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For the distance to travel, we'll use a very accurate calculation of 24,901.55 miles as the Earth's circumference at the equator. We'll have to make a few assumptions to work the problem. 1. The "web" we're talking about will be a single, long strand. 2. Our spider can spin a strand of silk at the rate of 6 feet per minute. Many female Spiders can spin that fast. 3. Our spider does not need to stop for eating, sleeping, or any other reason. 4. Our spider's progress is not hindered by disease, old age, or death. 5. Our spider will build her web at ground level and be unimpeded by hills, mountains, water, buildings, or any other obstacle. So: The Earth's 24,901.55 mile circumference equals 131,480,184 feet. (That's, of course, the circumference in miles times 5,280 ft/mi.) The web-building speed of 6 feet per minute equals 360 ft/hr. (That's about 0.07 miles per hour.) The distance of 131,480,184 feet will be traveled in 365,222.733 hours. (That's calculated as 131,480,184 feet divided by 360 ft/hr.) At 24 hours/day and 365.25 days/year and 12 months/year, with rounding, our spider finishes her web in about 41 years, 8 months. Interesting note: That entire web will weigh under a pound.

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16y ago

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