[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Physics question

[Jon Dreyer]

2^10 is about 1000, so 2^50 would be about (2^10)^5 which is about 
1000^5 or 10^15.

A ream of paper is 500 sheets and about 2" high so 1000 sheets would be 
4" high so each sheet is 4*10^-3 high. Multiplying that by 10^15, which 
is the number of thicknesses of paper, we get 4*10^12". To convert to 
miles, divide by 12*5280, which is a bit more than 5*10^4, so we get 
somewhat less than 10^8 miles. An astronomical unit (Earth-Sun distance) 
is around 93,000,000 miles (I can still hear my dad's voice telling me 
that when I'm still a little kid) or about 10^8. So the stack of paper 
would approximately reach the Sun, way farther than the moon.

Checking my work, the height of the paper would be

(2**50)*(4*10.0**(-3))/(12*5280)
=> 71079539.57339798

which is indeed the same order of magnitude as an astronomical unit. Of 
course the mass of that folded stack of paper would be so huge that we'd 
have crashed into the Sun, or vice versa. So kids, don't try this at home!

-- 

Jon "Overshoot The Moon" Dreyer
Math Tutor/Computer Science Tutor <http://www.passionatelycurious.com>
Jon Dreyer Music <http://music.jondreyer.com>

On 9/27/23 1:04 PM, Steve Parus via LCTG wrote:
> The change in diameter is equal to the change in circumference divided 
> by pi.
>
> Another one: if a piece of paper is repeatedly folded in half 50 
> times, would its thickness reach the moon?
>
> Steve Parus
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