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An object launched from a trebuchet follows a parabolic trajectory.
At the top of the trajectory, the vertical velocity of the object is zero. Then it accelerates downwards under gravity.
If the object is launched on a near-vertical path, the horizontal velocity over the whole arc is small, and
the object will land very close to its point of launch (if its path is not intercepted).
Behold the new BorgCo Trebuchet Ski-lift ! No cable cars, no clinging on to hoists, no chairlifts. Simply sit yourself in the seat. Strain gauges measure your mass, and lasers scan your surface, determining your density and air resistance to decimal places. Then the arm is released and you are gently yet effectively accelerated to the exact velocity such that when you descend into the landing net, positioned hundreds of metres above you on the mountainside, you're barely falling at all.
Then you can enjoy the breathtaking mountain views, before skiing down to do it all over again.
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Annotation:
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The text beyond the title is superfluous [-] |
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And if the computations are off by a hair...? |
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//air resistance to decimal places. |
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I thought any resistance was futile? |
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Beautiful visual, whheeee, flying through the air with my
skis in front of me and landing ever-so-lightly on my padded
ass. Yes. |
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//If the object is launched on a near-vertical path, the
horizontal velocity over the whole arc is small// |
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I think I see the problem here, [8th]. What you have
forgotten to take into account, in trying to deliver a skier to
the top of the mountain, is that there's a mountain. |
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I can't claim to be much of a mountain expert (we only have
a few - mostly presents), but I'm pretty sure that one of the
commonest
features of mountains is that they are pointy at the top, but
quite wide at the bottom. Between those two, there is
normally some sort of sloping arrangement, of exactly the
sort favoured by skiers. |
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As a resulting consequence, your trebuchet will have to be
situated quite a considerable distance from the apex of the
mountain, which in turn means that your trebuchant will
have considerable (indeed, alarming) horizontal speed as
they whizz past the summit. |
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You could, of course, use your trebuchet to trebuche
someone to the top of a cliff, but then they'll just be
grumpy about not being able to ski back down again. |
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In other words, you have invented a device which works
perfectly, but not for its intended purpose or location. |
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And this is a problem because ... ? |
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A substantial platform jutting out from the mountain, supporting the catching net, might be necessary. |
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Then again, some locations favoured by skiers do have cliffs associated with them, so it might just be a question of careful siteing. |
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So, a 19km platform for Everest, then. |
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Were you to setup on the _far_ side of the mountain and
launch skiers such that they barely skim the summit, your
skiers would land at the start of the trail on the near side,
already with some helpful forward momentum, to quickly
achieve terminal velocity for a memorable descent. |
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Good idea, but if you don't mind, we'll omit the phrase "terminal velocity" from the publicity campaign. It might be misunderstood. |
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Then again, it might be understood correctly, which would be rather worse. |
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Hmm, I think that either A) You don't actually fire
the organ dono...passengers at the peak itself, but
project them above it, and they parachute down to
platform or B) drill a vertical shaft inside the
mountain and railgun them upwards. |
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Plan B has the good points of not having treacherous
winds on the way up and on slack days it could be
used to launch huge metal bipods to Mars
annihilating those pesky Martians with a coolth ray
and/or sneezing on them.
So who's laughing now Johnny Alien eh,tell me that? |
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//drill a vertical shaft inside the mountain and railgun them
upwards// |
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"You did remember to open the lid, didn't you, Franz?" |
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"Ja, mein Führer, der neu "skilift" ist nearly ready ... ve are chust vaiting fur der panzers to cross der border into Poland ..." |
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^Why is it that Germans always talk to each other in
English with a bad accent? Have they never heard of
subtitles? |
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Yes, but they think subtitles are beneath them. |
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Seems quite sensible, but have this crumb of
approval anyway. [+] |
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//...determining your density and air resistance to decimal places// - yes, zero decimal places... |
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Depends. Have you paid for First, Business, Tourist or AAAAAaaaaAAAAAA aaaaaaieeeeeeTHUD class ? |
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I'm not quite certain that your biological bits would hold up
to the accelerations required--inducing a self-imposed
concussion shortly before accelerating again downhill trying
to avoid trees doesn't sound healthy. |
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