[Future Snake Eater]

Water on the earth’s surface does not curve the 8 inches per mile squared

Why are you talking about linear distances and area measurements as if they're one and the same?

[TruthInThoughtWordAndDeed]

Future Snake Eater,

You have misinterpreted my response. There is no area measurement in what I stated. Instead, it is a statement of trigonometry. To wit:

If the earth were a 25,000 mile circumference globe, then, using the Pythagorean Theory (in the first few miles):

In the first (1) mile there would be 8 inches of curve.
1 x 1 x 8 = 8 inches

In the second (2) mile there would be a combined 32 inches of curve.
2 x 2 x 8 = 32 inches

In the third (3) mile there would be a combined 32 inches of curve.
3 x 3 x 8 = 72 inches

Note that stating “squared” is merely a shorthand way of saying that the number is multiplied by itself; (1 x 1), (2 x 2), (3 x 3), etc.