4 ms·
> enormously massive objects moving very slowly messes with human perception and "common sense" Yes, hence warnings to amateur boat users (e.g. on a canal boat
by KineticLensman 3y ago
> enormously massive objects moving very slowly messes with human perception and "common sense"
Yes, hence warnings to amateur boat users (e.g. on a canal boat) not to try to stop a collision with the bank using your arms or legs.
[Edit] Boats can also do things that are unintuitive if you are used to driving a car. E.g. turning round the centre of gravity when you steer rather than following the front wheels.
- smogcutter 3y agoIn the black powder era of warfare, soldiers were given similar warnings about “slowly” rolling cannonballs. People would think they could stop them like soccer balls, and lose a foot.
- bmelton 3y agoThere are similar warnings for sailing vessels, but because the standing rigging of the ship is usually kept in high enough tension that putting your hands on a pilon to stop a collision might leave your hands vulnerable to being cut off by a mainsail's shrouds.
- KineticLensman 3y agoOuch! That reminded me of seeing someone get a rope burn from a line on a yacht. I always wear gloves when handling lines on a boat nowadays.