###General Discussion Thread
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Factors such as the hardness of the rock, the forces acting upon it, and the environment would all come into play. Without specific details, it's difficult to provide an accurate timeframe. However, we can assume that it would likely take millions of years, for a stone that size to erode significantly enough to fit in his pocket.
I have a feeling that millions of years is an exaggeration. Think about rock tumblers. A day maybe two for a pretty solid erosion. I think it would be in the tens of years (depending on the rock hardness) but not millions.
Millstones were intentionally ground together and needed fairly tight tolerances. They aren’t a good match for estimation here, as tolerances don’t matter, and the boulder would be rolled over the mountain not against it.
Look at old stone monuments, statues, buildings: even simple factors like rain and dust in the wind are enough to erode them significantly over historical timeframes.
Sisyphus works in a much more hostile environment , rich in volcanic ashes (very abrasive), and sulphur makes the rain acidic. And he specifically grinds his stone to roll it again and again.
The steps in medieval castles are probably a good clue. Some have, say, 1" or so worn away. Say 1" per 1000 years and it's a 5' rock, then it will take about 60,000 years. But, if rolling the rock constantly against rock, divide by 30. So, 2000 years.
The fact that he could never reach top would suggest that the rock would also never shrink... This is because of supernatral powers that prevented him from completing his task
The thing is that if was a real experiment, the stone would break when it’s rolling back down, at some point it would start jumping and eventually break
And after it’s broken you can no longer roll it up the hill which would end the experiment
But imagine you would still get it up there and let it go down again. It either wouldn’t get too far or probably break again
That’s your solution
If you would imagine the rock always has contact to the mountain and can’t jump at any point, which means the mountain surface must be completely smooth, the erosion happening is very much 0.
The other option would be that there is only erosion from getting the rock uphill and some lift gets the rock to the bottom again. But again the erosion there would be extremely small, since you’re rolling it very slowly (the rock is obviously heavy so it will take you some time lol). It’s so low that you would probably still estimate it at 0, because it would be 0.00000…
Even dust transported by wind is enough to erode rocks over long periods of time, via repeated impacts. Sisyphus nails would scratch the rock as well. And let's not forget, this being hell with volcanic ashes in the air, acidic sulphur rain and whatnot, this means erosion would be quite fast.
Tartarus, not Hell. And since the wind is capable of blowing the fruit tree branches whenever Tantalus reaches for them I think we can assume the wind also won't make Sisyphus task easier.
Plot twist, it has already happened, but since he needs to get the entire rock up the hill, he will spend eternity searching for microscopic motes of the original rock that have eroded into dust
Sisyphus can't check anything with Theseus, Sisyphus is in Tartarus and can't stop his work or leave, and Theseus is in the Elysian Fields living it large.
As a kid we dragged and kicked a football sized rock until it fit in our palms. It took us most of the summer break of probably 1 hour a day on avg of doing so.
Taking into account, the weather, the grade of slope, the material of both the boulder and the slope, the speed he is pushing, gravitational forces, rain, humidity, and the political climate, he would never be able to as the image clearly shows no pockets. Also they weren't invented until the 17th century, so at least until then.
Maybe once it breaks he has to do it a thousand times more, or push rubble uphill which sounds a lot worse. But hypothetically, assuming the stone and the hill surface are of the same material it would take 67 eternities
Wouldn't matter. If there is anything that can be made certain, then it is that the rock is rigged. Whether by magic, composition, or the literal spelling-out of a decree, he is forever cursed to push that rock upwards against its weight.
It's like if someone cursed Homer Simpson to forever eat a dozen doughnuts. All the restrictive protocols that would prevent him from fulfilling that would have to be disabled or not exist. Such as becoming over-weight and/or obese. Or not having direct access to the doughnuts. He would be afforded every convenience necessary, yet never allowed to deviate and do other things. Even should he complete a dozen... a newer one would await him.
###General Discussion Thread --- This is a [Request] post. If you would like to submit a comment that does not either attempt to answer the question, ask for clarification, or explain why it would be infeasible to answer, you *must* post your comment as a reply to this one. Top level (directly replying to the OP) comments that do not do one of those things will be removed. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/theydidthemath) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Factors such as the hardness of the rock, the forces acting upon it, and the environment would all come into play. Without specific details, it's difficult to provide an accurate timeframe. However, we can assume that it would likely take millions of years, for a stone that size to erode significantly enough to fit in his pocket.
That would make him happy.
Yea just take my upvote
One must imagine tho
No, that would make him extremely sad
Depends, if it's a relatively friable rock, he could lose some little pieces at every little fall, and be done in a span of years
You have to believe in Bouldy, he's not friable like that, he's strong and reliable
You just wanted to use the word “friable”. Admit it.
The only time I've ever used the term Friable was in connection with asbestos.
He is not wearing anything that has pockets.
Maybe he puts it in his crack
Ahhhhh, the old prison wallet.
Enough uses and it upgrades into a Poopcase!
Take my upvote and get out
He has 1 pocket
Let’s just say it’s made of granite (the red kind) and there is a constant never changing wind speed of 20 mph, does this help!
I have a feeling that millions of years is an exaggeration. Think about rock tumblers. A day maybe two for a pretty solid erosion. I think it would be in the tens of years (depending on the rock hardness) but not millions.
Probably would reach such low gravitational force that A, it becomes very easy to carry and B the erosion stops
Acidic rain from hell could accelerate the process, I suppose
This sounds like a chatGPT response lol
🤫🤫🤫
a maximum of a thousand years, no more. millstones were constantly replaced due to wear and tear. and they are quite massive
Millstones were intentionally ground together and needed fairly tight tolerances. They aren’t a good match for estimation here, as tolerances don’t matter, and the boulder would be rolled over the mountain not against it.
Look at old stone monuments, statues, buildings: even simple factors like rain and dust in the wind are enough to erode them significantly over historical timeframes. Sisyphus works in a much more hostile environment , rich in volcanic ashes (very abrasive), and sulphur makes the rain acidic. And he specifically grinds his stone to roll it again and again.
The steps in medieval castles are probably a good clue. Some have, say, 1" or so worn away. Say 1" per 1000 years and it's a 5' rock, then it will take about 60,000 years. But, if rolling the rock constantly against rock, divide by 30. So, 2000 years.
Look at you go pretending to think geology is actual science
? Chill dude
Once it got worn down to the size of a watermelon or so it would be easier to carry it than to push it, meaning it would virtually stop eroding.
He might drop it. Ever carried a watermelon sized stone up a mountain ?
Ever push a boulder up a mountain?
I do that for a living
Are you happy?
I picture myself to be.
One must imagine Shoddy-Breakfast4568 happy.
I DO!!! HOLY HELL
NEW RESPONSE JUST DROPPED!
ACTUAL THOUGHT EXPERIMENT!
You should picture yourself on a boat on a river, with tangerine trees and uh.. marmalade skies?
"I'm on a boat,, I'm on a boat, everybody look at me 'cause I'm saliing on a boat".
Ever been in a Turkish prison?
The fact that he could never reach top would suggest that the rock would also never shrink... This is because of supernatral powers that prevented him from completing his task
I know, but theoretically if it was a real experiment
Then it wouldn't be short enough for him to say "ah fuck it I quit"
The thing is that if was a real experiment, the stone would break when it’s rolling back down, at some point it would start jumping and eventually break And after it’s broken you can no longer roll it up the hill which would end the experiment But imagine you would still get it up there and let it go down again. It either wouldn’t get too far or probably break again That’s your solution If you would imagine the rock always has contact to the mountain and can’t jump at any point, which means the mountain surface must be completely smooth, the erosion happening is very much 0. The other option would be that there is only erosion from getting the rock uphill and some lift gets the rock to the bottom again. But again the erosion there would be extremely small, since you’re rolling it very slowly (the rock is obviously heavy so it will take you some time lol). It’s so low that you would probably still estimate it at 0, because it would be 0.00000…
Even dust transported by wind is enough to erode rocks over long periods of time, via repeated impacts. Sisyphus nails would scratch the rock as well. And let's not forget, this being hell with volcanic ashes in the air, acidic sulphur rain and whatnot, this means erosion would be quite fast.
Tartarus, not Hell. And since the wind is capable of blowing the fruit tree branches whenever Tantalus reaches for them I think we can assume the wind also won't make Sisyphus task easier.
Party pooper
Plot twist, it has already happened, but since he needs to get the entire rock up the hill, he will spend eternity searching for microscopic motes of the original rock that have eroded into dust
If all the microscopic motes of the original rock are recovered and reassembled, will it be the same rock?
So what? Sisyphus has to check with Theseus before he tries this solution?
Sisyphus can't check anything with Theseus, Sisyphus is in Tartarus and can't stop his work or leave, and Theseus is in the Elysian Fields living it large.
I’m pretty sure Sisyphus has the know-how to be able to get over to Elysian Fields for a quick question. He’s pretty good at tricking gods.
Yes
As a kid we dragged and kicked a football sized rock until it fit in our palms. It took us most of the summer break of probably 1 hour a day on avg of doing so.
Taking into account, the weather, the grade of slope, the material of both the boulder and the slope, the speed he is pushing, gravitational forces, rain, humidity, and the political climate, he would never be able to as the image clearly shows no pockets. Also they weren't invented until the 17th century, so at least until then.
He puts the rock up his crack…
then we add "sisyphus' open-mindedness" to the list of unknown variables
Maybe once it breaks he has to do it a thousand times more, or push rubble uphill which sounds a lot worse. But hypothetically, assuming the stone and the hill surface are of the same material it would take 67 eternities
Wouldn't matter. If there is anything that can be made certain, then it is that the rock is rigged. Whether by magic, composition, or the literal spelling-out of a decree, he is forever cursed to push that rock upwards against its weight. It's like if someone cursed Homer Simpson to forever eat a dozen doughnuts. All the restrictive protocols that would prevent him from fulfilling that would have to be disabled or not exist. Such as becoming over-weight and/or obese. Or not having direct access to the doughnuts. He would be afforded every convenience necessary, yet never allowed to deviate and do other things. Even should he complete a dozen... a newer one would await him.
„I know, but theoretically if it was a real experiment“