Editing 2800: Down
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It is possible to redefine "down" by choosing a different point of reference, such as the center of a ''different'' planet, which is the situation shown in this comic. We see [[Megan]] seated at a desk, which would be perfectly normal if not for the fact that the scene is shown at a completely unnatural, almost upside-down angle. Megan explains to [[Cueball]] that the direction of "down" was redefined to be relative to {{w|Mars}} instead of Earth. Since Mars is located in space many millions of miles away, this means that "down" could potentially be in almost any direction. | It is possible to redefine "down" by choosing a different point of reference, such as the center of a ''different'' planet, which is the situation shown in this comic. We see [[Megan]] seated at a desk, which would be perfectly normal if not for the fact that the scene is shown at a completely unnatural, almost upside-down angle. Megan explains to [[Cueball]] that the direction of "down" was redefined to be relative to {{w|Mars}} instead of Earth. Since Mars is located in space many millions of miles away, this means that "down" could potentially be in almost any direction. | ||
β | Redefining down to be relative to Mars would be impractical for people on Earth, | + | Redefining down to be relative to Mars would be impractical for people on Earth, as Mars is constantly moving with respect to Earth; this means that the direction of down will drift over time. Additionally, as Earth rotates once per day, the direction of down would also experience a 24-hour periodic wobble. It would be very difficult to keep track of this constantly-changing direction. Setting down relative to Earth's center avoids these problems (at least for beings on Earth!), as the Earth's center is static in relation to the motion and rotation of Earth. |
Megan does not explain who exactly redefined down, or why they have the authority to do so, but it is most likely some scientific body such as the {{w|International Astronomical Union}} or the {{w|General Conference on Weights and Measures}}, which have the power to make such decisions - for example, the IAU defined planet and {{w|dwarf planet}} in 2006, and the GCWM redefined the {{w|kilogram}} in 2018. In reality, in addition to there being no governing body which determines the direction of down, such definitions are made only when there is compelling reason to, and they work hard to minimize the changes. (For example, the redefinition of the kilogram was done in order to ''prevent'' the mass of the kilogram from changing in the future by attaching it to physical constants.) Nonetheless, in the world shown in this comic, redefining 'down' appears to happen frequently enough for Cueball to be frustrated but not fazed by it. | Megan does not explain who exactly redefined down, or why they have the authority to do so, but it is most likely some scientific body such as the {{w|International Astronomical Union}} or the {{w|General Conference on Weights and Measures}}, which have the power to make such decisions - for example, the IAU defined planet and {{w|dwarf planet}} in 2006, and the GCWM redefined the {{w|kilogram}} in 2018. In reality, in addition to there being no governing body which determines the direction of down, such definitions are made only when there is compelling reason to, and they work hard to minimize the changes. (For example, the redefinition of the kilogram was done in order to ''prevent'' the mass of the kilogram from changing in the future by attaching it to physical constants.) Nonetheless, in the world shown in this comic, redefining 'down' appears to happen frequently enough for Cueball to be frustrated but not fazed by it. |