[ 3 / biz / cgl / ck / diy / fa / ic / jp / lit / sci / vr / vt ] [ index / top / reports ] [ become a patron ] [ status ]
2023-11: Warosu is now out of extended maintenance.

/sci/ - Science & Math

View post   
File: 24 KB, 200x200, 200px-Pixel_geometry_01_Pengo.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
5899123 No.5899123 [Reply] [Original]

Is there a smallest possible distance or size?

If I'm standing a few yards from a wall, and walk halfway to the wall, then walk halfway to the wall again, then walk halfway to the wall again, ad infinitum, will I ever stop moving? I know from maths that I would only get infinitely close to the wall, but never touch it. However, that means I would never stop moving. If moving any distance requires infinite motion, how is motion possible at all?

conclusion: the universe has a smallest size that can be a distance, like a "resolution"

>> No.5899132

You are never touching the wall. The reason you feel it is because of electromagnetic forces.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE8rkG9Dw4s

>> No.5899137

>>5899132
I know, that's irrelevant to the question though. We can define "touching" for the purposes of the OP to mean "getting close enough to feel due to electromagnetic forces"

>> No.5899144

>>5899123
learn to add infinite series..

>> No.5899142

0.999...=1
(2^-1)+(2^-2+)+(2^-3)+(2^-4)...=0.999...=1

>> No.5899145

>>5899142

Not this bullshit again

>> No.5899150

>>5899144
Even with a sum to infinity you never actually reach the upper limit, it is only theoretically the number you would reach given an infinite number of steps

>> No.5899152

Planck distance

>> No.5899151

>>5899123
>I know from maths that I would only get infinitely close to the wall
1/infinity=0 there fore you reach your destination.
if the universe is contionuous then you can reach your destination. if its noncontinuous then
you will always be 1/smallest unit away from your object

>> No.5899162

>>5899151

This statement is false since 1/(2^n) is always greater than 0. in other words, 0 fits infinite times in any number greater than 0

>> No.5899194

The uneven material is just a holographic projection of the uniform data plane.

>> No.5899730

>>5899123
Been resolved:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno%27s_paradoxes
Also, learn math.
Also, minimum distance:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_length

>> No.5899740

>>5899123
"Half distance" is a full distance.

>> No.5899750

>>5899730
I hope I get kidnapped by pirates and told to walk the plank.

I now have the knowledge to excessively troll some scurvy-ridden sons of bitches.

>> No.5899756

>>5899152
This. You'd get 1 planck length away from the wall, then we don't know wtf happens.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_length

>> No.5899786

>>5899123
Haven't seen this thread in a while. Guess it was about due to pop up one of these days.