2006-07-02 01:04:36 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Up and down are related to gravity. Living on a planet like Earth means you are pulled toward its interior by gravity. Thus you can walk around, and not fall off into space. If you are thusly attatched to something then the direction you are pulled in would be considered down, and the opposite would be up.
2006-07-02 01:15:27 · answer #1 · answered by Squall 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scientifically speaking, there is no true or universal "up" or "down". Though not universal doesn´t mean that these words aren´t useful for communication.
I wouldn´t be surprised if these words originated well before the the world was "discovered" to be round. They have been used for so many centuries that they are commonly accepted and understood.
But in reality they are only relevant to a person standing on the surface of the earth. Someone on the opposite side of the earth from you would have the "up" and the "down" exactly opposite your "up" and "down". And you would both be correct because the "up" and "down" is relative to the earth that immediately surrounds YOU.
Thus, as with all science, it is important to understand the frame of reference.
2006-07-02 01:24:16 · answer #2 · answered by DumDumDave 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Convention. Because we all agree that looking toward the ground is down and looking towards the stars is up. In space, this would be useless. Two people passing each other could argue that they are both going up without a common 'frame of reference'.
2006-07-02 01:07:33 · answer #3 · answered by ucenigma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
while on a planet or moon the stars are above your head. They call that up! as our planet spins up is sometimes down and vise versa just because of our axis.
2006-07-02 02:36:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
go for an acrobatic flight in a nice decathalon plane then figure out what is up and down.
2006-07-02 01:17:17 · answer #5 · answered by gasmanfart 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's all a matter of perspective, on the other side of earth, the direction they refer to as up is completely opposite of yours.
2006-07-02 01:43:17 · answer #6 · answered by Mike G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why is why why and why is is is these are so because this is the convention and if we do not set a certain protocol we wont be able to communicate intraspecificaly.
2006-07-02 01:19:02 · answer #7 · answered by god 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just like any other word in our language, it is what they called it.
2006-07-02 01:06:58 · answer #8 · answered by B R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
o.o common mistake...
up is only up for you...
on the other side of the world your up is down for them..
2006-07-02 01:08:08 · answer #9 · answered by Preykill 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is just a reference point... Up could be "Bingalope" or 'Vasume" or anything else we name it...
2006-07-02 01:07:50 · answer #10 · answered by MC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋