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Ole Rømer Challenge: Test Yourself in the Spiral Ramp
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22.09.2024
Ole Rømer Challenge: Test Yourself in the Spiral Ramp
It can be hard work going up and down the Spiral Ramp! How many times can you make the trip? Join the Ole Rømer Challenge during the Golden Days Festival and test your strength in the spirit of Ole Rømer.
Even if you search far and wide, it’s hard to find anyone who has had as many exciting jobs as the astronomer Ole Rømer. He didn’t just work as the director of the Observatory at the top of the Round Tower—he also served as Chief of Police, Mayor, Fire Chief, School Principal, Supreme Court Judge, and much more!
But Rømer didn’t do it all himself. He needed others to pitch in too, which led him to wonder how much work a person could actually handle in a day. To find out, he conducted an experiment in the Round Tower in 1690. He asked two strong, young soldiers to walk up and down the Spiral Ramp—over and over again—until they couldn’t continue. They managed 60 trips in four and a half hours, and Rømer thought that was quite impressive.
Take on the challenge
As part of this year’s Golden Days Festival, which focuses on the theme of work, visiting children can take on the challenge and test their own endurance on the Spiral Ramp! Which path will you choose? The outer path with a 10 percent incline? Or the inner path, which is even steeper with a 33 percent incline?
Don’t worry—you don’t have to go as many times as Ole Rømer’s soldiers. In our mini-experiment, you just need to see how many trips you can complete up and down in four and a half minutes. Remember, one trip only counts when you’ve gone both up and down. You’ll find the starting point near one of the windows in the Spiral Ramp—so keep an eye out!
Win a season pass
When you’re done, take a picture of yourself and the Spiral Ramp and post it on Instagram. Be sure to mention how many trips you completed and use the hashtag #oleromerchallenge.
By doing so, you’ll enter a competition to win a season pass to the Round Tower for you and your family. That way, you can come back and tackle the Spiral Ramp as often as you like!
This event is part of the Round Tower’s program for Golden Days Festival.