Gravity at the surface is G, at the center is zero. Does it depend linearly on the distance from center?
2006-08-13 17:09:14 · 4 answers · asked by none2perdy 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Ok. I did the 3D integration of the inverse square law, and determined that net gravity inside the earth IS linearly proportional to distance from center, g at surface, and zero at the center.
2006-08-16 17:37:23 · update #1
My guess would be no, not linearly, because of the shape of the earth. What causes the downward pull to lessen as you go down would be that there is less earth "below" you as you go (pulling you down) and more earth above you (pulling you up). So when you get to the center of the earth, with an equal amount of mass on all sides, the pull of that mass on your body will neutralize, since you're being pulled equally in every direction. Don't imagine that this would make your body rip apart though. So, since the first few miles going down to the center of the earth (because the earth is spherical) there would be less change than when your deeper into to earth, with more earth being above you with every step than with the last (and less below). So, the decay of gravity would start out gradually and increase in change over time as you move down. If you can understand all that, way to go. It's tough to word.
2006-08-13 17:20:56 · answer #1 · answered by Michael 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The gravitation law I believe is proportional to 1/distance-squared, so it is not proportional.
However, i think it would be more complicated than that inside the body causing the gravity, since some mass would be pulling you back out and some pullinyou back in. At the center, it is symmetric, but as you drill down there would be quite a mass imbalance.
I think it would proportional to (r1^2)/(r^2 - r1^2) where the r1 is the radius you've drilled to and r is the radius of the earth.
2006-08-13 17:15:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually, the gravity of the Earth would remain constant at 9.8 meters squared (32.2 feet squared), but as you approached the center of the earth (assuming it was possible) you would begin to feel "weightless" as more and more of your body was pulled equally from all directions.
2006-08-15 23:09:27 · answer #3 · answered by Daryl E 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the closer u get to the earth's core the more gravity there is. that is why speed increases when an object falls to the earth
2006-08-13 17:15:51 · answer #4 · answered by madchiman 3 · 0⤊ 6⤋