Re: Math question...


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Subject: Re: Math question...
Name: Hugh
Date: 10/14/2001 10:41:36 PM (GMT-7)
IP Address: 64.228.183.126
In Reply to: Re: Math question... posted by MS
Message:

Hmmm... That's my problem. You see, the question that I'm trying to answer is: "How long does a pencil take to fall if balanced on its tip?". I can calculate the mouvement of the pencil's center of mass due to thermal fluctuations in the pencil's atoms, and I can also calculate the probability for these fluctuations to be big enough to tip the pencil, but I can't find a way of introducing time into this problem. I was thinking that I could calculate the time it takes for the pencil to tip knowing the odds for the big thermal fluctuation that is needed (just like the lightning example), but it looks like I'm missing something. It's late though, maybe some sleep would be good. Mmmhhh sleeeep...

Thanks for the help,

Hugh

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