Conundrum 17

Rope Around the World

You have a piece of rope that just fits around the Earth.
If you put 1 metre high sticks right around the equator
and lay the rope on top, how much longer does
the rope need to be to make ends meet?

Suggestion for illustrating the “Rope Around the World” conundrum

Solution
Upside answer:

Earth Dimensions (for your interest):

The Earth’s is an ellipsoid (not a sphere) – it is 134 km wider than it is tall.
Equatorial Radius = 6378.1 km
Equatorial Circumference = 40,075 km
Polar Radius = 6356.8 km
Polar Circumference = 39940
Ellipticity (flattening) = 0.00335
Mas = 5.9736 × 1024 kg

Conundrum 15 – Manhole Covers | Page 1

© 2005 Ruben Meerman | ABC Science Online
Teacher notes
Circumference of a circle:

r
C = 2πr

Circumference of a circle with radius R = ( r + h ):

C = 2πR
r h
= 2π(r+h)

R
apply the distributive law of algebra:

= 2π × (r + h)

a × ( b + c) = (a×b)+(a×c)
Distributive law

C = (2πr)+(2πh)

Length of the rope (at ground level) is equal to the Earth’s circumference:

C Earth = 2 π R Earth

Length of the rope raised above the ground by any height (h):

C Rope = 2 π (R Earth + h )

= ( 2 π R Earth ) + (2πh) Solution

Earth’s circumference Additional length
required

For h = 1 metre, additional length of rope required:

C Add = 2πh
= 2 × 3.14 × 1
= 6.28 metres (correct to 2 decimal places)

Conundrum 15 – Manhole Covers | Page 2

© 2005 Ruben Meerman | ABC Science Online
 Rope Around the World
You have a piece of rope that just fits
Around the Earth. If you put 1 metre high
sticks right around the equator and lay the
rope on top, how much longer does the rope
need to be to make ends meet?
Your Name: __________________________
Answer: _____________________________
Rope Around the World
You have a piece of rope that just fits
Around the Earth. If you put 1 metre high
sticks right around the equator and lay the
rope on top, how much longer does the rope
need to be to make ends meet?
© 2005 Ruben Meerman | ABC Science Online
Conundrum 15 – Manhole Covers | Page 3
Your Name: __________________________
Answer: _____________________________
Rope Around the World
You have a piece of rope that just fits
Around the Earth. If you put 1 metre high
sticks right around the equator and lay the
rope on top, how much longer does the rope
need to be to make ends meet?
Your Name: __________________________
Answer: _____________________________
Rope Around the World
You have a piece of rope that just fits
Around the Earth. If you put 1 metre high
sticks right around the equator and lay the
rope on top, how much longer does the rope
need to be to make ends meet?
Your Name: __________________________
Answer: _____________________________
Rope Around the World
You have a piece of rope that just fits
Around the Earth. If you put 1 metre high
sticks right around the equator and lay the
rope on top, how much longer does the rope
need to be to make ends meet?
Your Name: __________________________
Answer: _____________________________
Rope Around the World
You have a piece of rope that just fits
Around the Earth. If you put 1 metre high
sticks right around the equator and lay the
rope on top, how much longer does the rope
need to be to make ends meet?
Student Answer Form – Blackline Master
Your Name: __________________________
Answer: _____________________________