undefined | Better HN

0 pointsmlyle3y ago0 comments

It's a joke. The sig figs at the end is a clue, along with complete physical implausibility.

((1 mm)^2) * 1 gram * (((183 339 * 2 * pi) / second)^2) = 1 326.99551 joules

It would have 1300J of rotational energy if there was only 1 gram of spinning mass at 1 mm distance.

0 comments

1 comments · 1 top-level

Not just the sigfigs, the juxtaposition of the word "about" with the excessive sigfigs. Combining a word indicating imprecision with excessive sigfigs is a very common American idiom to convey exaggeration. (Probably other places too, but I don't have firsthand experience with them.)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse