Your take on circles

[ARandomPerson]

Me and @Average Nerd debated whether or not they exist and whether or not they exist in real life as well as if they are polygons. Now it is time for you all to decide!

Edited June 19, 2024 by ARandomPerson
Clarity

[MiszS]

My take is that they don't really exist, because it's impossible to make an actual perfect circle, it will always just be a polygon

[Average Nerd]

My take:

Circles (due to being two-dimensional) can't exist in 3 dimensions, therefore they don't exist IRL. But given high enough precision, it should be possible to make an object round to a point where the crystal structure of the material would determine the surface finish (so circles are not polygons in my thinking).

 

Edited June 19, 2024 by Average Nerd

[RockSolid1106]

As someone who has studied calculus, it is a polygon with infinitely many sides.
I don't think they exist.

[DeerDK]

I'd say that circles can exist, but mostly as intersections, like two bubbles sticking together - although we may still see imperfections. And what about halos and rainbows? Do we require a circle to be a physical object, or can they be phenomena or physical laws like the expansion of sound - again, they exist in principle but will have imperfections due to the conditions not being clinical and perfect?

 

And no, they are not polygons as they have no corners or straight sides. The "infinite number of sides" description is an approximation, nearing but never achieving the characteristics of a true circle or curve.