HiPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please could you tell me what you estimate the odds are for a large puddle of rainwater on concrete drying up to form a perfect symetrical heart shape (i.e. love heart, not biological heart) approx six inches across? The heart-shaped damp patch remained there for several hours before it then vanished. There was nothing whatsoever to cause or influence the shape. What are the odds of this occuring? Thank you. i.e... the odds of a random rain puddle drying to create a damp patch with an identifiable symetrical shape.
How symetrical? How symetrical? ... I took some photos of it and it looked like someone had put it there, because the two halves were exactly the same - visually they were - though I didn't actually take a measure to it. by the way... no-one could have possibly put it there; it was entirely natural - it was on our property in a place were no-one else has access.
Why do you need to know the statistical odds of this occurring? The factors involved (such as contour of the surface, direction of wind/rain, etc.) are too numerous to speculate. I mean think of everyone who has seen the face of the Virgin Mary or Christ in clouds or a plate of spaghetti or what not (not poking fun.) Geez, just enjoy the heart in the pavement... it's nifty! And probably pretty dog-gone rare of an occurrence. You were in the right place at the right time.
Certainly the chances are better for you finding non-heart shaped puddles, but you don't normally notice them. It's likely about the same odds as making a heart pattern that is not quite as symmetrical. This just caught your eye because your brain recognized a familiar pattern.
How about other heart shaped things found in nature. Here's a image of an island and the link will let you see other heart shaped things formed in nature much more sophisticated than a puddle of water. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/ea...e-heart-shapes-photographed-from-the-air.html
to cosmictraveller To Cosmictraveller... Thank you very much for your time and considration in pasting the photo links in your reply - it's much appreciated. I've had a look, but most of them are manmade, and those that are natural look a bit wibbly-wobbly and nothing as good as my damp patch heart! It does make me wonder then why this shape is actually found in nature seeing as it's quite a hard shape to mimic, and it's a human graphic icon rather than a spiral or other natural shape (which I know can be very complex based on fractals). It makes me wonder how many of these natural heart shapes have been found in nature over the years and how common they are. Seeing ours put a smile on my face! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Just a thought. Maybe someone did put it there. Some hygroscopic chemicals painted on the pavement in a heart shape would do. Calcium chloride comes to mind. A long faded chalk drawing of a heart just might as well.
kevinalm Like I explained... no-one put it there; that idea is impossible and that area is not accessible to anyone else. The area is regularly brushed and scrubbed down anyway, so it's a completely bland surface.
0.0000004 is the probability of it happening given that there was a lightening strike occurring exactly 1.4323239 miles from the center of the heart exactly 5 hours prior to the beginning of the formation of said heart.
Oh Absane, now you're just being silly. The odds of it happening are exactly 1 if we are to take the poster's word at face value.
