Kid’s got no mechanical aptitude whatsoever. Mechanically, the treadmill would count distance and speed the same, you’d just have to jump over a lump every lap of the belt. The theory that a mobius strip doubles the distance because it doubles the exposed surface is like expecting to run twice as far because you ran an hour on a one mile track instead of an hour on a half mile track.
I hope some of you study Möbius strips. If you cut one in half lengthwise it ends up a single strip, twice as long, but with two twists. If you cut one in thirds lengthwise you end up with two strips linked together. All because of that original single twist.
Actually, the linear distance measured along the (single) surface would be the same, so she would be running at the same speed . . . . . probably zero. Or maybe “amble”.
Frazz14 hrs · The unanswerable question, the key element some people are going to have to (and eagerly will) look up, the implication of exercise, the vulnerability to accusations of smugness, the broom-pushing walk-talk stock scene … ladies and gentlemen, we may have here the quintessential Frazz episode.
I, too, can’t picture owning a treadmill. I can walk just fine on floors and streets, and if it’s something to hang onto for balance while running full tilt that you need, I’ve got a four-wheel walker that works well, doesn’t take up half as much house room as a treadmill, and serves lots of other purposes.
RAGs almost 4 years ago
But, if you cut it down the middle, you could run twice as long.
Wilde Bill almost 4 years ago
If she owned a treadmill, it would be used to hang clothes (voice of experience talking).
Concretionist almost 4 years ago
I expect she couldn’t picture either of them. I can picture it, but my picture includes realizing that the belt’s too short to do that.
Sanspareil almost 4 years ago
She may have run half-ast!
Skeptical Meg almost 4 years ago
That. Is. Brilliant.
ddjg almost 4 years ago
But the treadmill would no longer run at all!
cervelo almost 4 years ago
She’d trip every revolution.
MichaelHelwig almost 4 years ago
Why is it either/or?
matzam Premium Member almost 4 years ago
it would run backwards
P51Strega almost 4 years ago
Kid’s got no mechanical aptitude whatsoever. Mechanically, the treadmill would count distance and speed the same, you’d just have to jump over a lump every lap of the belt. The theory that a mobius strip doubles the distance because it doubles the exposed surface is like expecting to run twice as far because you ran an hour on a one mile track instead of an hour on a half mile track.
Richard S Russell Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Contemplating this would drive me to drink. I’d have to hit the Klein bottle.
bobbyferrel almost 4 years ago
Flippity floppity floppity flip
A mouse ran around a Mobius strip.
The strip revolved, the mouse dissolved
In a chromo-dimensional skip.
[By somebody or other a long time ago]
Thinkingblade almost 4 years ago
Well it will wear at half the rate …
poppacapsmokeblower almost 4 years ago
I hope some of you study Möbius strips. If you cut one in half lengthwise it ends up a single strip, twice as long, but with two twists. If you cut one in thirds lengthwise you end up with two strips linked together. All because of that original single twist.
brick10 almost 4 years ago
Neither, the belt would have even use all over.
DutchUncle almost 4 years ago
Actually, the linear distance measured along the (single) surface would be the same, so she would be running at the same speed . . . . . probably zero. Or maybe “amble”.
oldchas almost 4 years ago
It would run backwards.
albzort almost 4 years ago
Something of the sort was done in a story in the ’40s:http://kasmana.people.cofc.edu/MATHFICT/mfview.php?callnumber=mf636
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 4 years ago
Jef Mallet’s Blog Posts
Frazz14 hrs · The unanswerable question, the key element some people are going to have to (and eagerly will) look up, the implication of exercise, the vulnerability to accusations of smugness, the broom-pushing walk-talk stock scene … ladies and gentlemen, we may have here the quintessential Frazz episode.
Cactus-Pete almost 4 years ago
Since he’s talking about the belt that is already on the treadmill, it can’t be done.
aunt granny almost 4 years ago
I, too, can’t picture owning a treadmill. I can walk just fine on floors and streets, and if it’s something to hang onto for balance while running full tilt that you need, I’ve got a four-wheel walker that works well, doesn’t take up half as much house room as a treadmill, and serves lots of other purposes.
I can even hang clothes on it.