when traveling on water north to south do you speed up because you are going down hill?

Answer 1

I'd like to add that if anything you'd be going uphill (in the Northern Hemisphere) because the Earth's bulge is around the equator... although this is so drawn out and has such a minor change in gravity that it wouldn't speed you up.

As others have said, "up north" and "down south" are silly nonsensical things we say, generally speaking there is no downhill on the ocean's surface.

Answer 2

You are not going down hill, as the centre of gravity of the Earth is its centre (shock!). Hence, whereever you are on water, you do not increase speed as water level is level, and hence you will be the same height from the centre of gravity, thus you will not experience any acceleration due to gravity and potential energy. The only way you can speed up is through other methods, such as increasing the output of the sail, catch the wind (sails), flow towards the current, and so on.

Answer 3

With gravity you would not speed up and just because you are going south does not mean that you are going down hill.

Answer 4

This only works in travelling in the southerly direction is down hill, and if it is relatively free of logjams and other potential water hazards.

Keep in mind that cardinal direction is independent of elevation. Imagine standing on top of Mt. Everest. Which way is down hill? Why, ALL directions are.

Answer 5

"down south" and "up north" are expressions and are only in English. So you'll not necessarily speed up going south.

Answer 6

this question remind me the man that build a car with 2 huge wheels at the back and 2 very Small in the front .... in order to save on gas....

Answer 7

No, it only depends on your altitude. Gravity does not lessen the farther south you go, only at how high you are

Answer 8

you are only going downhill when your relative height is decreasing. compass directions have nothing to do with it.