- UphillMercury
- |
- Honorable Member
- gamertag: [none]
- user homepage:
Don't do anything you wouldn't want to have to explain to paramedics. Trust me, I'm a pilot.
Posted by: the real Janaka
Taken from Primordium:
"Shielding my eyes, I finally located the horizon - rising up like a distant wall. Turning slowly, swiveling my neck despite the pain, I tracked that far wall until it began to curve upward, ever so gently" (pg 27).
"'The wall keeps all the air and dirt from slopping into space'" (pg 40).
These quotes attest to the walls' function and size. The fact that these walls are clearly visible from a significant distance away for a significant distance clearly demonstrates that these walls are of some significant height. Next, consider the fact that the ring has to simulate gravity via centrifugal force. The earth's atmosphere is quite sizable. The thermosphere starts at an altitude of 100km. While the air is very thin, that means that there is 100km worth of atmosphere below that point. Now consider that the troposphere, where almost all weather occurs, starts at sea level and ends at a point 28,000-54,000ft ASL, depending where you are on the planet. In order to maintain a sufficient atmosphere for humans to breathe while spinning at a rate of 1g, the walls would have to be of sizable height.
Furthermore, Primordium mentions nothing of any extra means of retaining the atmosphere and terrain; it is only through centrifugal force and thick, high walls. While you could jump off if you wanted to, you would have to find some sort of transport up to the wall, and even then, you would simply fly off into space, as you would be free of the ring's centrifugal force.
[Edited on 09.30.2012 1:53 PM PDT]