Without friction would we fall through the earth?

Question

science lab essay, just wondering?

Answer 1

friction is the resistance generated by two surface rubbing against each other,and if there is a hole through the earth and the hole is small enough that you have contact with it, then the lack of friction only means that there is no resistance generated,
but gravity will only pull to the center( gravity will pull you to the gravitational center.) and with nothing to pull you out from the center, you will get stuck in the center if you survive the fall.(the Earth has a molten core.) i hope that answers your question.
God bless, gabe

Answer 2

Let's discuss what friction is.

Put your two hands together palm to palm and rub.

Do you feel them warm up.

Friction is two surfaces coming together with at least one of them in motion. The come in contact and the energy of the motion of the rubbing surfaces starts generating FRICTION which produces heat.

You're a surfer.

When you surf at least part of the board is on the water. The more board that is on the water the more friction it encouters because it is rubbing against the water (and yes, some heat, not a lot, is generated). So you try and get as much of the board OFF the water while catching the proper position (tangent angle) on the base of the wave (a position that can be computed as a degree or radian of SINE on that wave) and your then angle the board to get the most momentum (inertia).

Graivty is trying to pull the front of the board down. You position your body to compensate (counter weight) and the board lifts (like the see saw did when a heavery person sat on the other side).

So surfing, is geometry. SINE (Angle) Tangent (the line where the SINE positon is) you then cant the board at an angle (with body weight) it rises and the wave pushes you forward and encouters friction from the water, so you keep raising the board to lessen the FRICTION between the board and the water, but if you go too far up, you flip and you fall into the water and do a belly flop and the FRICTION of your body hitting the water make you hurt because FRICITION generates some heat.

Friction between YOUR FEET and the BOARD is what causes you to stay there.

IF you were to put BABY oil or your feet or IF you were to wax the board to slick the amount of FRICITON gets reduced and you slip on the surface of the board.

Now, graivity also plays a part of you staying on the board.

Gravity pulls you down, the board is in the way. There is a roughesness between your feet and the board and that causes a small amount of friction.

The rougher a surface is the more friction can often be generate

The slicker or sliperyer the surface then the less friction.

FRICTION has little to do with FALL THROUGH the EARTH it has more to do with slipping on the waxed kitchen floor in soft sole shoes and falling or your back side.

Density of the surface has to do with fall through the earth.

If you slip on the freshly waxed kitchen floor in your soft sole shoes your feet slip out from under you (FRICTION is applicatble there) and you do a back flop on the floor.

NOW if you slip on the wet edge of a pool (or slip of that surf board due to putting baby oil on your feet) and you fall into the ocean you start to sink and fall down into the water (the Earth) but FRICTION from the water against your body slows you down immediately.

So does air in your body which makes your want to float back up. Which is why you want to hold your breath.

Friction is RESISTANCE generated to an object, one of which is in motion.

When you drive in a convertable and put your hand up high and it gets pushed by the moving AIR, that is FRICTION at work

The tingle feeling after doing it too much is called "wind burn" remember, even though it feels cool, some heat is generated.

IF, indeed, you are a surfer, then why not consider dong the essay on FRICTION as it applies to surfing.

Friction of the water under the board.

Friction of the Air passing you

Finding the best point of LEAST FRICTION, MOST MONENTUM where the BOARD hits that TANGET ANGLE jsut right so you KEEP moving, instead of losing it and wiping out because you lost the propert ANGEL of the BOARD and TANGENT position of the wave.

Do a study on it.

If you're a surfer, then you are a REAL WORLD expert in geometry, gravity, friction, inertia, momentum, balance, stabilization, etc.

It's just a suggestion.

But you seem LOST on the concept of FRICTION, so I thought we should clear that one up.

NOW that should help you with ROCK CLIMBING AS WELL, just put your thinking cap on (I assume you've done it at least at some amusement part with ropes) and think about what you have to do the climb a rock wall.

You've water skiied, I assume. YOu lose it, you flop and maybe the boat drags you a bit before you let go.

FRICTION is what causes you body to burn a bit as it is dragged. Your body, in motion, dragging across the top of the water.

Two surfaces.

Motion.

Friction.

Resistance.

Heat.

Griping something and holding on to it also generates friction because there is a DESIRE to move.

Take climbing a rope. You're hands grip it. Your legs GRip it. And then you try and move your body but FICTION between your hands the the rom is generated as your hand want to slip a little, the better grip you have the less you slip.

You bring your feet up, Grip the rope with your feet, push and moved your arms and hands upward.

This is again friction.

Two objects one is rougher than the other. There is motion, no matter how light and the grip increased the hold, friction is caused when you feel the rope start to slip and it burns your hands.

Answer 3

without friction, we wouldn't be here. Evolutionary processes would have taken a very different tack.

We wouldn't fall through the earth. You'd still have to find a way to get past the matter. But you would never be able to walk. You'd have to grab and pull yourself where you want to go. You could try jumping, but sticking the landing would be tricky. You'd slip a lot.

Answer 4

Without friction we would just slide all over the place, we would not fall through the earth.

Answer 5

I'm not to sure how much friction is involved in atomic bonding but without bonds there would be no matter to fall through.
Sorry this is not a great help.

Answer 6

With no friction anywhere I don't think our bodies would work...but if just the environment didn't have friction, everything would be really slippery, like walking on ice.

Answer 7

maybe without friction and without adhesion we would fall to earth's gravitational center.

Answer 8

Wouldn't we just sit on the earth?

Answer 9

friction has nothing to do with gravity...wonder on...

Answer 10

no.. we'll be sliding all over the place until we lose momentum.