Chicago Skyline

This is a still shot from a time lapse video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAWAHAEvAzc) of the Chicago Skyline, looking across Lake Michigan. This would be an impossible observation if our earth actually conformed to the given dimensions of the globe model.

Beginner

One of the primary claims regarding the reality that our earth measures flat is that "We see too far." What does this mean? Because we are given a supposed measurement for the radius of the earth, according to the official globe model, we can use math to calculate at what rate objects should disappear in the distance behind this imaginary curvature. The important thing to remember is that this alleged curvature is never actually measured or seen. There are however, countless observations made of distant objects that would be hidden from view if the earth really were a sphere with a radius of 3959 miles. Many observations and photographs of the Chicago Skyline across Lake Michigan are at distances of over 50 miles, an impossibility on a globe of the size claimed.

Advanced

We can use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the rate at which objects should disappear in the distance if we lived on a globe-shaped object of the dimensions claimed (See diagram at right). The Pythagorean Theorem states that in a right triangle with hypotenuse c and legs a and b, the following equivalency holds: a^2 + b^2 = c^2. Therefore, c = sqrt (a^2 + b^2). This calculation results in a figure of roughly 8 inches per mile squared as the rate of drop due to alleged curvature. Since this is an exponential function, the rate of growth does not remain constant but rather increases rapidly. The tallest building in Chicago, the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) stands at a height of 1,450 feet, 1,730 feet to the tip of the white antenna. Therefore, if you do the calculations or use a curve calculator, you can verify that most or all of the skyline would be hidden at the distances these photographs have been taken. In addition, Rob Skiba (see video below under the "Refraction" section) has demonstrated that the skyline is in view the entire time one approaches Chicago from Michigan by boat. So claims that this observation is some sort of mirage has been effectively debunked in this and other ways.

Expert

Refraction

Refraction

References

Roberts, Donna, and Frederick Roberts. “Features Of Exponential Functions.” Exponential Functions - MathBitsNotebook(A1 - CCSS Math), 2020, https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Algebra1/FunctionGraphs/FNGTypeExponential.html

Chicago, Skydeck. “Willis Tower Fun Facts: Fun Facts for Children.” Skydeck Chicago, 2018, https://theskydeck.com/for-kids/fun-facts/