Radius/Diameter

[Universip]

I have a suggestion for the game. I suggest a button in options to choose between "radius" and "diameter", because for me the diameter value is more useful to imagine the size of the planet than the radius.
Tell me what do you think !

[FiahOwl]

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[gabriel.dac]

Why do scientists commonly use radius to measure size? Isn't it much more convenient to use the diameter?

[FiahOwl]

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[gabriel.dac]

lol yea

[Greenleaf]

Why do scientists commonly use radius to measure size? Isn't it much more convenient to use the diameter?

Because radius is the base unit and in all cases where you use diameter you have to convert it down to be radius and essentially use diameter/2, which is radius, throughout.


area of circle=PI*r^2 not PI*(0.5*D)^2
volume of sphere  = (4/3)PI*r^3 not (4/3)Pi*(0.5*D)^3
area of sphere = 4PI*r^2 not 4Pi*(0.5*D)^2


the unit circle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_circle
has radius=1 and not diameter=1


speed of point on rotating sphere = angularVelocity*r   not angularVelocity*0.5*D


and I could go on...


You are, however, correct in that its more natural to most people to use diameter. A thing is as big as from one end to the other end. Its just not the simpler way to calculate things, and therefore radius becomes a standard in science.

[gabriel.dac]

Oh, interesting. Thanks for the clarification. However I was thinking that considering that the players of US won't have to calculate anything, it would be more convenient to use diameter. Also, many kids are going to play the game

[Universip]

I think diameter could be the main option but you could switch to radius in options.