Craig and Charlie Reid , conjointly know as Scots ring The Proclaimers , informedthe earth on high gyration they would “ take the air 500 Miles ” , followed by walk 500 more , for break down at their enjoy one ’s doorway . It ’s only taken 29 year , but science has now investigate the biophysical consequences of this boast .
As diligent observers haveinformed us , it is impossible to walk 500 air mile in a true line from the brothers ' Leith home base without hitting water . Without extra dispensation to travel through the Channel Tunnel on foot , their larger-than-life journey either needs to go around in circles , or involve an unmentioned ferry .
In theJournal of Physics Special Topics , four University of Leicester students have investigated the possibility of the average Scotsman try out to walk such a aloofness without diverting to get food on the way .
Based on existing formula establishing the energy required for a human of specified masses to go at 4 kilometers per 60 minutes ( 2.5 mile per hour ) , the paper estimates the passing of 1.3 per centum of body mass for a typical 26 - year onetime Scottish male person to take the air 500 geographical mile , which becomes 2.8 percent if they keep their hope to fill out a second 500 mile .
The figures unrealistically wear no time taken for rest - stops . Nevertheless , the authors contend the vocaliser would not have come nigh to discharge their fat modesty , even if they were themselves exhausted by their epic journey .
evidently weigh their employment inadequate , the four generator contemplated the possible action the " Proclaimer " intended to bear intellectual nourishment in a backpack . In a 2d newspaper in thesame journal , the authors found the food need would increase exponentially with distance , and reason : “ It is therefore not feasible for the Proclaimer to carry its own food over the full 1,000 stat mi . ”
Like all scientific modeling , the research trust on many assumption , such as there not being any handily placed food stops en route , and the absence of any financial support crew . likewise , the author appear to have prevail out the possibility the reason the journey would not leave the British Isles would be multiple diversions in the pursuit for food extend the route . Scientific molding always has to rely on assumptions , but when your root textile is a 3 - minute pop music song there can be an uncomfortably large number of gaps to fill in with guesswork .
The Journal of Physics Topics is not , as might be suspected , apredatory journal . Rather it has been created to extend oeuvre from quaternary - year bookman in Leicester ’s Department of Physic and Astronomy . Peer reviewed in the reliable sense of the word , the papers are referred by other students , make an opportunity to see an authoritative part of the scientific process from both side at an unusually early point in one ’s career .
