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Evidence & Experiment Two-Horizon Viewing
Take a look at the horizon of a great expanse of level land or sea. See if it looks flat, curved upwards or curved downwards. Use a long straight-edge held or balanced on something steady to assist your eyes. Here are some photographs in case you do not have such a big view within convenient distance from you.
Copyright:http://www.flickr.com/photos/morealtitude/731081486/
kokocrater.hike
Copyright: http://www-atdp.berkeley.edu/1522/students/angel/kokocrater.hike/koko4.jpg
Copyright: http://www.trustedreviews.com/images/article/inline/3742-Olympus_E- 400_distort.jpg
You might find other photos that are even better examples with some searching of your own.
Record your observations in a log book of some sort. Make them clear enough that someone, your grandchildren for example, will understand exactly what you saw, measured, and wondered about when they read your logbook in the distant future.
Back Forward to: Evidence & Experiment Three
Comments
comment on photo link
"evidence" and the tools used to measure:
The photo link points out a problem with objective observation...
I would swear in court that that horizon in "driving" is concave...BUT
there are two difficulties I see with my observation...
1. Camera lenses do not record objective reality...is this a "fisheye" effect?
2. The horizon here is land... Local landforms can not be consistent evidence of global patterns.
I like the experiment using a long straight edge along a water horizon.
-Glenn (Brain & Behavior'06)