Warp wrote:
>   A more complicated invention of antiquity is the so-called south-pointing
> chariot. A Chinese invention which is, basically, a chariot with a figure
> on top which always points in the same geographical direction regardless of
> how the chariot is moved and turned. In other words, the figure acts as a
> non-magnetic compass, obviously very useful for travelling long distances.
> The invention might be as old as from 2600 BC (although with certainty it's
> at least from 200 AD).

It would have to be very heavy, otherwise it might bounce instead of 
roll around corners, and rotation information would then be lost.

Also, I am having trouble visualizing how the device behaves differently 
on curved surfaces (i.e. the Earth) as opposed to a flat plane. I wish 
the article had some diagrams or animations.

-Mike

Post a reply to this message