Would a person (always in theory) be able to push a huge object like the size and weight of the Titanic, for example? (Provided that the person has a solid place to stand and use for stability so he wont have his own body pushed back)
2006-10-19 14:29:56 · 11 answers · asked by Nostromo 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes, you can move anything of any size any distance if there is no friction on it. This is well known to tug-boat captains; the tug boat isn't an especially powerful device, it's the lack of friction that allows large boats to be moved.
The only limiting factor is how long it would take to move it appreciably. For instance if you were to push on the earth with a force equal to your own weight (1000 N say):
F=ma
m=6e24kg => a = 1.6e-22m/s/s
x=1/2 a*t^2
x=10m, a=1.6e-22m/s/s=> 3.9e6 days
It looks like it would take you around 10 thousand years to move the earth 10 meters.
2006-10-19 21:04:52 · answer #1 · answered by lorentztrans 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is not true that there is no gravity in space. That's how the earth stays in orbit and the galaxy holds together rather than flies apart. You could stand on the dock and push the Titanic away. It would happen very slowly, and your pushing could be easily overcome by wind, mooring lines, engines, and so on. Why don't you calculate the acceleration of the Titanic if yours was the only force?
2006-10-20 02:32:19 · answer #2 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. No gravity means that there is no force dragging something to the source. Something the size of the titanic will still have the mass of itself and therefore still be hard to move by a human being. Gravity simple makes the job harder because not only do you have to push the mass in the direction you want, but also away from the ground.
2006-10-19 21:37:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Friction is what stops you from moving heavy things on earth. In space there is no air resistance, so you could put a small force on a large object like the titanic, but it wouldnt move very fast, as it would obey newtons second law f=ma.
If you pushed this while floating freely, the force would also push you away from the titantic, however you would still apply a force to the titanic. So you would still cause it to slowly move.
having something to brace yourself off would allow you to give it a longer push because you wouldnt launch off of it. This object would need to be significantly larger than the titanic, say 10x the mass would absorb the reaction force quite nicely, and still have a lesser gravitational force than you could produce. gravity is very weak.
2006-10-19 22:57:57 · answer #4 · answered by Answer guy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No.
The mass of the object remains the same - even though, relative to the earth, it "weighs" nothing.
When the Titanic moves, it gains kinetic energy - and lots of it. And the energy involved with one person pushing it just isn't going to get the job done.
A good example is involved with space travel. When steering or accelerating a space craft, the larger the craft, the more thrust the engines need to develop.
Another example - if your question were true - if everyone on one side of the earth were to climb up on a ladder and jump down at the same time, the earth would be knocked out of its orbit!
The fact is, the mass of all the people on earth is insignificant compared to the mass of the earth.
2006-10-19 22:32:25 · answer #5 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. First, you may be confusing two different forces; gravity and friction. Substituting the earth for the Titanic in your question to make the point, if you could push the earth in your scenario, you are already in a position to do so since you are on the surface. But, you would need something to push against of great mass and if that mass were great enough to be effective, then it would attract the earth and the force required to push it in opposition to this gravity would far exceed your strength.
2006-10-19 22:06:03 · answer #6 · answered by Aletheia 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
momentum is the main idea of forces in space... and the easiest in my opinion. You theoretically should be able to push anything, but it would move quite slow, and to have something holding you down that something has to be so big that your pushing does almost nothing, which in turn would create a small gravitational force between your base and the titanic, but that's probably too small to worry about. People on earth can easily push boats in water because there is little friction, even though they weigh thousands of pounds.
The titanic would be extremely difficult because it is enormously massive, but you could move it the slightest.
2006-10-19 22:55:49 · answer #7 · answered by metropolispt314 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
that is a very good question, i have always wondered the same thing......i don't see why you wouldn't be able to push a large object like the titanic or any other large object....sense there is no gravity in space
2006-10-19 21:41:05 · answer #8 · answered by mark22059 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can happens if the solid place the person is attached to is as big as the titanic
2006-10-19 21:35:53 · answer #9 · answered by mms 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravity exists everywhere, it is just weaker the farther you are from a massive object. Also, every action has an opposite and equal reaction.
2006-10-19 21:38:44 · answer #10 · answered by JBarleycorn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋