Staying Fit in Deep Space
I thoroughly enjoy rock climbing. Here are the reasons why rock climbing is the greatest invention ever:
1) Climbing is a mental puzzle. Trying to climb a new climb can be like trying to remove the iron ring from one of those Tavern Puzzles. The difference is that you're the iron ring, the wall is the rest of the puzzle, and the removal part involves negotiating with Earth's gravity.
2) An outdoor climbing problem is contained within the rock wall itself and will always be there, unchanging until you're good enough to climb it. These climbs have been produced using complex natural processes, making each puzzle unique and each solution stimulating.
3) Indoor rock climbs are man-made puzzles and are in a way art. That there is a creative process involved when creating a synthetic rock climb is unmistakable, and an interplay between sequences of moves can create very satisfying experiences.
4) The future of rock climbing has great potential when one considers the possibilities for synthetic climbing inside a 2001: A Space Odyssey style spinning space station in outer space.
Reasons 1-3 are fairly strong, but no one can deny the awesome truth of reason 4, especially when explained in needed detail.
A spinning circular space station creates a centrifuge that simulates gravity for people on the inside of the rim of a disc-like station. If you make the station's radius longer or spin the station faster, you will increase the effective gravity felt by people on the rim. However, people halfway to the center will feel less effective force than people farther out. People in the center will experience the outside weightlessness of space.
So a rock climb in space may begin at one rim with 100% gravity, however the climber will feel less and less of his weight as he climbs towards the center. As a result, the synthetic holds on the rock wall may be spaced farther apart, and the moves may become ones that would normally be nearly impossible. The climb could be continued through the center and down climbed to the opposite side.
And if that Black Monolith appears in the wall, the aliens will feel pretty embarrassed when I'm able to friction climb it to the top.
1) Climbing is a mental puzzle. Trying to climb a new climb can be like trying to remove the iron ring from one of those Tavern Puzzles. The difference is that you're the iron ring, the wall is the rest of the puzzle, and the removal part involves negotiating with Earth's gravity.
2) An outdoor climbing problem is contained within the rock wall itself and will always be there, unchanging until you're good enough to climb it. These climbs have been produced using complex natural processes, making each puzzle unique and each solution stimulating.
3) Indoor rock climbs are man-made puzzles and are in a way art. That there is a creative process involved when creating a synthetic rock climb is unmistakable, and an interplay between sequences of moves can create very satisfying experiences.
4) The future of rock climbing has great potential when one considers the possibilities for synthetic climbing inside a 2001: A Space Odyssey style spinning space station in outer space.
Reasons 1-3 are fairly strong, but no one can deny the awesome truth of reason 4, especially when explained in needed detail.
A spinning circular space station creates a centrifuge that simulates gravity for people on the inside of the rim of a disc-like station. If you make the station's radius longer or spin the station faster, you will increase the effective gravity felt by people on the rim. However, people halfway to the center will feel less effective force than people farther out. People in the center will experience the outside weightlessness of space.
So a rock climb in space may begin at one rim with 100% gravity, however the climber will feel less and less of his weight as he climbs towards the center. As a result, the synthetic holds on the rock wall may be spaced farther apart, and the moves may become ones that would normally be nearly impossible. The climb could be continued through the center and down climbed to the opposite side.
And if that Black Monolith appears in the wall, the aliens will feel pretty embarrassed when I'm able to friction climb it to the top.
posted by flowbeus at 6:28 PM
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