Editing 2411: 1/10,000th Scale World

This comic is the first in the [[:Category:Scale World|Scale World]] series.

Large objects (cars, airplanes, etc.) are often reproduced as {{w|scale model}}s, which are proportionally smaller {{w|physical model}}s of the original objects.  The {{w|Scale (ratio)|scale}} of such a model is typically expressed as the {{w|ratio}} of the ''size of the model'' (the first number) to the ''size of the original object'' (the second number). For example, a 1/10,000th scale model means that 1 meter in the model represents 10,000 meters in the original object. The same applies to {{w|Scale (map)|maps}} and {{w|globe}}s. What Randall has here, though, is neither a map nor a model but a seemingly complete copy of {{w|Earth}}, at a 1:10,000 scale. Various features and warnings are labeled.

 

{{w|Miniature parks}}, also known as model villages, are tourist attractions around the world of a scale between 1:9 and 1:72.  For example, the finale of the movie ''{{w|Hot Fuzz}}'' features a battle amongst a miniature of the streets and buildings seen so far in the film.  Normally a miniature park would feature a representation of one geographical location rather than a geologically/technologically accurate depiction of our current planet. Whether or not Randall is aware of it, the reputed [http://www.mapascotland.org/ largest outdoor relief map in the world] is set out at a horizontal scale of 1:10,000.

Normally in a miniature model, most warnings try to prevent the visitors from accidentally doing something cataclysmic to the model. Likewise, the "ocean play area rules" in the title text tell visitors not to create any {{w|megatsunami}}s, which could conceivably be induced by a cannonball dive. But as digging seems to be discouraged mainly where it causes volcanoes to break out, the visitors seem to be given far greater freedom than usual.

Visitors are also instructed not to try to pry the model of the {{w|wreck of the Titanic}} off the ocean floor.  In our world, the wreck is at a depth of 12,500 feet, which would be 1 foot and 3 inches in Randall's model world.  The Titanic was over 882 feet long, but the ship split in half as she sank, and now lies in two pieces about a third of a mile apart.  Randall's model would have two pieces about a half-inch in size separated by about two inches.  If the models are rusted and sunk in mud just like the real wreck is, trying to pry them loose would certainly damage them, but all of Randall's other rules seem to be about preventing harm to guests, not preventing damage to the model, so maybe he just doesn't want guests bending over and exerting themselves in the water where they could slip, submerge their faces, and be at risk of drowning.

Scale models, and the problems with them, were the subject of [[878: Model Rail]]. In general, illustrating relative scale is a [[:Category:Illustrations of scale|recurring subject]] on xkcd. This comic is also somewhat reminiscent of [[941: Depth Perception]].  

!Rule

!Reason

| Unintentional catastrophic damage to air traffic. The damage likely wouldn't be reciprocal: actual airplane speed is very similar to the speed at which a bullet is fired [https://pinchito.es/2019/high-speeds], but 1/10,000 of that is quite slow, on the order of 10 inches / 25 cm per second - which is fortunate because the aircraft would weigh about half a milligram (1/50000 oz) or more.

| 6684 ft ≈ 0.67 ft in the model world

|Also, Everest appears to be rather pointy. Also still a bit steep, so visitors may fall down and hurt themselves.

| The cumulonimbus cloud is an electrocution hazard, as Megan is learning the hard way

| Getting too close to the positive cloud tops risks causing lightning to arc into you down to the negative ground.

| The death zone is approximately 8,000 meters above the ground, equating to 0.8 meters or 2.62 feet in the model world. There is also a what-if on the subject [https://what-if.xkcd.com/64/].

| Weather balloons can reach 20 ft in diameter before bursting, corresponding to a 0.6 mm small object at this scale.  The idea of smacking research data raises a sense of how advanced the idea of a physics-complete model of the world is, next to possible comparative banality of academic research.

| The {{w|CN Tower}}, the {{w|Space Needle}} and the {{w|Burj Khalifa}} are much taller than they are wide, thus, "pointy." The Burj Khalifa, the tallest of the three, would stand at 3.2 inches (8.3 cm) at this scale, making it possible to impale one's foot on it when walking

| [[File:Empire State Building (aerial view).jpg|right|100px|thumb|Pointy.]] This seems to be exclusively for the visitors' benefit, rather than that of the cities.

:[At the top of the image, inside the panel, a large title is floating in the air.]

:RULES

:For visitors to my 1/10,000th scale world

:1 meter = 10 km  1 ft = 10,000 ft ~ 2 miles

:[Each of the following rules is written near a character or point of interest on the map.]

:[Two small dots with thin lines coming out of them horizontally are in the air near Cueball, who is brushing them off.]

:[Small mountains are seen near the left edge of the screen, by Cueball's feet.]

:[A young Hairy is climbing on mountains reaching approximately Cueball's waist.]

:[Under the water, a small bump in the ground expels bubbles.]

:[Jill stands shoulder-deep in the ocean, peering down into the trench below.]

:[Megan's hand is extended, and lightning from the cloud is jumping to her hand.]

:[Ponytail sits near some mountains, with a dotted line in the air stretching across her forehead.]

:Do ''not'' dig near Yellowstone

:[A second Cueball is jumping in the air, a hand reached back, in position to smack a weather balloon.]

[[Category:Comics featuring Jill]]

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]