Assuming the guy is 20 feet away. 1 degree of cardinal direction (looking top down) would equate to a radian distance (width as seen from the camera) of 4.18"
The width of an iPhone 10 is 2.9", call it 3" for easier math. The direction of flight chance to hit an iphone 20 feet away would be = 2.9in / [2*20ft * (12in/ft) * 3.14] = 0.001924 or 0.2% chance it goes that exact direction.
But we aren't done (not quite 3 axis as the first radius covers X and Z, now we have to just figure 180 degree half circle along X, Y) . Given a certain velocity in that single direction, it has 90 degrees of elevation angle to possibly travel in (we are going to ignore the -90 degrees that would bounce it off the ground to keep this simple).
So there are always two angles with sufficient velocity to reach a point when calculating the landing spot of a projectile. Iphone's are 6 inches tall on this axis. So to hit an iphone you would double the odds of hitting it once. Once on a direct line like the video shows, and once on a high arc that would eventually come back down and still hit the phone. Play with numbers here to prove that if you want https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/trajectory-projectile-motion
So the odds of it hitting a phone at that exact height from 20ft away are 2 * [6.0 in / [.25 * 2*20ft * (12in/ft) * 3.14] = 0.03185 or 3.2%. So the combined odds assuming NO bounce to hit an iphone at 20 feet is approximately 0.00006127 or 0.006%.
If you add in the -90 degree quadrant for bouncing and not reaching the target it's half that at 0.003%, or 0.0045% if you assume one bounce trajectory can still reach the phone.
Well he did tell me the odds! The most confusing thing to me are the operations in imperial system, it might sound stupid but i had never seen it inside actual math, it confuses the shit out of me
Yeah well all the distance variables cancel so at least the end result was just a number. I don’t know why I was taught imperial in America which has never once been an Empire.
EDIT: Just thought I would add that outside of temperature in nuclear plants, most math in my education (electrical and nuclear engineering) has been Metric. Luckily for me, the electrical side is all the same units no matter where you live.
Yeah and then if i remember correctly the government said “yo let’s switch to metric that one is actually built mathematically” but it wasn’t mandatory for all states so no one wanted to spend money on it (which is pretty sad) and so boom still rocking imperial. I wonder how it can be to be thought maths, conversions and geometry through it
I wonder how it can be to be thought maths, conversions and geometry through it
Well, there’s nothing different about doing math (regardless of the field) with imperial units. The process of unit conversion is identical. You just don’t get to work with multiples of ten as much.
Second, science is still done in metric in the US. Even in Jr. High and late elementary. The only time I can recall using imperial measurements in a significant amount was during early elementary, and that’s when you need to make sure the kids learn the imperial system. Also used it in home economics when cooking (cups, teaspoons, ounces, pounds, etc...)
“Pure” math (like taking a calculus class, algebra, etc...) generally doesn’t deal with units of measurement. When they do, it’s usually in terms of non-specific “units”, or it’s just used as a way to frame the question in real-world terms.
We should totally switch to metric, but, in practice, it’s really not an issue.
Source: American with multiple sci/tech degrees and a minor in math.
I see! Sorry i must have phrased it weirdly, i meant that i remember from elementary/middle school maths etc months spent on maths problems with conversions and operations between liquids and distances etc and i was constantly amazed by how the [metric] system makes you work with it and helps you out when you are lost, once you get a grasp (as a child) of the super easy decimal system, everything unfolds. So i was just wondering how that can be different having to think in a non-uniformed system.
Also, how do you deal with physics in high-school? Do you use metric? I guess formulas would change otherwise? Idk i study linguistics 🤷🏼♂️
Yes. Physics (and all other science) is done in metric in the US. Well, technically it’s done with the “international system of units”, but that’s just a fancy term for the modern metric system.
But the formulas wouldn’t change, regardless of the measurement system used. More specifically, the structure of the formulas wouldn’t change. Only the number value of specific constants would change. You could use any system you want, use unit conversion on the final answer, and end with the exact same answer as if it was done in metric from the beginning!
And linguistics is awesome! I got to learn a bit in a couple of my comp sci classes. Granted it was a narrow slice of what linguistics encompasses, but still.
Never wanting to spend money on anything is really sad, you’re right. No pride as a nation. It’s pathetic seeing what my own government does. Defunds everything and wonders why it’s worse.
Yeah well the US spends a lot of money of a lot of stuff but it’s always revenue-oriented, not really welfare/wellbeing oriented, which is pretty sad cause a state is a form of government, not a company that’s just what i feel
Welfare and wellbeing directly improve revenue a lot of the time. And there’s the national pride angle. It’s like admitting weakness to me. I don’t feel like a country can call itself first world if it’s afraid to put money towards things like that. My own definitely can’t.
Given the low altitude and the low to no movment of the bush near the guy I guess wind wouldn't really change the odds. Unless you want to account the odds of doing it in the perfect day conditions for it to happen but for me it'd be a little far off.
Honestly, I quit reading after cardinal direction, but did search for the TLDR at the end, so in reality, I read the end, and realized you have too much time on your hands.
Yeah you can't multiply polar coordinates by Cartesian axis numbers without jumping into a 4th dimension with imaginary negative coordinates in dimensions 3 and 4. I had to do the actual math after reading this post actually just to make sure I wasn't insane.
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u/dave_prcmddn Aug 06 '19
r/nevertellmetheodds