Actually, quite less than a third. “around the planet” ≈ 2πr. The depth Muffin has to dig is r. Ellie will reach the distance once she’s run across 1/2π of the surface, or a little under 16%
Hmm… Planet X is sort of ovoid. I have to wonder, is Ellie rolling across majoral axis (longest possible distance, or north-south if the images we’ve seen have been oriented conventionally), the semi-majoral axis (shortest possible distance, or east-west) or somewhere in between?
Ellie’s moving west along the semi-majoral axis. Muffin’s house is on the western edge of the Jungle Oasis. To the south is a cliff (not depicted yet, although Jeff and Ellie avoided it by following Muffin down a hole some time ago).
Moving west, Ellie won’t get too far before she reaches the edge of Tranquility Crater, which the Oasis sits at the center of. The walls of the crater are rather steep and beyond that is thick rain forest. Hopefully Ellie would determine by that time that Muffin wouldn’t be able to hear her anymore and would give up. We’ll find out Thursday.
Ellie will have to re-estimate Muffin’s motivations once she is almost a third around the planet, but how long will it take to get that far?
I suppose that depends on her current speed. It’s a tiny planet, but it still takes three hours to drive across Michigan.
Actually, quite less than a third. “around the planet” ≈ 2πr. The depth Muffin has to dig is r. Ellie will reach the distance once she’s run across 1/2π of the surface, or a little under 16%
and that’s 1÷(2&pi), not ½π
hmmm. HTML fail. Try “it’s 1÷(2π) not ½π”
Mmmmm…geometry.
You are correct. I should have said a third to the opposite side of the planet.
Haha! Muffin wins via Non-Verbal TKO!
Like!
Will the next few panels show Ellie at more and more of an angle?
Eventually, inverted with the ground on top?
Very nice! That would make a great visual.
Hmm… Planet X is sort of ovoid. I have to wonder, is Ellie rolling across majoral axis (longest possible distance, or north-south if the images we’ve seen have been oriented conventionally), the semi-majoral axis (shortest possible distance, or east-west) or somewhere in between?
Ellie’s moving west along the semi-majoral axis. Muffin’s house is on the western edge of the Jungle Oasis. To the south is a cliff (not depicted yet, although Jeff and Ellie avoided it by following Muffin down a hole some time ago).
Moving west, Ellie won’t get too far before she reaches the edge of Tranquility Crater, which the Oasis sits at the center of. The walls of the crater are rather steep and beyond that is thick rain forest. Hopefully Ellie would determine by that time that Muffin wouldn’t be able to hear her anymore and would give up. We’ll find out Thursday.
If the crater is as big as 16% of the planet, she’ll stop right at its wall to say “see? this is how far you’d have to dig, Muffin! …Muffin?”
Though that might imply a Mimas-like planet. (have we seen this crater from above before? I can’t remember)
Wait a second. wait a second! Muffin’s tuft is bioluminescent!
…or maybe that’s just his “idea bulb”
Resident alien expert Peanut says he merely stuck some Jelly Glow Grass on top of his hat.
yup. I’d definitely call that a “bright idea”