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Old 06-26-2003, 10:42 AM   #23 (permalink)
CheapBastid
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Quote:
Originally posted by RatherThanWords
But without being able to measure it, how can we know that it's length is absolute? On a more practical scale, we can never measure the absolute surface area of a concrete slab because variations in temperate cause the concrete to subsequently expand and contract. Therefore, we know that the surface area of a concrete slab is relative to the current temperature, which in turn is relative to many other factors. Apply this to the chair and you will see that the chair doesn't have an absolute height.
Not only temperature, but actual molecular weight is going to vary dependent on the interactions with the surroundings. So you cannot have a real exact measure.

"WRONG!" One could reply. "I can get the exact measurements if I get one within a snapshot of time."

Well... with chaos theory, fractals, and subatomic particles it is even complicated if one tries to get a fully accurate measurement of an object in a snapshot of time as well.
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