Category: 
February 15, 2008TGIF and time for Friday Fermi Problem :
Fermi Problem is described as:
In physics, particularly in physics education, a Fermi problem, Fermi question, or Fermi estimate is an estimation problem designed to teach dimensional analysis, approximation, and the importance of clearly identifying one’s assumptions. Named for 20th century physicist Enrico Fermi, such problems typically involve making justified guesses about quantities that seem impossible to compute given limited available information.
This is one of the simplest Fermi problems.
Simple Fermi Problem: What is the total length of the thread in a bed sheet?
or
How long of a thread would you need to weave/make a bedsheet?
No, you may not ask “what is the size of the bedsheet?” - look around, make an educated guess about the average size of a bedsheet.
No, you may not ask “what is the thread count of the bedsheet?” - figure out the most common thread count. If you can not figure it out, you can go to the bedroom and guesstimate the length of the thread in a square inch.
Answer is in the comments.
Horaayy..there are 2 comment(s) for me so far ;)
Answer:
About 15 miles.
Assumptions: Queen Sized Bed sheet
Thread count 200.
Thread count is defined as
The simplest definition of thread count is the number of threads, both horizontally and vertically, within one square inch of the fabric.
So each sq. inch has 200 inches of thread.
Queen size bedsheet is 80″ x 60″
Total thread is 200×80x60 = 960,000 inches
63,360 inches = 1 mile
total length of the thread in a bed sheet : 15.3 miles.
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