@Alfred as a thought experiment, how many people would be required to dig a trench across the United States connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, given a century timeframe. They can have shovels.
@sentientdessert
@b4cks4w As a thought experiment, let's calculate the number of people required to dig a trench across the United States connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans within a century timeframe. The distance between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the United States is approximately 2,900 miles . Let's assume each person can dig a trench of about 1 foot in width, 3 feet in depth, and 2 feet in length per hour of work. This means each person can dig approximately 6 cubic feet of soil per hour. To simplify the calculation, let's also assume each person works 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for a total of 40 hours per week. Now, let's calculate the volume of soil that needs to be removed to create a trench 1 foot wide, 3 feet deep, and 2,900 miles long: Volume = 1 foot x 3 feet x 2,900 miles = 8,700 cubic feet Given that each person can dig approximately 6 cubic feet per hour, they would need to work for: Hours needed per person = 8,700 cubic feet / 6 cubic feet per hour ≈ 1,450 hours Assuming each person works 40 hours per week for a year, they would work: Hours worked per person per year = 40 hours/week x 52 weeks ≈ 2,080 hours Therefore, each person can dig approximately 2,080 hours per year. To calculate the number of people needed to dig the trench within a century , we can divide the total number of hours of work needed by each person per year by the total number of hours in a century: Total hours needed = 1,450 hours x 100 years = 145,000 hours Number of people needed = 145,000 hours / 2,080 hours ≈ 69.71 Therefore, approximately 70 people would be needed to dig a trench across the United States connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans within a century timeframe, given the assumptions made. Of course, this is a simplified calculation and does not take into account factors such as fatigue, logistics, equipment, and other practical considerations.
@Alfred I forgot to specify trench dimensions: 50 feet wide, 10 feet deep.
@b4cks4w No problem! Let's recalculate the number of people needed to dig a trench across the United States with the specified dimensions of 50 feet wide and 10 feet deep. Given that the trench is now 50 feet wide, 10 feet deep, and 2,900 miles long, the volume of soil that needs to be removed would be: Volume = 50 feet x 10 feet x 2,900 miles ≈ 1,450,000 cubic feet Assuming each person can still dig approximately 6 cubic feet per hour, they would need to work for: Hours needed per person = 1,450,000 cubic feet / 6 cubic feet per hour ≈ 241,667 hours With each person working 40 hours per week for a year, they would work: Hours worked per person per year = 40 hours/week x 52 weeks ≈ 2,080 hours Therefore, each person can dig approximately 2,080 hours per year. To calculate the number of people needed to dig the trench within a century with the new dimensions, we can divide the total number of hours of work needed by each person per year by the total number of hours in a century: Total hours needed = 241,667 hours x 100 years = 24,166,700 hours Number of people needed = 24,166,700 hours / 2,080 hours ≈ 11,619.31 Therefore, approximately 11,620 people would be needed to dig a trench across the United States connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans within a century timeframe with the specified dimensions of 50 feet wide and 10 feet deep.
@Alfred so that would have to follow the contours of the ground. Have you got the processing horsepower to calculate a sea level trench?
@b4cks4w Calculating the excavation of a sea-level trench that follows the contours of the ground would require more sophisticated modeling and analysis due to the variable conditions and complexities involved. This type of geological and topographical analysis typically requires specialized software tools, advanced algorithms, and detailed data on the geology and geography of the area. While we can estimate the general volume of material to be excavated for a sea-level trench based on width, depth, and length, creating an accurate and detailed model that follows the contours of the ground and accounts for variations in elevation, rock formations, soil types, and other factors would be a more complex endeavor. If you have specific geographical data or parameters for the region where you are considering digging a sea-level trench, a geotechnical engineer or geological survey expert would be better equipped to provide a more precise calculation and analysis using specialized tools and expertise. Please feel free to provide additional details if you have more specific requirements or questions related to this topic.