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bilcoy
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I was reading in my geology book (Earth: An Introduction To Physical Geography, 7th ed. by Tarbuck and Lutgens, 2002, p.560) that "during the first survey of India, an error in measurement occurred because the plumb bob on an instrument was deflected by the massive Himalayas." There is more detail on this, but this statement on deflection is allowed to stand.
Am I crazy, because this just seems wrong to me? I understand that a plumb bob always points to the Earth's or any body's center of gravity, no matter the shape or lack of uniformity in density of the body or where the plumb bob is situated. I do understand the "outside" influences, like the changing position of the moon, could compromise the pb's results, but not features of the body itself, which are part of the net mass.
Am I wrong about this?
Am I crazy, because this just seems wrong to me? I understand that a plumb bob always points to the Earth's or any body's center of gravity, no matter the shape or lack of uniformity in density of the body or where the plumb bob is situated. I do understand the "outside" influences, like the changing position of the moon, could compromise the pb's results, but not features of the body itself, which are part of the net mass.
Am I wrong about this?