Difference between revisions of "332: Gyroscopes"

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
Jump to: navigation, search
(Explanation)
m (Explanation: clean up, typos fixed: life-long → lifelong)
(One intermediate revision by one other user not shown)
Line 8: Line 8:
  
 
==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] is playing with a {{w|gyroscope}}, which is fun to him. Even though he has studied them and intellectually understands their behaviour, they still seem to bother him somewhat. At the end, the gyroscope is revealed to have the power of levitation and to apparently be a sapient lifeform - it talks to him - somewhat validating his life-long suspicions.
+
[[Cueball]] is playing with a {{w|gyroscope}}, which is fun to him. Even though he has studied them and intellectually understands their behaviour, they still seem to bother him somewhat. At the end, the gyroscope is revealed to have the power of levitation and to apparently be a sapient lifeform - it talks to him - somewhat validating his lifelong suspicions.
  
In the title text, [[Randall]] is mocking the {{w|Moon landing conspiracy theories}} and refers to the {{w|Lunar precession}} in process. Gyroscopes and the lunar orbit both exhibit precession, a physical concept that non-scientists can find hard to grasp. Thus, it is a perfect subject for a lunar conspiracy theory. He goes on to claim that gyroscopes (which form part of the navigation system of every commercial airplane) were directly responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Presumably, they were sentient gyroscopes.
+
In the title text, [[Randall]] is mocking the {{w|Moon landing conspiracy theories}} and refers to the {{w|Lunar precession}} in process. Gyroscopes and the lunar orbit both exhibit precession, a physical concept that non-scientists can find hard to grasp. Thus, it is a perfect subject for a lunar conspiracy theory. He goes on to claim that gyroscopes (which form part of the navigation system of every commercial airplane) were directly responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==

Revision as of 16:46, 21 May 2014

Gyroscopes
We didn't actually land on the moon -- it just looked like we did because of precession. Also, gyroscopes caused 9/11.
Title text: We didn't actually land on the moon -- it just looked like we did because of precession. Also, gyroscopes caused 9/11.

Explanation

Cueball is playing with a gyroscope, which is fun to him. Even though he has studied them and intellectually understands their behaviour, they still seem to bother him somewhat. At the end, the gyroscope is revealed to have the power of levitation and to apparently be a sapient lifeform - it talks to him - somewhat validating his lifelong suspicions.

In the title text, Randall is mocking the Moon landing conspiracy theories and refers to the Lunar precession in process. Gyroscopes and the lunar orbit both exhibit precession, a physical concept that non-scientists can find hard to grasp. Thus, it is a perfect subject for a lunar conspiracy theory. He goes on to claim that gyroscopes (which form part of the navigation system of every commercial airplane) were directly responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Transcript

[Cueball at desk with Gyroscope.]
Despite years of studying physics, I still find gyroscopes a little freaky.
[Cueball starts gyroscope with a zzzzip.]
[Gyroscope spins with a zzzzzz.]
[Gyroscope lifts into the air.]
Gyroscope: Greetings, Human.


comment.png add a comment! ⋅ comment.png add a topic (use sparingly)! ⋅ Icons-mini-action refresh blue.gif refresh comments!

Discussion

"At the title text Randall is claiming mankind did not land on the moon because of lack of precession." should perhaps be more "...mankind did not land on the moon, but that (the existence of) precession mad it look like we did." At least, that's how I read that. 178.98.31.27 09:13, 19 June 2013 (UTC)

I also think whoever wrote that bit about the gyroscopes helping the planes hit their targets is completely missing the humor Randall was shooting for. He wasn't being serious, much as he wasn't with the moon line. He was implying, as a conspiracy theory, that gyroscopes are sentient, and it was at their bidding that the attacks happened. 152.119.255.250 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

Lunar precession must be one of the oldest significant "stubs" to still be in a bad place. It didn't even have the article name at the beginning and bold. —Kazvorpal (talk) 15:48, 9 November 2019 (UTC)