5 ms·

Numberphile made a video on this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OuF-WB7mD6k https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OuF-WB7mD6k However, I tried doing this many times, b

Numberphile made a video on this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OuF-WB7mD6k https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OuF-WB7mD6k However, I tried doing this many times, but it was hardly ever successful.

ranie93 7y ago
most likely due to the caveats I assume: "Two caveats. This only works for a table with equal legs, where the wobble is caused by an uneven floor. If the table has uneven legs, you probably need the folded napkin. Also, the floor can be bumpy but has to be free of steps" Spherical cows rearing their ugly heads once again
- SAI_Peregrinus 7y ago
  It also requires a table with multiple legs, instead of a single pillar table (common outdoors). If the top->pillar->base connection chain has a weak point that's wobbly no amount of rotation or napkins will fix it.
- thfuran 7y ago
  How does that work? I guess the sphere just expands?
  - zentiggr 7y ago
    Old physics joke about using approximations to model a farming problem... "Start with a spherical cow in vacuum, ..."
    - twic 7y ago
      thfuran's comment extends the joke by inquiring how a cow might raise its head while being a perfect sphere.
      - zentiggr 7y ago
        Gotcha - 'rearing their ugly heads'... I should slow down and think the thread through every now and then lol
hinkley 7y ago
> This only works for a table with equal legs Which is bullshit because tables in a public space are abused. I think the proof forgets that legs A and C are locked in a struggle over being on the ground. There is no guarantee that C is still on the ground when A touches. I've had a great deal of luck getting the table to wobble less by turning it, but have also met with infrequent success. And square tables are more constrained to orientation.
- Kaibeezy 7y ago
  For decades, I have been well known among my colleagues, friends and family for rotating tables any time there’s even the slightest wobble, not giving up until the deed is done, and nearly always doing so successfully unless a leg is clearly missing its foot. Most of them tolerate it.
- jonplackett 7y ago
  This was my thought too. The other legs don’t just stay the same as you turn it. What if one of them is now off the ground or too far into the ground?
  - hinkley 7y ago
    Isn't this a topology problem? On an uneven surface, are there always 4 points that define a square of sides length x that are always [in the same plane]? That has to be no, right?

Numberphile made a video on this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OuF-WB7mD6k https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OuF-WB7mD6k However, I tried doing this many times, but it was hardly ever successful.

ranie93 7y ago

most likely due to the caveats I assume: "Two caveats. This only works for a table with equal legs, where the wobble is caused by an uneven floor. If the table has uneven legs, you probably need the folded napkin. Also, the floor can be bumpy but has to be free of steps" Spherical cows rearing their ugly heads once again

SAI_Peregrinus 7y ago
It also requires a table with multiple legs, instead of a single pillar table (common outdoors). If the top->pillar->base connection chain has a weak point that's wobbly no amount of rotation or napkins will fix it.
thfuran 7y ago
How does that work? I guess the sphere just expands?
- zentiggr 7y ago
  Old physics joke about using approximations to model a farming problem... "Start with a spherical cow in vacuum, ..."
  - twic 7y ago
    thfuran's comment extends the joke by inquiring how a cow might raise its head while being a perfect sphere.
    - zentiggr 7y ago
      Gotcha - 'rearing their ugly heads'... I should slow down and think the thread through every now and then lol

hinkley 7y ago

> This only works for a table with equal legs Which is bullshit because tables in a public space are abused. I think the proof forgets that legs A and C are locked in a struggle over being on the ground. There is no guarantee that C is still on the ground when A touches. I've had a great deal of luck getting the table to wobble less by turning it, but have also met with infrequent success. And square tables are more constrained to orientation.

Kaibeezy 7y ago
For decades, I have been well known among my colleagues, friends and family for rotating tables any time there’s even the slightest wobble, not giving up until the deed is done, and nearly always doing so successfully unless a leg is clearly missing its foot. Most of them tolerate it.
jonplackett 7y ago
This was my thought too. The other legs don’t just stay the same as you turn it. What if one of them is now off the ground or too far into the ground?
- hinkley 7y ago
  Isn't this a topology problem? On an uneven surface, are there always 4 points that define a square of sides length x that are always [in the same plane]? That has to be no, right?