it seems to me that if the centrifugal force is what keeps us glued to the surface of the planet then if I were to stand exactly on the axis I should fall off. I know that isnt the case but why?
2006-06-23 05:52:18 · 15 answers · asked by ardok 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Gravity is not caused by the earth's spin. Gravity is a property inherent in matter, caused by the earth's mass.
Centrifugal force causes things to push away from the center of rotation. So the centrifugal force of the earth's spin actually reduces the force of gravity -- but just a little, because gravity is much stronger than the centrifugal force.
But if you have a very sensitive detector, you can measure that the force of gravity at the North Pole is a bit greater than at the Equator, because there is no centrifugal force there.
2006-06-23 06:13:40 · answer #1 · answered by Keith P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The spinning of the earth has nothing to do with gravity, in fact, spinning works against gravity. Centrifugal force works when you are inside something like water in a bucket that you hold at arms length and whirl over your head.
2006-06-23 15:03:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever been to a carnival where they have this ride where you go inside this thing. It spins you around so fast that you can climb the wall and not fall off cause there's just so much gravity pushing on you. It's like that on earth, it's just spinning so fast that we're planted to the earth. I'm sure if the earth literally stopped dead in its tracks we'd all fall, but that's not going to happen.
2006-06-23 12:57:34 · answer #3 · answered by Carrie P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not the spinning of the Earth that causes gravity. It is the mass of the Earth that gives us gravity.
Everything that has mass has gravity. A BB has gravity, but it is so small that it's gravity effect is overpowered by that of the Earth's.
2006-06-23 12:57:18 · answer #4 · answered by asterisk_dot_asterisk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because the universe is expanding doesn't mean that our understanding of gravity is wrong. Do you think that the universe might be expanding because the inertia of the Big Bang is greater than the force of gravity acting opposite to the expansion? According to your assumption when I throw a ball into the air, it ascends because gravity ceases to exist for that time-period.
2006-06-23 13:56:01 · answer #5 · answered by A Guy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u got to know its just not only the mass of the earth but also the spin of the earth adds to gravity.anyway u will way lesser at poles due to the flatness and also due the constant(no spin) behavior of the planet at that point.u still stand due to earths gravity due to mass.
2006-06-23 13:13:54 · answer #6 · answered by raven 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting proposal that mass CAUSES gravity. Too bad it cannot be proven. If that is the case then all objects should be closing in on the largest objects they are near. Since, allegedly, the universe is expanding, the most massive objects apparently have no gravitational effects on other objects.
2006-06-23 13:32:27 · answer #7 · answered by FSBCW 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The centrifugal force always points away from the center, it's the one trying to hurl everything into space.
Gravity keeps us on the surface.
2006-06-23 12:56:31 · answer #8 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The spinning does not cause gravity, the mass does. You got something confused dude.
2006-06-23 12:55:53 · answer #9 · answered by diogenese19348 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What causes a gravitational field is the heat within a mass c2=E/m. What causes the magnetic field of our planet is its spin.
2006-06-23 14:29:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋