h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Hairy Ball Theorem - A8878837
Author: Gnomon - U151503

A little amusing piece.

I'm having trouble with wind

Specifically, the fact you've assumed that the atmosphere is 2-dimensional and windspeed has no vertical velocity without actually stating that. (At least I think that's why I feel uneasy about that particular section).

Apart from that... in the quote in italics... "three-dimenstional space"


Definitely a strange little entry Gnomon

Good point, Whisky. I'll sort out your wind problem.

***buurrrrpp!!!***


Ahhh Thanks!



Now I've completely lowered the tone of the thread I'm off!

Excellent Gnomon!

Excellent.... Whisky's had that wind problem for years... Who knows we might even be able to stand next each other in teh same thread now Great little article, one of the most amusing I've read in some time, which also has the added bonus its short enough for me to read with out losing my five second concentration span Plus, of course, it wasn't what I thought the article would be about when I clicked on the A number to have a read of it

Interesting entry!

Does this have any impact on actual hairy balls, such as tennis balls? Is this why they have sort of seams on them or is that just due to manufacture?

I've added a paragraph outlining the Whisky's vertical wind effect.

Kelli, I don't know whether this applies to tennis balls. I've never thought about it.

Good entry. Comments:

- Good third paragraph.
- " the other is a where all the hairs"
- " blowing in some dirrection"
- " eat their hair-less donuts". Inconsistent spelling of donut/doughnut.

Thanks. I've fixed those.

I like it. As expected (of the author) it's clear, precise and concise. And STILL good for quite a chuckle. Thank you.

Purely as an inconsequential side-note, doughnuts in the U.S. are the same as they are here in Canada, in that they might be a ring, OR have a filling. The latter being my preferred.

You can get ring doughnuts in Britain as well. But the "default doughnut " is a big doughy lump covered in grease and filled with pink goo.

They are usually covered in sugar rather than grease - it was a great challenge to attempt to eat one without licking your lips at all

-- was --

**attempts to restrain self**

**fails**

I just had to pop in and admire your hairy balls, Gnomon.

B

There are a couple of paragraphs rather close together which both begin with 'Of course...'. Might be nice to vary that.

If you want to get *really* exotic about this, you could explore the possibility of the hairy klein bottle

I'm struggling to keep from giving myself a stitch, some genuine laugh out loud moments G - and that's not happened in a while.

MJ

Traveller in Time way too much fantasy
"Can we also use something else, besides a comb and air ?

Why not slowly rotate the hairy ball submerged in liquid ? Slowly will avoid too much water flowing from the poles to the equator, but all hairs will go flat.
Indeed we still have two poles but all vectors will point flat.

>Of course, this assumes that wind is purely a horizontal phenomenon

Not really on course after the vector hint in the 'official' Hairy Ball Theorem. "

Just been watching Bill Oddie on TV. He was describing 'hairy wood ants' - so-called because they have hairy eye balls

Very good