I know there are a few FReepers who have driven by the Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLA) so they will understand of what I am writing...
It (the SLA) is an unusual building to drive by (it’s next to a highway in the M-A area of Silicon Valley).
What is so very unusual about the SLA is that it is, naturally, level: it’s a building, so it should be level, right?
The SLA is one mile in length and, because it IS level, has both ends on “level ground” but as it approaches the center (1/2 mile from each end) it is in a deep trench in order to account for the curvature of the earth...
As someone who has done a lot of building over my life it was fascinating to see this structure...
Great article as well!
Thanks!
That's an interesting aspect.
Here's a creepy story somewhat related about long buildings. Near Wayne State University in Detroit there was a really long building (short by your post's standards---maybe a city block long).
It was used by the auto industry researchers to put dogs on sleds and tracks and send them at high speeds down to the brick wall at the end. As they died the filmed data of the crash and the suitability of various seat belts and car seats could be studied. Not publicized as the later cases of crash test dummies but supplied data for the cold blooded engineers to go over. They were said to get dogs from shelters.
When my wife heard that she was horrified.
The SLAC is two miles long!
But nonetheless, the curvature of the Earth, alone, is scarcely sufficient to require a trench more than 8 inches (20 cm) deep in the middle.
The random unevenness of local terrain might require a deeper trench - but the curvature of the Earth is virtually imperceptible at that scale.
Regards,
I actually worked at SLAC for a very short time in 1975.Entering decay data with a mouse. I didn’t last.
The apparent reason for the six mile square township here in Michigan is the curvature of the Earth. There’s an adjustment at one at 24th Ave and Wilson in Ottawa Co MI, an unincorporated locale called Big Springs.