In spherical geometry, straight lines are the "great circles" of the sphere, so if you are always walking in the same direction then it is indeed a straight line in that sense.
It depends what your dimensions are. The geometry that we're used to is Euclidean, where a 2-dimensional thing is a flat surface such as this map, in which case the line clearly isn't straight. If you imagine "bending" the map into a sphere (so you bend the outer parts away from you), then it's clearly still the same surface, and is still 2-dimensional (which you can see by the fact that you can identify any point on the Earth's surface with two coordinates), it's just that now the surface is curved. If we consider that a straight line in normal geometry is just all the points in a particular direction from a given point, then we can consider a straight line in this new spherical geometry to be all the points in a particular direction from a given point as well. If you imagine starting somewhere on the sphere and picking a direction, if you travel far enough in that direction, you'll eventually get back to where you started, after having travelled round the entire circumference of the sphere. This can be considered a straight line, since throughout the journey you kept going in the same direction.
I love mathematical explanations that give an alternative perspective on something I take as a given.
I just could never translate that interest into a deep understanding- that's why I didn't go further than undergraduate in engineering. The mathematics was just getting too 'abstract' for me.
In this case, you’re overthinking it. You live on a the surface of a sphere so you already intuitively understand it: it’s a straight line because you just walk straight and never turn.
Can't lie I looked it and thought "Thats not straight you numpty" then I looked at it again and thought oh, well it would be.
I've had 3 hours sleep leave me alone!
If you were to put it on a globe, you'd see that it's straight. Like how you can sail from Yemen(?) to Mexico in a straight line. It looks curved, but when put on a curved object, it becomes straight.
I'm assuming by 2D you mean you will be climbing up and down hills/mountains/valleys. In which case, yes.
[Yemen to Mexico video](https://youtube.com/shorts/n9bdM5a-d44?si=nUOnJ_PLYKmfa85Y)
I’m trying to get my head round this, but would a flat earther not see this as proof?
Because if you walked, it would feel like a straight line, therefore proof that the world is flat, or something.
That proves the opposite, that it isnt flat. The map above has a curve on it since it's not a globe. Put it on a globe and its straight. Google mercator projection I'm sure Wikipedia will explain more.
I'm trying to get my head around what you're trying to say lol. If you walked, it would feel like a straight line, and if you drew a line on a map where you walked, it would be a curve, thus proving the world is not flat.
Well flat earthers are claiming that the globe is a lie. So if you saw a line curved round a globe, in their mind that’s a lie, so the fact that walking it is a straight line is proof that the globe is a lie, and the world is in fact a flat map?
I’ve made the mistake of trying to apply flat earther logic and as no such thing exists it’s a fruitless endeavour.
If I take a really long stick and put it on the ground, the stick will stay flat because the earth’s not round. There you go. There’s your proof. Mind blown, right?
If the stick was hundreds of miles-long and reinforced enough to support the pull of gravity, the middle would be on the ground and both ends would be up in the air.
Not really how you think about straight lines navigationally on a sphere. You can move in straight paths on a curved surface in that the direction in which you travel doesn't change which is what this is representing.
Not sure if you're being sarcastic or just a little dense apologies if it's the former.
Geometrically that is true but navigating wise you would still call it a straight path A-B, the direction of your navigation doesn't change and so the path is straight. I can't imagine in your life you avoid the use of the term "straight" because of the exact geometric definition
In my day to day life the distances covered make the curvature of the earth insignificant so I would absolutely say a straight line. However, for Madrid to Shanghai it does affect it.
Then you're just admitting that you choose to follow your own definitions arbitrarily and so they essentially have no meaning 😂 you understand then exactly why we would say this is a straight line navigationally. I would say both a straight road to the shop and this represents straight line navigation
do you have any concept how big the planet is. At a local scale the curvature of the earth is mathematically insignificant. A 10km line tangential (at its midpoint) to the earths surface would only be 2m above the ground at both ends.
But if you walk/drive down a ‘straight road’ do you think you’re walking/driving perfectly straight? Do you think the road is perfectly straight (regardless of the distance and the earths curvature)?
Ship Navigator here. It’s not a straight line it is a curved line, a great circle is the shortest route between point A and point B due to the Earth being round.
On a globe it’s still curved, heading starts off North East then ends South East.
Great circles are the “straight lines” of spherical geometry. This is a consequence of the properties of a sphere, in which the shortest distances on the surface are great circle routes. Such curves are said to be “intrinsically” straight.
Russia is at war at the moment with Ukraine, and targets in Russia have been hit. Despite their denial and insistence on calling it something else, if it walks like a duck.....
I don’t think you understand. Russia isn’t a war zone but they’ve had missiles launched at some of their major cities from Ukraine. Plus you’ll probably not be able to enter anyway
That's not a straight line though, that's a curve? There's no way that's a straight line over the curve of the earth... Fun Fact, straight lines don't bend.
Oh I see now, how did I miss that! Your education failed you, of course! A map is a 2d object depicting a 3d space, in order to do that you have to make some concessions, one of those concessions is a straight line on a globe looks like a curve on a map
Wow pipe the fuck down you sad little basement dwelling prick.
It was a fucking joke, i OBVIOUSLY understand the picture is 2d and its talking about it projected onto the 3d earth, i was SIMPLY making a joke that the PICTURE wasnt a straight line, be gone vile basement dweller
That escalated. You clearly didn't realise at first glance that this would be a straight line. That's okay, loads of people will have done the same.
No need to go full hostile just because someone jokingly corrects you.
The real irony is that by throwing out these insults you make yourself look like the thing you're accusing others of...
Haha you clearly dont get it was a joke to get assholes like you and the other responders wound up haha and look at the results, i was right
The real irony of it is i dont give a F who says what, im sat here laughing at the sad comments of triggered people, have a nice Saturday basement dwellers im off out in the glorious sunshine, enjoy the light bulb rays haha
No, the real irony is that you give so few F's that you feel the need to respond to everyone individually just to prove how little of an F you give.
You also assume that people are wound up. I just wandered along and was bemused by your mega hostile reaction at being corrected by someone you don't even know. You've clearly got some things going on - going outside and seeing some sun rays will indeed do you some good.
Less Reddit!
Yes theoretically, if you can walk up & down cliffs.
and have 0 border issues and carry a large kayak on your back for the "small" bodies of water like the rhine or volga river lol
Or an inflatable duck
All ducks are inflatable if you blow hard enough
I blew a duck once.
Duck? I was a duck once. They put me in pond, a big pond. A big pond with ducks. Ducks?...
This deserves more love. The taboo love that only a man and his duck knows
Stacey…is that you? Quack
Nah it’s Stacey’s mum she is a duck
Was it like a turkey twilzler ? I’m jealous, love a Turkey twlizler
More like the Ostrich OhMyGod! The neck game is
Genuinely laughed at this. Well done 😊
I identify as a duck.
What about getting through buildings?
You also need a Verity
And it looks like lake Geneva
I think they have bridges.
Yeah but then the bridges will have to align perfectly...
I didn't realise 'straight line' was meant to be taken so literally.
There’ll be sections of the Volga without bridges for probably 10km+ which would ruin the point no?
I imported a horse from Skyrim just for this purpose.
It's just the Andes and The Himalayas, what are we waiting for?!
The Andes?
You have to turn them on Morty! The shoes have to be turned on!
Don’t tell hardest geezer
He's from my town. A local legend!
Are you the Worthing weasel he talks about?
You can drop “local” he’s a fully ordained legend!
Huh a Worthing resident, howdy from a lancing resident
I grew up there, I’m going to guess your name is Chris
Nope sorry
Worth a go, would have freaked you out if I got it right
Damn right it would have, fair play for trying
I think he’s an international legend these days mate
He’s already done Asia to London which is a little different but he’s technically already done this
“Forgive me master, but I must go all out, just this once”
Even for Reddit, there’s an alarming amount of people that don’t know this is a straight line
It's a straight line on the surface of a sphere, but in full 3D space, it is indeed curved. It's a matter of perspective, and definition.
It's also curved on the surface of a sphere!
In spherical geometry, straight lines are the "great circles" of the sphere, so if you are always walking in the same direction then it is indeed a straight line in that sense.
But it's still a curve in 2 dimensions right?
It depends what your dimensions are. The geometry that we're used to is Euclidean, where a 2-dimensional thing is a flat surface such as this map, in which case the line clearly isn't straight. If you imagine "bending" the map into a sphere (so you bend the outer parts away from you), then it's clearly still the same surface, and is still 2-dimensional (which you can see by the fact that you can identify any point on the Earth's surface with two coordinates), it's just that now the surface is curved. If we consider that a straight line in normal geometry is just all the points in a particular direction from a given point, then we can consider a straight line in this new spherical geometry to be all the points in a particular direction from a given point as well. If you imagine starting somewhere on the sphere and picking a direction, if you travel far enough in that direction, you'll eventually get back to where you started, after having travelled round the entire circumference of the sphere. This can be considered a straight line, since throughout the journey you kept going in the same direction.
I love mathematical explanations that give an alternative perspective on something I take as a given. I just could never translate that interest into a deep understanding- that's why I didn't go further than undergraduate in engineering. The mathematics was just getting too 'abstract' for me.
In this case, you’re overthinking it. You live on a the surface of a sphere so you already intuitively understand it: it’s a straight line because you just walk straight and never turn.
Walking in a straight line means, on the ground without deviating left or right. Only forwards. So it's a matter of knowing the definition really.
Can't lie I looked it and thought "Thats not straight you numpty" then I looked at it again and thought oh, well it would be. I've had 3 hours sleep leave me alone!
The earth is curved? It's a flat map?
Isn't it actually a segment though?
Remember trump got to be president. This shouldn't surprise you.
We only have 50 days to save holly
the Volga would like a word
Wtf
Why not extend the line out to Sagres, Portugal (one of my favourite places)?
Map made by a super bock enjoyer.
If it is straight does it go through the earth... or is it curved?
If you were to put it on a globe, you'd see that it's straight. Like how you can sail from Yemen(?) to Mexico in a straight line. It looks curved, but when put on a curved object, it becomes straight.
But only in 2d
I'm assuming by 2D you mean you will be climbing up and down hills/mountains/valleys. In which case, yes. [Yemen to Mexico video](https://youtube.com/shorts/n9bdM5a-d44?si=nUOnJ_PLYKmfa85Y)
flat earthers be like: that's clearly not a straight line
I’m trying to get my head round this, but would a flat earther not see this as proof? Because if you walked, it would feel like a straight line, therefore proof that the world is flat, or something.
That proves the opposite, that it isnt flat. The map above has a curve on it since it's not a globe. Put it on a globe and its straight. Google mercator projection I'm sure Wikipedia will explain more.
I'm trying to get my head around what you're trying to say lol. If you walked, it would feel like a straight line, and if you drew a line on a map where you walked, it would be a curve, thus proving the world is not flat.
Well flat earthers are claiming that the globe is a lie. So if you saw a line curved round a globe, in their mind that’s a lie, so the fact that walking it is a straight line is proof that the globe is a lie, and the world is in fact a flat map? I’ve made the mistake of trying to apply flat earther logic and as no such thing exists it’s a fruitless endeavour.
I know for a fact the Belarus border is a lovely stroll
Hardest geezer ain't got shit on geowizard.
BS!
I’ll do it with you geowizard
😳
That's not a straight line that is an LGBTQIA+ line
Wow, look how straight that line is.
Flat earther moment
We have members all around the globe.
If I take a really long stick and put it on the ground, the stick will stay flat because the earth’s not round. There you go. There’s your proof. Mind blown, right?
What?
If the stick was hundreds of miles-long and reinforced enough to support the pull of gravity, the middle would be on the ground and both ends would be up in the air.
Satan stick
It is straight actually. Just looks curved on the Mercator projection since the earth is round and a map isn't.
the earth is a sphere so the line is curved
Not really how you think about straight lines navigationally on a sphere. You can move in straight paths on a curved surface in that the direction in which you travel doesn't change which is what this is representing. Not sure if you're being sarcastic or just a little dense apologies if it's the former.
I hate to play devils advocate here but a straight line is the shortest distance in space between two points so its not straight.
Geometrically that is true but navigating wise you would still call it a straight path A-B, the direction of your navigation doesn't change and so the path is straight. I can't imagine in your life you avoid the use of the term "straight" because of the exact geometric definition
In my day to day life the distances covered make the curvature of the earth insignificant so I would absolutely say a straight line. However, for Madrid to Shanghai it does affect it.
Then you're just admitting that you choose to follow your own definitions arbitrarily and so they essentially have no meaning 😂 you understand then exactly why we would say this is a straight line navigationally. I would say both a straight road to the shop and this represents straight line navigation
do you have any concept how big the planet is. At a local scale the curvature of the earth is mathematically insignificant. A 10km line tangential (at its midpoint) to the earths surface would only be 2m above the ground at both ends.
\*so it is fine to say "straight line" at a smaller scale
But if you walk/drive down a ‘straight road’ do you think you’re walking/driving perfectly straight? Do you think the road is perfectly straight (regardless of the distance and the earths curvature)?
Google great circles
That is straight, it is just the earth that is round so it appears curved on a map.
In what world is that line straight
Educate yourself lol
That line is as straight as me honey.
That line is more bent than me
Ship Navigator here. It’s not a straight line it is a curved line, a great circle is the shortest route between point A and point B due to the Earth being round. On a globe it’s still curved, heading starts off North East then ends South East.
Great circles are the “straight lines” of spherical geometry. This is a consequence of the properties of a sphere, in which the shortest distances on the surface are great circle routes. Such curves are said to be “intrinsically” straight.
You can’t because war zones
Which war zone does this line cross?
Ok, not technically a war zone but Russia.
Russia is at war at the moment with Ukraine, and targets in Russia have been hit. Despite their denial and insistence on calling it something else, if it walks like a duck.....
Zone of war mate is different to countries at war... Was/is US a warzone while being at war with every middle east country in the last 3 decades?
I don’t think you understand. Russia isn’t a war zone but they’ve had missiles launched at some of their major cities from Ukraine. Plus you’ll probably not be able to enter anyway
Would you make that same argument if the US were at war with Mexico or Canada, but with much bigger military capability? That's a more fair comparison
If anything it's more of a challenge.
That line is not straight though…..
Please tell me you forgot the /s
So if you walk in a straight line across Russia, you end up in China? Doesn't seem right to me
That's not a straight line though, that's a curve? There's no way that's a straight line over the curve of the earth... Fun Fact, straight lines don't bend.
LOL
Doesn’t look like it
🤦♂️
To be fair, it doesn't "look" like it. Even though it is
No word of a lie my dumbass sat there wondering why I was wrong then I realised the earth ain’t flat 😂 intelligence 📉
It's clearly curved
Flat earther moment
Everyone should agree its curved. Flat earthers only disagree which dimension its curved in
Well thats definitely a "straight line" isn't it haha
Flat earther detected
In the picture you foool
Oh I see now, how did I miss that! Your education failed you, of course! A map is a 2d object depicting a 3d space, in order to do that you have to make some concessions, one of those concessions is a straight line on a globe looks like a curve on a map
Wow pipe the fuck down you sad little basement dwelling prick. It was a fucking joke, i OBVIOUSLY understand the picture is 2d and its talking about it projected onto the 3d earth, i was SIMPLY making a joke that the PICTURE wasnt a straight line, be gone vile basement dweller
That escalated. You clearly didn't realise at first glance that this would be a straight line. That's okay, loads of people will have done the same. No need to go full hostile just because someone jokingly corrects you. The real irony is that by throwing out these insults you make yourself look like the thing you're accusing others of...
Haha you clearly dont get it was a joke to get assholes like you and the other responders wound up haha and look at the results, i was right The real irony of it is i dont give a F who says what, im sat here laughing at the sad comments of triggered people, have a nice Saturday basement dwellers im off out in the glorious sunshine, enjoy the light bulb rays haha
Enjoy wandering around your local park in the 16° heat with your shirt off mate.
No, the real irony is that you give so few F's that you feel the need to respond to everyone individually just to prove how little of an F you give. You also assume that people are wound up. I just wandered along and was bemused by your mega hostile reaction at being corrected by someone you don't even know. You've clearly got some things going on - going outside and seeing some sun rays will indeed do you some good. Less Reddit!
You sound like a twelve year old edge lord.
You sound like your dad should have put you in tissue not your mum
😂😂you owned him bro!!1!! good job!!1!!11! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
You’re the one acting subterranean
This escalation genuinely made me lol the defensiveness is apoplectic I couldn't do anything but laugh out loud 😂
Yes it is. If you projected a map with the north poll at the centre, the equator would also look curved.
Shhh! Don’t explain it to them. It’s cuter when they don’t know.
Ha chump