Eratosthenes the Cyrene, geographer, chief librarian of the Library of Alexandria, visits Bonneville Salt Flats
Bonneville Salt Flats Raceway is situated on the famous Bonneville Salt Flats. Gary Gabelich piloted his rocket-propelled Blue Flame here to 622.407 mph.
Due to annual flooding, the Raceway remains nearly perfectly “flat.” However, the Raceway nearly perfectly conforms to the curvature of the Earth. The precisely measured mile—all 5,280 feet—is groomed to be perfectly smooth.
A meter stick stands vertically at one end of the measured mile. A telescope rests horizontally at ground level at the opposite end of that mile. The telescope focuses on the lowest measurement visible above the horizon.
The earth’s radius at Bonneville, including local elevation, is 6,370,363 meters. A statute mile is 1609.347 meters. The 100 cm mark is at the top of the vertical meter stick; zero cm at the bottom.
Find the lowest measure, in centimeters, that can be read through the telescope.
A correct answer received at [email protected] could win a Tucker’s gift card.
Last week’s winner was Doug Bailey with area of the inscribed circle = π.
(Use of AI to solve this problem is strictly prohibited.)
Jeff Smith is a former Math teacher and a retired US Navy Lieutenant Commander. Reach him at [email protected].
