How High Can We Build?

Summary

The script explores the history of human-built structures, from the ancient pyramids of Giza to the modern Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It delves into the concept of 'tallest' structures, distinguishing between buildings and towers, and highlights the significance of the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, and radio masts. The script also touches on the potential of a 'Space Elevator,' discussing the technological and logistical challenges and its potential impact on space travel costs.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Great Pyramids of Giza were the tallest human-made structures for nearly 4,000 years, standing at 147 meters tall.
• 🏰 The Lincoln Cathedral in England was the first building to surpass the height of the pyramids in the 1300s.
• 🗼 The Eiffel Tower held the record for the tallest man-made structure for about 40 years until it was surpassed by the Chrysler Building and then the Empire State Building.
• 🌆 The Empire State Building was the first structure from which one could jump and reach terminal velocity before hitting the ground.
• 📡 In the mid-1950s, radio and TV towers began to surpass the heights of buildings, leading to structures like the Warsaw radio mast holding the tallest record for a time.
• 🗼 The Warsaw radio mast in Poland was the tallest structure until it collapsed in 1991 due to a mistake in exchanging guy-wires.
• 📺 After the collapse of the Warsaw radio mast, the KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota became the tallest standing structure.
• 🌆 The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is currently the tallest structure humans have built, where one can watch the sunset twice by ascending to the top.
• 🕌 The height of the Burj Khalifa led to a unique ruling by the Dubai Islamic Affairs department regarding the timing of fasting during Ramadan.
• 🌅 With the right conditions, one can witness two sunrises or sunsets in a day by simply changing their viewing height, such as from lying down to standing.
• 🚀 The concept of a 'Space Elevator' could theoretically extend over 35,000 km into space, but currently, no known materials are strong enough to build one.

Q & A

What was the height of the tallest pyramid of Giza when it was built?

The tallest pyramid of Giza was 147 meters tall when it was built.

How long did it take for humans to build something taller than the Great Pyramids of Giza?

It took nearly 4,000 years for humans to build something taller than the Great Pyramids of Giza, which was a cathedral in England in the 1300s.

What is the technical definition of a building according to the script?

A building is technically defined as a structure where at least 50% of its height comes from floor plates that are habitable for people to live, work, or relax in.

What was the first man-made structure to surpass the height of the Great Pyramids of Giza?

The Lincoln Cathedral in England was the first man-made structure to surpass the height of the Great Pyramids of Giza.

What is special about the height of the Empire State Building?

The Empire State Building was the first structure so tall that a person jumping off the top would reach terminal velocity before hitting the bottom, rather than continuing to accelerate.

Why did the shift to building radio and TV towers change the record for the tallest structures?

The shift to building radio and TV towers changed the record for the tallest structures because these towers could be much taller than the previously built habitable buildings, as they did not require the same structural support for habitation.

What was the tallest structure built by humans before the Burj Khalifa?

Before the Burj Khalifa, the KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota was the tallest structure built by humans.

What is unique about watching the sunset from the Burj Khalifa?

The unique aspect of watching the sunset from the Burj Khalifa is that due to its height, you can watch the sunset from the base of the building and then take an elevator to the top to watch the sunset again.

Why did the Dubai Islamic Affairs department have to make a ruling about fasting during Ramadan in the Burj Khalifa?

The Dubai Islamic Affairs department had to make a ruling because the difference in timing between sunset at the base and the top of the Burj Khalifa is significant enough that people above floor 80 or higher would see the sunset 2-3 minutes after those at the base.

What is a 'Space Elevator' and how does it differ from traditional tall structures?

A 'Space Elevator' is a theoretical structure that extends from the Earth's surface into space, potentially reaching a geostationary orbit. It differs from traditional tall structures as it would be held stable by tension due to the centrifugal force at such altitudes, rather than just supporting its own weight against gravity.

What is the potential cost advantage of a space elevator for sending material into orbit compared to current methods?

With a space elevator, the cost of sending a pound of material into orbit could be reduced from approximately $11,000 to about $100, providing a significant cost advantage.

Outlines

00:00

🗼 The Evolution of Tallest Structures

The script begins with a historical overview of the tallest human-made structures, starting with the Great Pyramids of Giza which held the record for the tallest structures for nearly 4,000 years. It then discusses the transition to taller buildings, such as the Lincoln Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower, which held the record for a time. The script explains the technical difference between a building and a tower, emphasizing the need for a building to be habitable. It also highlights the Empire State Building's unique achievement of being the first structure from which one could reach terminal velocity in a fall. The narrative then shifts to the rise of radio and TV towers that surpassed the height of buildings, leading to the Warsaw radio mast's record before its collapse.

05:06

🌆 The Record-Breaking Burj Khalifa and the Concept of a Space Elevator

This paragraph delves into the modern resurgence of buildings as the tallest structures, exemplified by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which is so tall that one could theoretically watch the sunset twice from its base to its top. The script explores the implications of such height, including the Dubai Islamic Affairs department's ruling on fasting times during Ramadan due to the difference in sunset times at various heights of the building. It also introduces the concept of seeing multiple sunrises or sunsets by changing one's viewing height, such as at a beach. The script then contrasts the Burj Khalifa with the natural height of Mount Everest and discusses the theoretical possibility of building a 'Space Elevator' that could extend into space, using materials like Carbon Nanotubes or Boron-Nitrate Nanotubes. It concludes with the economic and strategic advantages of such a structure, including the potential for significantly reduced costs of sending materials into orbit.

Keywords

💡Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza are a complex of ancient Egyptian pyramids that were built as tombs for the pharaohs and their consorts during the Old Kingdom period. In the script, they are mentioned as the tallest human-made structures for nearly 4,000 years, highlighting their monumental scale and historical significance in the context of human architectural achievements.

💡Lincoln Cathedral

Lincoln Cathedral is a historic church in Lincoln, England, known for its impressive Gothic architecture. The script refers to it as the first structure to surpass the height of the Great Pyramids, marking a significant milestone in the history of human construction and the quest to reach new heights.

💡Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower, located in Paris, France, is an iconic wrought-iron lattice tower that was the tallest man-made structure for over four decades. The script mentions it as the next long-term record holder for the tallest structure, emphasizing its role in the evolution of human-built heights.

💡Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building is an Art Deco skyscraper in New York City, famous for its distinctive spire. The script notes it as the structure that surpassed the Eiffel Tower in height, illustrating the ongoing competition and innovation in building design and engineering.

💡Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is a landmark skyscraper in New York City, once holding the title of the tallest building in the world. The script describes it as the first human-made structure from which one could reach terminal velocity in a fall, a testament to its height and the unique physical phenomena associated with such structures.

💡Radio and TV Towers

Radio and TV towers are tall structures used for broadcasting signals. The script discusses how these towers, not required to be habitable like buildings, began to surpass the heights of traditional skyscrapers in the mid-1950s, thus changing the landscape of what constitutes the tallest human-made structures.

💡Warsaw Radio Mast

The Warsaw Radio Mast was a tall guyed mast in Poland, once holding the record for the tallest structure ever built by humans. The script recounts its collapse in 1991 due to a mistake during maintenance, illustrating the challenges and risks associated with maintaining such colossal structures.

💡Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa, located in Dubai, is currently the tallest building in the world. The script highlights its record-breaking height, which allows for unique experiences such as watching the sunset twice from its base to its top, underscoring the impact of extreme height on everyday phenomena.

💡Space Elevator

A space elevator is a theoretical structure that would connect a point on Earth's surface to a geostationary orbit or beyond, facilitating transportation to space. The script explores the concept as a potential future technology, discussing its potential benefits and the materials that might make its construction possible.

💡Geostationary Orbit

Geostationary orbit is a circular orbit 35,786 kilometers above Earth's equator, where a satellite would have an orbital period equal to Earth's rotation period. The script mentions this altitude in the context of a space elevator, where the centrifugal force would counteract gravity, allowing for a stable structure.

💡Terminal Velocity

Terminal velocity is the maximum speed that a freely falling object eventually reaches when the resistance of the medium through which it is falling prevents further acceleration. The script uses the Empire State Building as an example to explain this concept, noting that one would reach terminal velocity before hitting the ground when falling from its top.

Highlights

The Great Pyramids of Giza once held the record for the tallest human-made structures for nearly 4,000 years.

A building is technically defined as a structure with at least 50% of its height from habitable floor plates.

The Lincoln Cathedral was the first to surpass the height of the pyramids in the 1300s.

The Eiffel Tower held the record for the tallest structure for about 40 years.

The Empire State Building was the first structure from which one could reach terminal velocity by jumping off.

In the mid-1950s, radio and TV towers began to surpass the height of buildings.

The Warsaw radio mast in Poland was the tallest structure for a time until its collapse in 1991.

The KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota became the tallest structure after the Warsaw mast's collapse.

Buildings like the Burj Khalifa have recently regained the title of tallest structures.

The Burj Khalifa's height allows for watching the sunset twice from its base to its top.

The Dubai Islamic Affairs department had to make a ruling regarding fasting times during Ramadan due to the height of the Burj Khalifa.

The concept of seeing multiple sunrises or sunsets can be achieved with the height of one's own body.

The height of the Burj Khalifa is not comparable to the altitude of a geostationary orbit.

A space elevator could theoretically reach over 35,000 km in height, supported by tension.

Current materials like Carbon Nanotubes or Boron-Nitrate Nanotubes may one day enable the construction of a space elevator.

A space elevator could significantly reduce the cost of sending material into orbit.

The first country to deploy a space elevator could gain a substantial economic and strategic advantage.

The video features creative demonstrations and experiments related to height and perspective, such as the 'Double Sunset Date'.

Transcripts

Hey, Vsauce. Michael here. And when the pyramids of Giza were built, the tallest was 147 meters

tall, making them the tallest things humans had ever built. And they remained that way

for nearly 4,000 years. It wasn't even until the 1300's that we finally got around to making

something taller, a cathedral in England. So, does that mean that the Great Pyramids

of Giza are the "Best tallest structures of all time?"

Well, to find out more, all aboard the BOAT.

So, what is a building? Well, technically, a building is a structure in which at least

50% of its height comes from floor plates where people can live, work, chill out, it

has to be habitable. Any less than that and it's not a building, it's a tower. After the

Lincoln Cathedral finally surpassed the height of the pyramids, a number of churches continued

to be built that kept breaking and setting new records. The next long-term record holder

was the Eiffel Tower. It was the tallest thing, ever in history,

that we had built, for about 40 years in a row. It was finally surpassed by the Chrysler

Building in New York, a personal favorite, which was then quickly bested by the Empire

State Building. Now, the Empire State Building is interesting in that it was the first structure

ever built by man that was so tall, were you to jump off the top of it, you would actually

reach terminal velocity before you hit the bottom. It was the first structure we'd ever

built that was so tall, rather than just continuing to accelerate as you fell, you would actually

stop accelerating because you would reach the fastest possible speed your limp body

can fall at. In the mid 1950's, something weird started to happen. Humans started to

build radio and TV towers. These things could be way taller than the buildings that we'd

made previously that had to be habitable. And so, ever since the Empire State Building

had its record broken by a TV tower, all these other famously tall buildings, the Petronas

Towers, Tapei 101, the World Trade Center, the Willis Tower - formerly Sears Tower - none

of them have ever, within their existence, actually held the title for being the tallest

"thing" we've ever built. There was always a radio or TV tower somewhere that was taller.

Up until quite recently, and for quite a while, the record for the tallest thing ever built

by humans went to the Warsaw radio mast in Poland. It's visually incredibly striking,

because there aren't any other sky scrapers around it. It's all alone, being very tall.

Well, that was until 1991, where some workers exchanging guy-wires made a mistake and the

whole thing started to bend and then snapped in the middle. There's no video of the event

happening, but it would have been similar to this collapse, though much, much taller.

After the Warsaw radio mast collapsed, the KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota became the tallest,

still standing, structure built by man. But recently, buildings have made a comeback.

And to check that out, we're going to have to travel to the Middle East. This is the

first time I've ever touched the Nile. Tadaaa. Ok, so that was me dipping my

waterproof camera into the Nile. If you were to take

the entire length of the Nile River and stand it up on its edge, perpendicular to the Earth,

it would reach into outer space about this far, which is pretty impressive. But where

does the space shuttle orbit? And where does the International Space Station orbit? This

far away? This far away? Maybe this far away? Actually, if this pink, inflatable "Horrible

Bosses" ball was the Earth, the space shuttle would orbit about right there. It's incredible,

but it's possible because the shuttle, and the International Space Station, travel so

quickly. They travel so quickly around the Earth that instead of seeing one sunrise

and sunset every 24 hours, they see 16. But don't be jealous. You can easily see more

than one sunrise and/or sunset in a day by taking advantage of tall structures. So, let's

take a look at the tallest structure, the current record holder for the tallest thing

humans have ever built, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The height of this building blows my

mind. You can literally watch the sunset from the base of the building, and then take a

super-fast elevator all-the-way up to the top and watch the same sun set again. In fact,

the difference in timing between sunset at the base and the

top is so significant, the Dubai Islamic Affairs department actually had to make a ruling about

when you can start, and break, your fast during Ramadan inside the building. People above

floor 80 or higher have to actually wait to start eating 2-3 minutes after the people

at the base, because the sun hasn't yet set for those at the top. But before you head

to Dubai to watch the sun rise or set twice in a day, keep in mind that the only height

you actually need to see two sunrises or sunsets is the height of your own body. Try this the

next time you're at a beach. Watch the sun rise or set over

the water. Water is important because it won't have the terrain and hill issues that land

does. Now let's say you're watching a sunset. Begin by laying on your stomach. Watch the

sun set and as soon as the very last little bit of the sun goes below the horizon, quickly pop

up into a standing position and voilá, you'll see the sun's back - part of it's back -

and it will set another time.

If you take a stopwatch and record the time between the first setting and the second setting

that you witness and measure the height of your eyes when you're laying down and when

you're standing, you can use those numbers to calculate the radius of the Earth.

XKCD took this a little bit further by proposing the "Double Sunset Date." Take your date out

to the beach in a cherry picker and sure enough, it was calculated, given the speed

of a cherry picker, all you have to do is move about 6 feet up and you can watch a beautiful

sunset all over again.

To put things in perspective, the Burj Khalifa is nowhere near as tall as Mount Everest.

But the tallest structure that we could potentially build wouldn't be as tall as Mount Everest,

it would be way, way taller. Like, into space taller. Of course, the problem with building

things that are really tall is that they get heavier and heavier and have to support their

own weight. But only up to a point.

If a structure was so tall that it wound up at the altitude of a geostationary orbit,

it would start to feel a new force, not just a gravitational force downward, but all of

the sudden this new, centrifugal force up and outward.

And so, a building that tall could be stable through tension. And more than 35,000 km

high. This kind if structure is known as a "Space Elevator."

Unfortunately, there aren't any materials known to science today that are strong enough

to make building something that large feasable. With the exception, maybe, of Carbon Nanotubes,

or Boron-Nitrate Nanotubes. Of course, if we went to a smaller celestial body, like

the Moon, we could build one today out of stuff like Kevlar.

There are a lot of different things that we have to be wary of when we build a space elevator.

For instance, how do we dodge space debris? One solution is to attach the Earth side of

the cable to a boat in the ocean that can maneuver around and move the elevator away

from dangerous obstacles.

Another interesting point is that the taller the cable, the faster the far end of it will

be traveling. In fact, if the cable is more than 50,000 km long, its far end will be travelling

near escape velocity and simply walking outside could take you to the Moon. But why build

a space elevator? Well, because it would be awesome. But also for better reasons too.

For instance, right now, in order to send a pound of material into orbit, it costs about

11,000 dollars. But with a space elevator, we could send the same amount of material

into orbit for only about 100 bucks. That difference is so significant that Philip Ragan

has said that the first country to deploy a space elevator will have a 95% cost advantage

and will possibly be able to control all space related activities. Alright, so here you see,

in the mirror, Alex playing guitar while she holds a camera in

her mouth and records us. Impressive. I'm here with Kristen from Barely Political. She's

visiting London and if you enjoyed this episode of BOAT, check out other episodes, I've got

them all up there.

And as always,

thanks for watching.

Oh and check out Kristen's

channel right there. Bye! Bye.