Scale models
In a recent phone call with the Drivler (he's doing well by the way), I was struck by something he just threw out as if to ammuse himself while having a conversation with me. He suggested that someone build a scale...to scale.
Now, the question comes up: would objects weigh more, less, or the same on such a scale, built to scale.
He would not let up on this subject. So as I talked about the excitement I'm feeling about being a father for the second time, my fears about rising oil prices and what it really means for me, my position on Barack Obama, etc., here the Drivler is, unable to shut up about this scale to scale business.
Since that time, like a Borgesian Zahir, I have become engrossed in the concept. I no longer want the guess work, however, and would now much prefer to build a scale to scale.
I want to point out a new facet to this problem that I've only recently realized. It's not about the scale itself, per se, but about determining when the scale isn't working. Since what is essentially a thought experiment (until I build the damn thing) depends first on some mechanical device, how do we know when the device isn't working?
It only gets worse from there. Do we need to know the scale of the scale first? How is that determined? Will we need some kind of measuring device? and if so, what scale? Is there such a thing as a scale model that operates at the same scale as the real model, and then what happens if we've built a scale model (scaled) of a scale model (unscaled)? Isn't our scale already to scale? Weren't scales much larger at one time, or am I thinking of something else?
By the way, only spell check allows me to move away from this. The scale of the problem has unseated itself into a new dimension. Even the word scale looks wrong to me now.
Now, the question comes up: would objects weigh more, less, or the same on such a scale, built to scale.
He would not let up on this subject. So as I talked about the excitement I'm feeling about being a father for the second time, my fears about rising oil prices and what it really means for me, my position on Barack Obama, etc., here the Drivler is, unable to shut up about this scale to scale business.
Since that time, like a Borgesian Zahir, I have become engrossed in the concept. I no longer want the guess work, however, and would now much prefer to build a scale to scale.
I want to point out a new facet to this problem that I've only recently realized. It's not about the scale itself, per se, but about determining when the scale isn't working. Since what is essentially a thought experiment (until I build the damn thing) depends first on some mechanical device, how do we know when the device isn't working?
It only gets worse from there. Do we need to know the scale of the scale first? How is that determined? Will we need some kind of measuring device? and if so, what scale? Is there such a thing as a scale model that operates at the same scale as the real model, and then what happens if we've built a scale model (scaled) of a scale model (unscaled)? Isn't our scale already to scale? Weren't scales much larger at one time, or am I thinking of something else?
By the way, only spell check allows me to move away from this. The scale of the problem has unseated itself into a new dimension. Even the word scale looks wrong to me now.
posted by Monstro D. Whale at
5:22 AM
4 Comments:
Scales, scaling, scaler plane... scalliwag.
Interesting proposition, this. Would one build a scaled model of a scale that is bigger or smaller?I think that the biggest problem that one would encounter is that the sensitivity of the scale would increase as the size of the scale model decreases. Whether this occurs on a one to one basis with regard to size, or whether it occurs at an exponential rate would be interesting to find out.
The smaller the scale of the scale, the less range the scale has available to measure. Thus, only if the objects being measured stay in scale to the scaled model of the scale in the proper proportion will the scale continue to function in a scaled manner.
I'm going to go smoke some reefer & then return to this problem.
Okay, I don't know if this is quite what you are talking about, but say you had a 1/72 scale model of a tank which in real life weighs 30 tons (or 60,000 pounds).
To find the correct scale weight of that, divide 60,000 by 72 three times (for the three dimensions of space the tank occupies).This gives you about .16 pounds.
Roxy Katt
Okay, but what you've given me is a scale: 1/72nd, but what if that scale is to scale if you see what I mean (by the way, I think this is something for which about only an atom of thought should be wasted by the sober).
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