Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:56 pm
OK, I'll play true alpha and omega geek:
1) The joke is told from your frame of reference which is rotating with the horse on the merry-go-round (much the same way we live on a rotating frame called earth). Within this rotating frame the elephant, kangaroo and lion are all moving at a constant speed and in the same direction as you. Therefore, to answer the question, you come to terms with all of this and drink your beer while staying on the horse.
2) While it is true, motion in a circle at a constant velocity necessarily means there is acceleration (due to changing direction), you will still travel at a constant speed proportional to the distance from the pivot as was already pointed out. However, by definition, speed is a scalar, velocity is a vector. So there was no fault in saying constant speed.
3) Anyone that answers this question in this must detail should get a one week ban from using this forum. I will punish myself accordingly. See you in a week, maybe sooner.
jpskin
-----------------------------------
"God, you better help me out here, otherwise you'll have me on your hands." -Hunter S. Thompson
