Editing 1649: Pipelines
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| date = February 29, 2016 | | date = February 29, 2016 | ||
| title = Pipelines | | title = Pipelines | ||
− | |||
| image = pipelines.png | | image = pipelines.png | ||
| titletext = In the future, every single pipeline will lead to the bowl of a giant blender, and we'll all just show up with a bucket each day to take our share of the resulting smoothie. | | titletext = In the future, every single pipeline will lead to the bowl of a giant blender, and we'll all just show up with a bucket each day to take our share of the resulting smoothie. | ||
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
+ | {{incomplete|The table with all the items should be filled out with sizes. Note the size given in trivia is probably not very accurate and should not just be used as is.}} | ||
− | + | Follows a similar idea to the [[what if?]] {{what if|147|Niagara Straw}}, (from three days before this comic's release), where the entire water flow over {{{w|Niagara Falls}} is imagined to flow through a straw (i.e. 7 mm diameter with disastrous results). | |
− | In this comic [[Randall]] imagines what size pipes are necessary to carry US domestic production/consumption of various fluids if the flow rate were fixed at 4 meters per second. Randall notes that "many pipes would overlap", owing to the fact that consumption of one item as corn syrup would be due to the production of one of the others, in this case soda | + | In this comic [[Randall]] imagines what size pipes are necessary to carry US domestic production/consumption of various fluids if the flow rate were fixed at 4 meters per second. Randall notes that "many pipes would overlap", owing to the fact that consumption of one item as corn syrup would be due to the production of one of the others, in this case club soda (another example, than the previous one which is actually mentioned in the comic, could be gasoline which is produced by petroleum ). |
− | + | As usual with xkcd, the absurdity -- and improbability -- of routing the entirety of each fluid through a single pipe at any point is the source of humor. In addition, some "fluids" shown are rather viscous (e.g. peanut butter, Silly Putty, meat), highly adhesive (e.g. maple syrup), thermally impractical (e.g. glass, cheese, ice cream and yogurt), or just plain zany (e.g. saliva a reference to another what if? {{what if|144|Saliva Pool}}). All substances are listed below in the [[#Table|table]]. | |
− | + | The title text refers to a possible future based on the idea of this comic in which all the pipes with the above mentioned fluids will actually lead into the same hole as shown in the top right panel. This hole will then be the bowl of a giant blender that mixes all these substances together to a toxic ''{{w|smoothie}}''. The future people will then just come up to this blender and get a bucket full of this mix each day. The resulting ''smoothie'', as it is, would be deadly to consume, as the largest part of it is petroleum and gasoline (except of course if the public water pipe also mixes into it. But it will probably still be lethal to drink). In the future, however, we would probably the have a house hold appliance, that separated the mix into the individual substances, so it would all make perfect sense then... or not! | |
− | + | In addition to the what if? article, the relevancy of pipelines, particularly regarding public water, is heightened due to the ongoing public health crisis in Flint, Michigan, caused by recent (mis-)management of their public water system.{{Citation needed}} Studies have shown that temporary use of the Flint River as a water source caused corrosive water to leach lead from old pipes, causing lead poisoning in many residents, particularly children; other ill effects in addition to lead have been noted. The crisis has lead to a public outcry against the state "emergency financial management" team appointed and supervised by the state executive (Gov. Rick Snyder and staff) and an outpouring of support from nearby communities such as Metro Detroit via bottled water donations to Flint residents. | |
− | + | Note: "Soup" has been left out, and it might have been expected in this comic due to the similarity to this system with [[Beret Guy|Beret Guy's]] use of a "soup outlet" as an entrepreneur in [[1293: Job Interview]]. It is probably a larger pipeline than salsa and possibly even ketchup. However, most soup is probably not bought finished, and this is a very good reason to not include it in the chart. But still the idea of having a soup outlet is very similar to this comic. | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | Note: "Soup" has been left out, and it might have been expected in this comic due to the similarity to this system with [[Beret Guy]] | ||
===Table=== | ===Table=== | ||
− | *All the substances are | + | *All the substances are listedv here in the "reading" order also used in the transcript. |
− | |||
− | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|+ All substances with size as found in the picture, vs. size calculated from public information | |+ All substances with size as found in the picture, vs. size calculated from public information | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | ! scope="col" | Substance | + | ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Substance |
! scope="col" | Size (cm) | ! scope="col" | Size (cm) | ||
− | ! scope="col" | | + | ! scope="col" | Calculated size (cm) |
− | ! scope="col" | Explanation | + | ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Explanation |
+ | |- | ||
+ | | colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| '''Actual size in chart''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Toothpaste}} | | {{w|Toothpaste}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Nail polish}} | | {{w|Nail polish}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Windshield washer fluid}} | | {{w|Windshield washer fluid}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Silly putty}} | | {{w|Silly putty}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Shampoo}} | | {{w|Shampoo}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Honey}} | | {{w|Honey}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Blood donation|Donated blood}} | | {{w|Blood donation|Donated blood}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Vanilla}} | | {{w|Vanilla}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Ketchup}} | | {{w|Ketchup}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Salsa (sauce)|Salsa}} | | {{w|Salsa (sauce)|Salsa}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Sunscreen}} | | {{w|Sunscreen}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Personal lubricant}} | | {{w|Personal lubricant}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | Aka Lube |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|LCD liquid}} | | {{w|LCD liquid}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Mayonnaise|Mayo}} | | {{w|Mayonnaise|Mayo}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | Or mayonnaise |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Printer ink}} | | {{w|Printer ink}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Maple syrup}} | | {{w|Maple syrup}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Hair conditioner|Conditioner}} | | {{w|Hair conditioner|Conditioner}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | For hair | + | | For hair |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Mustard (condiment)|Mustard}} | | {{w|Mustard (condiment)|Mustard}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Liquid soap}} | | {{w|Liquid soap}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Olive oil}} | | {{w|Olive oil}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
+ | |- | ||
+ | | colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| '''Not actual size in chart''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Coffee}} | | {{w|Coffee}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Peanut butter}} | | {{w|Peanut butter}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Ice cream}} | | {{w|Ice cream}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Cheese}} | | {{w|Cheese}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{w| | + | | {{w|Carbonated water|Soda}} |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | As in | + | | As in club soda |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Acetone}} | | {{w|Acetone}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Liquor}} | | {{w|Liquor}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Gasoline}} | | {{w|Gasoline}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Yogurt}} | | {{w|Yogurt}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Milk#Cow.27s_milk|Milk (cow)}} | | {{w|Milk#Cow.27s_milk|Milk (cow)}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Bottled water}} | | {{w|Bottled water}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Sugar}} | | {{w|Sugar}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Saliva}} | | {{w|Saliva}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Wine}} | | {{w|Wine}} | ||
− | | | + | | 23 |
− | | | + | | 20 |
− | | Americans drank just under [https://www.wineinstitute.org/resources/statistics/article86 900 million gallons of wine in 2014], or | + | | Americans drank just under [https://www.wineinstitute.org/resources/statistics/article86 900 million gallons of wine in 2014], or just over 4 million cubic metres per year meaning that Americans drink about 0.13 m<sup>3</sup>/s. With the pipe flowing at 4m/s this pipe must have an area of 320cm<sup>2</sup>. The radius of a pipe of area 320cm^2 is 10cm. The wine pipe should thus have a diameter of 20cm. |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|HFCS}} | | {{w|HFCS}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | High fructose corn syrup | + | | High fructose corn syrup |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Breast milk|Milk (human)}} | | {{w|Breast milk|Milk (human)}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Petroleum}} | | {{w|Petroleum}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Meat}} | | {{w|Meat}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Glass}} | | {{w|Glass}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Beer}} | | {{w|Beer}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Tea}} | | {{w|Tea}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Cement}} | | {{w|Cement}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Tap water|Public water}} | | {{w|Tap water|Public water}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|} | |} | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[Caption above the first main panel, to the left of a smaller panel to the right | + | :[Caption above the first main panel, to the left of a smaller panel to the right.] |
:<big>The size of the US’s</big> | :<big>The size of the US’s</big> | ||
:<big><big>'''Pipelines'''</big></big> | :<big><big>'''Pipelines'''</big></big> | ||
:<big>if each fluid produced or consumed in the US has to be carried by a single pipe</big> | :<big>if each fluid produced or consumed in the US has to be carried by a single pipe</big> | ||
:<font color="gray">Assuming they all flowed at the same speed of about 4<sup>m</sup><small>/</small><sub>s</sub></font> | :<font color="gray">Assuming they all flowed at the same speed of about 4<sup>m</sup><small>/</small><sub>s</sub></font> | ||
− | :<font color="gray">Note: Many pipelines would overlap (eg. soda/corn syrup)</font> | + | :<font color="gray">Note: Many pipelines would overlap (eg. '''soda'''/corn syrup)</font> |
:[There is a small panel to the right showing three gray pipes of different sizes leading out over a large hole in the ground. Only a part of the hole can be seen at the bottom left part of the panel, but it curves around indicating it is a large circular hole. The pipes are supported by small legs beneath them and from the end of all three thick liquids are squirting out and down into the hole. The first pipe is by far the largest; the liquid from it is white, but not as white as the background. The second pipe is by far the smallest squirting dark red liquid and the final rightmost pipe is in between and squirts our light brown liquid. Each pipe is labeled. The label on the smallest cannot be read properly, but from the info gained in the next panel it can be inferred for certain what it says (and this is indicated here below):] | :[There is a small panel to the right showing three gray pipes of different sizes leading out over a large hole in the ground. Only a part of the hole can be seen at the bottom left part of the panel, but it curves around indicating it is a large circular hole. The pipes are supported by small legs beneath them and from the end of all three thick liquids are squirting out and down into the hole. The first pipe is by far the largest; the liquid from it is white, but not as white as the background. The second pipe is by far the smallest squirting dark red liquid and the final rightmost pipe is in between and squirts our light brown liquid. Each pipe is labeled. The label on the smallest cannot be read properly, but from the info gained in the next panel it can be inferred for certain what it says (and this is indicated here below):] | ||
Line 270: | Line 267: | ||
:[Below is a large panel with a caption at the top. And below this there are twenty circles in different sizes and with different color (or even texture). Each circle is labeled, for the five smallest the label is outside, in one case with an arrow indicating where the label belongs. The rest has the label inside. The text is in black except for four of those with text inside, but with red of black color. Here the text is white. The labels are indicated by color and size, going roughly from top left in reading order based on the position and size of circles not of position of the text:] | :[Below is a large panel with a caption at the top. And below this there are twenty circles in different sizes and with different color (or even texture). Each circle is labeled, for the five smallest the label is outside, in one case with an arrow indicating where the label belongs. The rest has the label inside. The text is in black except for four of those with text inside, but with red of black color. Here the text is white. The labels are indicated by color and size, going roughly from top left in reading order based on the position and size of circles not of position of the text:] | ||
− | |||
:<big>Actual size </big> <font color="gray">(When viewed on a typical computer screen) </font> | :<big>Actual size </big> <font color="gray">(When viewed on a typical computer screen) </font> | ||
:[Medium green blue and white spiral]: Toothpaste | :[Medium green blue and white spiral]: Toothpaste | ||
Line 293: | Line 289: | ||
:[Big olive green]: Olive oil | :[Big olive green]: Olive oil | ||
− | :[The panel just described is indicated to fit into a small rectangle at the top left of the next panel below. There are four lines ending at the four corners of this small rectangle, two of these are going to the two bottom corners and the other two ends on the lower part of the panel just above the small rectangle. They are indicated to go under the panel and would hit the two top corners if extrapolated. The 11 largest circles are clearly seen, but most of the other circles can also be noted. The colors are the same but any features in the original circles as well as the labels are gone. The part of the black top frame of the next panel below is faded out to gray in between the section cut off by the two lines going to the bottom corners of the panel above. This rectangle indicated the increasing size compared to the first panel above.] | + | :[The panel just described is indicated to fit into a small rectangle at the top left of the next panel below. There are four lines ending at the four corners of this small rectangle, two of these are going to the two bottom corners and the other two ends on the lower part of the panel just above the small rectangle. They are indicated to go under the panel and would hit the two top corners if extrapolated). The 11 largest circles are clearly seen, but most of the other circles can also be noted. The colors are the same but any features in the original circles as well as the labels are gone. The part of the black top frame of the next panel below is faded out to gray in between the section cut off by the two lines going to the bottom corners of the panel above. This rectangle indicated the increasing size compared to the first panel above.] |
− | :[Apart from the insert mentioned above | + | :[Apart from the insert mentioned above the second panel follows the same layout, but with 22 circles with even larger range of sizes. The panel is more than twice as long as the first panel. A Megan-like girl, but with white hair, is drawn at the top of the panel just left of the middle. Her hair close to the top, just below the line going to the right corner above. There are two medium and five smaller circles to her left and one small close to her head and one huge circle to her right. Her feet are less than a third down this panel standing on top of the next row of circles. In the bottom half of the panel there is a giant circle which almost touches the left side of the panel. There are smaller circles above it and down along the right side. One last circle is to the left almost at the bottom. At the very bottom is a slightly curving line to indicate a much much larger blue circle that only graces the panel (no. 23). There is a small green fish in this water to the left of the label. Below the labels are again listed as above. One label has a foot note. But it is written directly beneath the circle in which it is referenced. So it will be written together with the label on the next line.] |
:[Medium dark gray]: Coffee | :[Medium dark gray]: Coffee | ||
Line 305: | Line 301: | ||
:[Tiny gray]: Liquor | :[Tiny gray]: Liquor | ||
:[Huge dark yellow]: Gasoline | :[Huge dark yellow]: Gasoline | ||
− | :[Tiny White with | + | :[Tiny White with black specks]: Yogurt |
:[Big white]: Milk (cow) | :[Big white]: Milk (cow) | ||
:[Large light blue]: Bottled water | :[Large light blue]: Bottled water | ||
Line 320: | Line 316: | ||
:[Small gray brown]: Tea | :[Small gray brown]: Tea | ||
:[Large gray]: Cement | :[Large gray]: Cement | ||
− | :[Gracing bottom of panel light blue | + | :[Gracing bottom of panel light blue]: Public water |
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
− | * | + | *Here below is a measurement of diameters/calculation of diameters performed by someone adding it as a special contriubution. This may be incorporated into a possible table? |
− | ** | + | *Actual size: (Diameters Listed) - Someone check my numbers! |
− | + | **Toothpaste: 35mm | |
− | ** | + | **Nail Polish: 5mm |
− | * | + | **Windsheild washer fluid: 60mm |
− | ** | + | **Silly Putty: 2mm |
− | ** | + | **Shampoo: 40mm |
− | ** | + | **Honey: 50mm |
− | ** | + | **Donated Blood: 10mm |
− | + | **Vanilla: 5mm | |
− | + | **Personal Lubricant: 7mm | |
− | + | **Sunscreen: 14mm | |
+ | **Mayo: 45mm | ||
+ | **Printer Ink: 13mm | ||
+ | **Maple Syrup: 18mm | ||
+ | **Ketchup: 55mm | ||
+ | **Salsa: 36mm | ||
+ | **LCD Liquid: 3mm | ||
+ | **Conditioner: 25mm | ||
+ | **Mustard: 38mm | ||
+ | **Liquid Soap: 50mm | ||
+ | **Olive Oil: 62mm | ||
+ | *Not Actual Size: (Testing the scaling using the entire rectangle vs. the top panel reveals a 20:1 scaling. This will make the girl 180 cm high - not unrealistic. The gas pipe next to her will then be 220 cm. The numbers below are given in cm after this scaling has been applied. The measurements have not been tested, just used the ones from before with a wrong 25:1 scaling and rounded to nearest cm.) | ||
+ | **Coffee 60 cm | ||
+ | **Peanut Butter 10 cm | ||
+ | **Cheese 38 cm | ||
+ | **Ice Cream 20 cm | ||
+ | **Acetone 24 cm | ||
+ | **Gasoline 220 cm | ||
+ | **Liquor 16 cm | ||
+ | **Soda 82 cm | ||
+ | **Yogurt 18 cm | ||
+ | **Milk (cow) 110 cm | ||
+ | **Bottled Water 72 cm | ||
+ | **Sugar 41 cm | ||
+ | **Saliva 86 cm | ||
+ | **Wine 20 cm | ||
+ | **HFCS 21 cm | ||
+ | **Milk (human) 12 cm | ||
+ | **Petroleum 324 cm | ||
+ | **Meat 60 cm | ||
+ | **Glass 26 cm | ||
+ | **Beer 36 cm | ||
+ | **Cement 80 cm | ||
+ | **Tea 42 cm | ||
+ | **Public Water 6673 cm | ||
+ | ***This calculation used the erroneous 25:1 scaling. The 83.4m has been used as above to reach 66.7m listed here above. But if the numbers used here below where wrong, then the calculation may be wrong in other ways that what a simple scaling can determine. The signature belongs to the first to enter these values. Once they are checked they could be useful in a table for the explanation. | ||
+ | ****Pipe has a rise of 75mm over span of 5m. Per the formula given [http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/564058/calculate-the-radius-of-a-circle-given-the-chord-length-and-height-of-a-segment here], the diameter should be 83.408m. Rounding to sig figs above gives 83.41m | ||
+ | ****This has not been verified - just me with a taper measure on the computer screen. Additional help would be appreciated. --[Special:Contributions/188.114.106.47|188.114.106.47] 19:59, 29 February 2016 (UTC) | ||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:Comics with color]] | [[Category:Comics with color]] | ||
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[[Category:Charts]] | [[Category:Charts]] | ||
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[[Category:Food]] | [[Category:Food]] | ||
− | [[Category:Animals]] | + | [[Category:Animals]] <!--Fish in the water--> |