[Roger1998]

I am new to this site, and the FAQ are relatively vague in terms of the information I would like to know.
Could anyone answer these questions?
1. How many people believe the Earth is flat?
2. The idea that the world is spherical has predated NASA, so surely they didn't start that theory. If they didn't, who did?
Thanks

[aninterestedparty]

I believe that a greek philosopher named Eratosthenes did the dual stick experiment ( not sure when ).
He planted two sticks, one in cyene, one in Alexandria. The difference in shadows was taken to mean that the earth is round.
FE theorists claim that this claim can be explained with a flat earth, in that the sun is only a few thousand miles above the earth. This is a little of topic, but why do FE theorists keep using miles and feet. This isn't very scientific.
And this is another indicator of the americans in the society.

[Pete Svarrior]

This is a little of topic, but why do FE theorists keep using miles and feet. This isn't very scientific.

Primarily for historical reasons.

[aninterestedparty]

conversions are off limits, huh

[Rushy]

Actually, it's funny, but the fastest way for someone to broadcast that they aren't in any scientific field (or at the very least, have yet to exit a university) is to complain that people aren't using the metric system. In most fields, especially engineering, the imperial and metric system are used side by side, as the most broadly standardized unit in a field is always used, which could easily be metric, imperial, or some horrific mix of both. The only people who are truly anal about using the metric system also happen to be the people who probably don't use most of it anyway.

[markjo]

In most fields, especially engineering...

Engineering is not science.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/tech-careers/engineering-is-not-science

[juner]

In most fields, especially engineering...

Engineering is not science.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/tech-careers/engineering-is-not-science

Yes, that opinion piece surely proves you are correct.

[Roger1998]

Thanks for the help

[aninterestedparty]

Actually, it's funny, but the fastest way for someone to broadcast that they aren't in any scientific field (or at the very least, have yet to exit a university) is to complain that people aren't using the metric system. In most fields, especially engineering, the imperial and metric system are used side by side, as the most broadly standardized unit in a field is always used, which could easily be metric, imperial, or some horrific mix of both. The only people who are truly anal about using the metric system also happen to be the people who probably don't use most of it anyway.

I'm sorry, but which countries use the imperial system again?
Australia might not exist, but we still do not use this system, in any field.

[markjo]

In most fields, especially engineering...

Engineering is not science.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/tech-careers/engineering-is-not-science

Yes, that opinion piece surely proves you are correct.

Well, how can I argue with that?

[Rushy]

I'm sorry, but which countries use the imperial system again?
Australia might not exist, but we still do not use this system, in any field.

I highly doubt that Australia, even if such a place existed, would ignore an industry standard solely because that standard is in imperial units. Unless you're claiming that such a place manufactures 100% of it's own materials, then you should heavily weigh your own statement and realize that you have no real basis for the claims you just made. I will go as far as to assert that you don't work in any industry, much less all of them simultaneously.

[aninterestedparty]

I'm sorry, but which countries use the imperial system again?
Australia might not exist, but we still do not use this system, in any field.

I highly doubt that Australia, even if such a place existed, would ignore an industry standard solely because that standard is in imperial units. Unless you're claiming that such a place manufactures 100% of it's own materials, then you should heavily weigh your own statement and realize that you have no real basis for the claims you just made. I will go as far as to assert that you don't work in any industry, much less all of them simultaneously.

Big words.
Have you been living under a rock, or have you just stopped for one second and looked at the world?
Most countries in the world use the metric system you ignorant asshole.
My basis for this claim is the fact that i live here. What industry do you work in?
And remember, being an asshole isn't a real industry.

[Roger1998]

None of that please,I simply wanted answers

[Tintagel]

In most fields, especially engineering...

Engineering is not science.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/tech-careers/engineering-is-not-science

Confirmed: Markjo is actually Sheldon Cooper.

[jroa]

The stick experiment does not prove the Earth is round.  I simply gives you the size of the Earth if you first assume the Earth is round.