3 ms·

Fun fact, all real islands are islands of infinite coastline due to the fractal nature of natural coastlines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastline_paradox h

• hrnnnnnn 4y ago
  If there's a minimum length (the Planck length?) then space is discrete and the measurement bottoms out at some point, it would be infinite if space was continuous and infinitely divisible.
  • causi 4y ago
    Bingo. There are a finite number of atoms in a coastline therefore there is a finite length. I suspect the calculus to derive it isn't even all that hard.
    • hutzlibu 4y ago
      "There are a finite number of atoms in a coastline" And atoms do not consist of smaller parts?
      • causi 4y ago
        There are also a finite number of quarks.
        • hutzlibu 4y ago
          Maybe. So can you meassure it then?
      • int_19h 4y ago
        Do quarks even meaningfully have a position "inside" the atom?
  • hutzlibu 4y ago
    "If there's a minimum length (the Planck length?) then space is discrete " "The Planck length is the scale at which classical ideas about gravity and space-time cease to be valid, and quantum effects dominate. " (https://www.physlink.com/education/askexperts/ae281.cfm https://www.physlink.com/education/askexperts/ae281.cfm) This does not say, that space is discrete, it says that our concept of space does not make sense anymore at sizes that small.