• WldFyre@lemm.ee
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      9 hours ago

      Structures underground experience buoyant forces that act to push them up. Manholes (and any structure bottom, like storm inlets, pump station wet wells, etc) need special consideration since they can be partially or mostly hollow, so they have to be heavy enough to remain in place.

      • bnaur@lemmy.world
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        2 hours ago

        Right, so the light is actually pushed up by these buoyant forces and I guess that then also explains why it’s so dark underground. Fascinating how learning some little new details about the world can sometimes make it all just click together!

        But does that mean that light is actually hollow?

      • usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca
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        8 hours ago

        You know, I knew that but couldn’t figure out what the opposite of weight was for some reason. Thanks for the extra learning!

        Fun fact: Coffins experience this force too, and during flooding can rise up out of the ground

        • superkret@feddit.org
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          8 hours ago

          Ah, that explains why my grandpa was buried in a lead coffin.
          He lost a lot of weight right before he died, so he was too light!