Update: note a dash of AI mixed in at the bottom for fun
Our TV rung in 2025 live in Paris in my time zone, and six hours later in NYC dropping its ball in Times Square; nothing matches however this cracking event in London to usher in the New Millennium: barges were aligned in the middle of the River Thames, spaced exactly 1 s. apart as the earth rotated past midnight GMT in London, from the Meridian at the Millennium Dome to the east, to Vauxhall Bridge to the west.
As an aside I never saw such a quiet crowd by Waterloo Bridge - indeed our daughter, then a toddler, slept thru it all on my carrier backpack - as opposed to, say, Quatorze Juillet in Paris half a decade prior with young adults of color lighting and throwing firecrackers in a mostly white crowd at Place de la Concorde. Sadly, incidents have increased along such bridges & Houses of Parliament since, & around Christmas Markets in Europe.
How far apart were these barges spaced, however, to ensure they set off as each one entered the New Millenium?! Now there is, if ever, a geographical exercise... I posted five years ago on its twentieth anniversary a short piece explaining this:
Enjoy this romp through geography & geometry! It has more to it that initially meets the eye, don't you think? Feel free to comment below if you have any questions: I tried to write it in plain English, but you tell me if not...
A dash of AI
Just for fun, I asked Microsoft & Google AI:
- Copilot picked up my post above on Slideshare
- Copilot uses the previous question as context
- Both do linear not spatial and add caveats
- Google didn't use the previous question
Microsoft Copilot
Q: How far apart in feet were barges aligned along the River Thames in London near the Greenwich Meridian, to set off one second apart as the meridian passes midnight?
A: To commemorate the millennium, a spectacular event took place on the River Thames in London. Barges carrying fireworks were spaced along the river to synchronize with the passage of midnight at the Greenwich Meridian.
The distance between the barges was carefully calculated to ensure that they would set off their fireworks one second apart as the meridian passed midnight. Given that the earth's circumference at the equator is about 24,901 miles (40,075 kilometers) and that there are 86,400 seconds in a day, each second corresponds to roughly 0.2872 miles (1,513.3 feet or 461.1 meters). However, since the Greenwich Meridian is not at the equator, the distance would be slightly different.
For the event, the barges were likely spaced approximately 500 meters (around 1,640 feet) apart to account for the difference in latitude and to provide a visually striking display.
A captivating synchronization of pyrotechnics in the heart of London! Is there more you'd like to know about this event or anything else?
Q: How many barges were these thusly spaced between the Millennium Dome and Vauxhall Bridge in London?
A: For the millennium fireworks display, **18 barges** were spaced along the River Thames between the Millennium Dome (now known as The O2) and Vauxhall Bridge [1]. These barges were set to ignite their fireworks one second apart as the Greenwich Meridian passed midnight, creating a stunning visual spectacle.
It must have been quite a sight to behold! Is there anything else you'd like to know about this event or any other topic?
Google Gemini
Q: How many barges were these thusly spaced between the Millennium Dome and Vauxhall Bridge in London?
A: To determine the distance between barges aligned along the River Thames to set off one second apart as the meridian passes midnight, we need to consider the speed of sound in air.
* Speed of Sound: The speed of sound in air varies with temperature, humidity, and air pressure. Let's assume a typical speed of sound in air: approximately 1,125 feet per second (343 meters per second).
* Time Interval: The desired time interval between signals is 1 second.
* Distance Calculation:
* Distance = Speed of Sound × Time Interval
* Distance = 1,125 feet/second × 1 second
* Distance = 1,125 feet
Therefore, the barges should be positioned approximately 1,125 feet apart along the River Thames.
Note: This is a simplified calculation. In reality, factors like wind speed and direction, air density variations, and the specific characteristics of the sound signals used would need to be considered for more accurate positioning.
Q: How many barges were these thusly spaced between the Millennium Dome and Vauxhall Bridge in London?
A: * Distance:
* The distance between the Millennium Dome and Vauxhall Bridge is approximately 10.4 miles (16.7 km).
* Convert miles to feet: 10.4 miles * 5280 feet/mile = 54,912 feet
* Spacing:
* As calculated earlier, the barges should be spaced 1,125 feet apart.
* Number of Barges:
* Number of barges = Total distance / Spacing between barges
* Number of barges = 54,912 feet / 1,125 feet/barge
* Number of barges ≈ 48.8
Therefore, approximately 49 barges would be needed to be spaced 1,125 feet apart between the Millennium Dome and Vauxhall Bridge.
Important Note: This is a simplified calculation. In reality, the actual number of barges could vary due to factors like:
* River Curvature: The River Thames is not a straight line, so the actual distances between barges would need to be adjusted to account for the river's bends.
* Navigational Constraints: There might be restrictions on where barges can be positioned due to other river traffic, moorings, or other obstacles.
* Sound Propagation: The speed of sound can vary due to factors like wind, temperature, and humidity, which would affect the actual spacing required.
This calculation provides a rough estimate of the number of barges required.
