Exploring the Infeasibility of Stacking Pennies from Earth to the Moon

Have you ever wondered how many pennies you would need to stack from the Earth's surface all the way to the Moon? It’s a fascinating question that invites us to delve into the realms of mathematics and space exploration. In this article, we will explore the calculations and real-world limitations of such an ambitious endeavor. We will use both metric and imperial units to ensure the accuracy of our calculations and provide a comprehensive analysis of why this task is practically impossible.

Understanding the Problem

The challenge of stacking pennies from Earth to the Moon is not just a fun thought experiment. It requires us to understand the basic principles of space and the dimensions involved. Let's start by breaking down the problem with the help of basic measurements.

Distance in Metric Units

Space is generally defined as starting at about 100 kilometers (km) above the Earth's surface. To calculate the number of pennies needed, we need to follow these steps:

Convert kilometers to meters: 100 km 100,000 meters. Convert meters to millimeters: 100,000 meters * 1000 100,000,000 millimeters. Divide the total distance in millimeters by the thickness of a penny: 100,000,000 mm / 1.52 mm 65,789,474 pennies.

Given that pennies would need to protrude extremely slightly at the top, the number of pennies required can be rounded up to 65,789,475.

Limitations of Reality

While the calculation seems straightforward, the reality is far more complicated. There are not enough pennies in the world to achieve this feat. Here are some reasons why:

Government Involvement: With every mile traveled, the government would take a portion of the pennies due to taxation or other means. Essentially, this means that no matter how many pennies are used, a portion would be removed at each step, making the task impossible. Practical Limitations: Even if pennies were not subject to government control, the logistics of such a massive project would be insurmountable. The sheer weight and bulk of 2.4756 billion pennies (or more than 65,789,475 pennies) would be a logistical nightmare. Additionally, the pennies would need to be stacked in such a way that they do not collapse. Realistic Availability: According to Scribbr, there are only about 130 billion pennies in circulation. This means that we would fall significantly short of the required number of pennies, which is estimated to be over 247 billion.

Converting to Imperial Units

For those who prefer to use imperial units, we can also perform the calculations:

The distance to space is approximately 62 miles. There are 5280 feet in a mile. Pennies are 1.52 mm thick, which is about 0.05 inches. To find the number of pennies per foot: 12 inches / 0.05 inches 240 pennies per inch. To find the number of pennies per foot: 240 pennies/inch * 12 inches/foot 2880 pennies/foot. To find the number of pennies per mile: 2880 pennies/foot * 5280 feet/mile 15,225,600 pennies/mile. To find the number of pennies to space: 15,225,600 pennies/mile * 62 miles 943,707,200 pennies.

Once again, this calculation falls short of the required number of pennies, confirming that the task is infeasible.

Conclusion

While the idea of stacking pennies to reach the Moon is an exciting and thought-provoking concept, the numbers clearly show that it is not feasible. The lack of sufficient pennies in circulation, government intervention, and the practical difficulties involved make this task unattainable. However, understanding the underlying mathematics and limitations is a valuable exercise in physics, economics, and practical problem-solving.