Underhill had an idea for much safer, faster transport…
““Underhill had an idea for much safer, faster transport than autos or even aircraft. “Ten minutes from Princeton to Lands Command, twenty minutes across the continent. See, you dig these tunnels along minimum-time arcs, evacuate the air from them, and just let gravity do the work.” By Unnerby’s watch, there was a five-second pause. Then: “Oops, little problem there. The minimum-time solution for Princeton to Lands Command would go down kinda deep…like six hundred miles. I probably couldn’t convince even the General to finance it.” “You are right about that!” And the two were off in an extended argument about less-than-optimal tunnel arcs and trade-offs against air travel. The deep tunnel idea was really dumb, it turned out.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A speculative discussion about ultra-fast gravity-driven tunnels, highlighting impracticality.
In simple terms: Idea of fast tunnels using gravity, but unrealistic.
Key Takeaway
Consider feasibility before pursuing ambitious projects.
Themes
innovation
transport
physics
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
analytical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- transportation
- engineering research
- budgeting
- policy making
Key Concepts
gravity
tunnel design
logistics
cost
risk
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the main obstacles to such tunnels?
- Are there alternative efficient transport methods?
A Different Perspective
Technical challenges may outweigh benefits.