Re: [asa] Pi in Bible's face

From: Jim Armstrong <jarmstro@qwest.net>
Date: Fri Oct 10 2008 - 18:32:41 EDT

The discussions have been sorta interesting, but at the end of the day, I surmise that any greater precision would have been quite unnecessary in the specification of requirements for, or even the realization of an artisan's work in that era, given no need for precision in its creation, and given the likely handcrafting means employed to create it. Mmm, I wonder what the roundness and uniformity specs might have been!

JimA [Friend of ASA]

George Cooper wrote:

David said: Pi is 3-to one significant digit, which is all the text gives.

Yes, a fair point given a general audience with the author giving only approximate dimensions for either the diameter or circumference or both. 

I would have preferred, however, to read in scripture of an "about 3 to 1" statement considering all the other subsequent details of these magnificent bowls.  On the other hand, the placement of the 600 knops would benefit greatly if the craftsmen could take advantage of this rather unique measurement circumstance of reducing the diameter of 10 cubits by the two hand widths, yielding a ~ 3.14 ratio (assuming the circumference under the brim were actually 30 cubits).  This makes me suspect that the 3 to 1 statement had a nifty meaning, especially for the craftsmen.

Whether a rough value or a unique circumstance for measurements, either gives reason for none to claim the Bible uses an "exact value of 3 for pi".  I've heard this claim used by those in science who should know or suspect better.  [I’ll be curious if they publish my brief and friendly response in the next Astronomy issue.]

"Coope"

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On Behalf Of David Campbell
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008 2:58 PM
To: ASA
Subject: Re: [asa] Pi in Bible's face

Pi is 3-to one significant digit, which is all the text gives.

--

Dr. David Campbell

425 Scientific Collections

University of Alabama

"I think of my happy condition, surrounded by acres of clams"

To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with

"unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.

To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with "unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message. Received on Fri Oct 10 18:33:06 2008