November 20, 2008: Whole Lotta Hole

xoxoxoBruce · 11-20-2008, 12:31 AM

Just like getting a BJ from grandma... don't look down.

Quote:

Hold on to your specs while peering down here. You'd have a long climb to the bottom if they fell off.
This rocky chasm in China is one of the world's deepest underground shafts. It stretches down for an astonishing 3,100ft, or 1,026 metres.
An international team of cave explorers who discovered the cave, near the village of Tian Xing, are seen descending into the abyss.

Quote:

The picture was taken by photographer Robert Shone, 28, of Manchester, who spent two months with the climbers documenting-their explorations. Camping underground for four to five days at a time, the team were able to explore the extensive network of caves and tunnels.Though unimaginably deep, the Chinese caves are actually dwarfed by others across the globe.
The world's deepest cave is Krubera in Georgia, which is 6,822ft deep (2,080 metres), followed by Lamprechtsofen in Austria (5,354ft or 1,631 metres) and Gouffre Mirolda in France (5,335ft or 1,626 metres).

Link

Kolbenfresser · 11-20-2008, 03:35 AM

Amazing. I'm gonna start a second career as a cave explorer right away.
Is this the cave where the Chinese Government dumps all the executed people? It shouldn't be that deep anymore...

ZenGum · 11-20-2008, 04:43 AM

Should we tell Sheldon there is a giant vertical shaft in the IotD?

I just did some calculations, and if I got them right, if you tossed a stone into that shaft it would take 14.5 seconds to hit the bottom. There would be another three seconds before the sound reached you back at the top.
When it hit it would have been doing 510 kph (317mph) less wind resistance.

Sheldonrs · 11-20-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Should we tell Sheldon there is a giant vertical shaft in the IotD?...

I've been aware of you for some time. ;-)

HungLikeJesus · 11-20-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Should we tell Sheldon there is a giant vertical shaft in the IotD?

I just did some calculations, and if I got them right, if you tossed a stone into that shaft it would take 14.5 seconds to hit the bottom. There would be another three seconds before the sound reached you back at the top.
When it hit it would have been doing 510 kph (317mph) less wind resistance.

I got slightly different numbers, but I didn't account for bouncing off the walls on the way down.

footfootfoot · 11-20-2008, 09:53 AM

I thought terminal velocity was around 200mph?

sweetwater · 11-20-2008, 09:57 AM

Obviously the work of a big Horta with locomotion difficulties.

glatt · 11-20-2008, 10:00 AM

It's really cool how smooth/straight that hole is. I'm no geologist. There's probably some simple explanation for how it was formed, but I can't imagine what that would be.

barefoot serpent · 11-20-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

There's probably some simple explanation for how it was formed, but I can't imagine what that would be.

Limestone rock (soluble) + water (slightly acidic) + time (millions of years) = karst topography

footfootfoot · 11-20-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

It's really cool how smooth/straight that hole is. I'm no geologist. There's probably some simple explanation for how it was formed, but I can't imagine what that would be.

Tunnelling like that is usually caused by small clumps of baking soda or baking powder which weren't properly sifted. That is why it is important to sift all your dry ingredients, especially if they are clumpy.

lumberjim · 11-20-2008, 10:02 AM

THIS THING:

Cicero · 11-20-2008, 10:16 AM

I just want to throw a hot dog down there. Zen can calculate it for me. And Sheldon could laff.

Cloud · 11-20-2008, 10:37 AM

spelunking will NOT appear in my obituary

Sheldonrs · 11-20-2008, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

spelunking will NOT appear in my obituary

But "Horrendous personal pleasuring device accident' will.

footfootfoot · 11-20-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheldonrs

But "Horrendous personal pleasuring device accident' will.

You can't really dust astroglide for fingerprints, can you?

11-20-2008, 03:35 AM	#2
Kolbenfresser Wiseacre Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Good old Germany Posts: 35	Amazing. I'm gonna start a second career as a cave explorer right away. Is this the cave where the Chinese Government dumps all the executed people? It shouldn't be that deep anymore... __________________ In cauda venenum.

11-20-2008, 04:43 AM	#3
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Should we tell Sheldon there is a giant vertical shaft in the IotD? I just did some calculations, and if I got them right, if you tossed a stone into that shaft it would take 14.5 seconds to hit the bottom. There would be another three seconds before the sound reached you back at the top. When it hit it would have been doing 510 kph (317mph) less wind resistance. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

11-20-2008, 09:53 AM	#6
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	I thought terminal velocity was around 200mph? __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

11-20-2008, 09:57 AM	#7
sweetwater lives inside a Mobius strip Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,120	Obviously the work of a big Horta with locomotion difficulties. __________________ I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque! - Bugs Bunny

11-20-2008, 10:02 AM	#11
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	THIS THING: __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

11-20-2008, 10:00 AM	#8
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	It's really cool how smooth/straight that hole is. I'm no geologist. There's probably some simple explanation for how it was formed, but I can't imagine what that would be.

11-20-2008, 10:16 AM	#12
Cicero Looking forward to open mic night. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,148	I just want to throw a hot dog down there. Zen can calculate it for me. And Sheldon could laff. __________________ Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.- Carl Jung

11-20-2008, 10:37 AM	#13
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	spelunking will NOT appear in my obituary __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

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