Wouldn't it be cool if, instead, it was connected to earth by a ridiculously long insulated wire? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_strength http://en.wiki

Wouldn't it be cool if, instead, it was connected to earth by a ridiculously long insulated wire? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_strength http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_strength Another way to quote specific strength is breaking length, also known as self support length: the maximum length of a vertical column of the material (assuming a fixed cross-section) that could suspend its own weight when supported only at the top. For this measurement, the definition of weight is the force of gravity at the earth's surface applying to the entire length of the material, not diminishing with height. According to that article, the breaking length of steel is 26 miles, of kevlar 256 miles, and of carbon nanotube 4,716 miles.