which way.
What is gravity : theory, hypothesis or conspiracy.
No proof so far in my opinion. Just a bunch of ifs, assumptions and equations. Einstain- no offence here.
Calculable and experiments are repeatable to test the ifs, assumptions and equations. Checks out, and without that understanding, there are way too many things that wouldn't be invented. Zero-G flight simulations, especially.
I didn't say is evidence. I said that you can effectively demonstrate that the earth is flat through scientific principles.
Okay I watch the video, it doen't demonstrate the earth is flat. He shows what one would experience if the earth were flat. However we do not experience that.
The video is entertaining and does a good job explaining why the flat earth thing is nutty, but doesn't really refute the flat earth claims. (That is likely because the flat earth claims don't make scientific sense and are based on experiments not testing what they are designed to test)
I'm assuming this is your first foray into Vsauce. It's a quite brilliant channel. This video is one of his earlier ones, but Michael has fast seasoned into one of the best science communicators on YouTube, and overall, for that matter.
I honestly don't watch YouTube science videos, so yeah first time watching this man's series. May have to look into some more as it was entertaining at least. :D
agree, i never watched his earlier stuff but his vvideos are excellent! millions of views / video for science
Interesting video, thanks :)
Lots of strawman in this one. Doesnt do it justice.
it is a thought experiment. based on it..everything is flat. This is what should you keep. the actual debate is "earth is flat" everything else round.
Good piece, thank you. If Galileo were alive today, he'd go up in an airplane and point to the horizon: "Look, it curves down! It's not just the window glass!"
Also, those satellites you mentioned: how exactly would they orbit a flat surface? Do they just fall off the edge of the world? There be dragons there.
Didn't you hear? The US and French governments have been paying Airbus, Boeing et al to install special window glasses that give you illusion of curvature. It's all a hoax!
Those are some fancy glass panes, they even know when the plane is in the air, since they don't curve the world when on the ground. Those scientists must be briliant!
Sorry, optics dictate that you cant see a curve at that altitude. The horizon needs to drop A LOT before anyone can see a curve. Even at low earth orbit it would be difficult to perceive. Otherwise...we are living on a tube! ;-) (if you see a curve from a plane, you would need to extrapolate that curve over 360 degrees...which doesnt work)
You can't see the whole sphere from 30,000 feet, but you certainly can see the horizon dropping off...into the land of dragons. ;)
I wish I could upvote this 200%.
Flat earth is not a theory, it is not driven by an answered hypothesis. Theory in science is a state which is backed up by data, it's not a law but there is information which supports it. Flat earth is more a hypothesis that there is no support for outside delusions, misinterpreted data, misunderstanding of reality, and mislead people who have gotten stuck in a self answering feedback loop of disinformation.
I have this pet peeve too. "Hypothesis" and now even "conjecture" are referred to as "theory". That said, it's just how the English language has evolved, so I accept its usage in daily matters. "I have a theory for why this club's empty today" - that's OK by me.
When it comes to stuff like this, yes, it's an abuse of "Theory" or as you say, even "hypothesis". There should be a new term for "batshit insane misbeliefs that are utterly blind to well established theories with six sigma+ peer-reviewed evidence". Any ideas?
Thanks - I'm guilty of simply lumping those words together too! Clearly the difference needs to be informed :)
Thanks for your perspective here. I learned about flat earth theory some months back and have been doing a bunch of research since then. I am trying very hard to disprove the theory, as not to have my entire understanding of the heliocentric model of our universe shattered!
I am finding however that the more I research, the less convinced I am that we are living on a sphere of the commonly accepted dimensions. I do not know what the truth is. I only know that there are many questions that cannot be answered to prove or disprove either theory.
A few questions for you:
If we have so many satellites in space, why are all modern 'photos' of satellites & planet earth so clearly photoshopped? Even NASA admits that their images of earth are made up of various different composites, put together in photoshop. Bit strange, no?
Why can't 'we the punters' go to Antartica and explore this huge region for ourselves to search for the supposed edge or wall? Ah yes, The Antarctic Treaty signed by all the countries of the world shortly after the last military exploration of the area prohibits us (Operation Highjump 1947). But why? What don't they want us to find there?
Try to book a flight from a southern hemisphere city to another southern hemisphere city. And check the route you will have to fly. Do this with the two maps of the world in front of you. Flat earth map and commonly accepted map. You will see instantly why the southern hemisphere flights must take these strange routes when looking at the flat earth map. Yet they make little sense when looking at conventional map.
I would be curious to know what you think about these questions?
Well I can't answer everything but I have some responses
I think I feel a post coming on! This is a huge and interesting subject. Just to respond to your 2nd point, it is 100% not possible for an explorer (no matter how wealthy or prepared they are) to explore this region without a provided escort, who won't let you go more than 30 miles inland. And there are only three possible entry points to Antartica (all guarded by the military). Entering from anywhere else is strictly forbidden.
Some rich friends of mine put in a proposal to independently explore further into Antartica and were told in no uncertain terms this was never going to happen. Guided tours only!
You steal some of my questions.
I don't understand this argument. When I last heard it it was like "you can't book a flight from Harihari, New Zealand to Las Malvinas, Argentina. No direct flight, because the earth is flat!". Well, yes, no direct flight, but I suspect there might be a different reason for no air company to flight this route...
It is not my intention to antagonise anyone here. Only to pose questions which I would love the answers to. I just checked Cape Town to Sydney. Both major cities right? No direct flights available. Must go via Abu Dhabi. They say to re-fuel, yet the proposed route on a conventional map does not make sense. They are doubling the distance of travel by going via Abu Dhabi. On a flat earth map it makes perfect sense why they would have to re-fuel there. Any thoughts?
SO SEXY. Lol.
So despite satellites and GPS we can not follow and find a jet plane went missing in ocean. Kind of weird to me.
The problem with engineering consensus (takes time to upgrade mission critical devices) and privated, walled-off flight data. And data is not on the blockchain. I'm more ready to believe companies and governments messing with the data if anything, versus flat earth.
They don't lose data where you last buy groceries or fill your car with gasoline, but they messing data where 300 peoples life is in question? Odd; to me at least.
The flat earthers would say that GPS is actually an upgraded version if the LORAN system...a ground base system. And that would "explain" why the GPS has big issues in the southern hemisphere.
As far as I know, there aren't ground redudancies in the GPS system (dont think it uses any doubles from grounded-systems)
I would also like to hear how flat earth accounts for ocean currents.. and gravity lol
Theres a generator somewhere..
or sunrises, sunsets, rainbows... Please explain flat-earthers.
A lot of good posts on YT. Do your homework.
... except in west Texas. The earth is definitely flat in west Texas. I think it's a sphere with a big flat spot. It wouldn't roll, it'd just get hung up when Texas rolled around to the bottom.
Hahaha.. why is this liek the 2nd time i'm hearing this!
If you ever make it to west Texas, you'll never wonder again.
We used to live south of Lubbock. It's so flat that when it rains, the water doesn't flow... it just piles up.
Any comment on this topic is a foolish waste of time. Including this one. 😄
True brother, too true :p