we could model a haystack with a needle in it as a set of nornally distributed line segment lengths of tiny proportioned radius, placed "atop" each other such that precise surface contact was made at an upper point of each lower hay or needle elenent and a paired lower point of each upper hay or needle element

the positions and orientati-ns of the line segments are similalry nornally and uniformly distributed respectively, constrained by the touching surface poin--