If the earth is spinning at nearly 1000 miles-per-hour, counter-acting gravity with centrifugal force, does a person weigh more at the poles than at the equator?
2006-12-04 12:14:47 · 11 answers · asked by mrknositall 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
OK Su, did you ever think that maybe that "slight bulge at the equator (because of forces due to axial rotation)" was due to cetrifugal force?
2006-12-04 12:36:47 · update #1
*Sorry Stu
2006-12-04 12:37:33 · update #2
Things that are moving do NOT want to move on a radius; they want to move in a straight line. Hence, centrifugal force.
2006-12-04 12:41:23 · update #3
It's not silly. The answer is yes. I don't remember how to do the math to see exactly how much difference it makes. That's why NASA launches the space shuttle from Florida: as close to the equator as possible.
2006-12-04 12:17:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well the earth isn't a sphere in fact you are closer to the center of the earth at the poles than at the equator, so according to The universal Gravitation formula you should "weigh" a bit more at the poles regardless of the spining earth. Bottom line is .... you dont "weigh" that much more less,
But back to your question, you have inertia (things that are moving want do keep on moving in the same fashion/speed/radius etc ...) that keeps you from flying of off the face of the earth. So I wouldn't worry about being sucked into space if the earth rotated any faster....
2006-12-04 20:23:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You weigh more at the poles than at the equator. The reason for this is not because of centripital forces .
The earth has a slight bulge at the equator (because of forces due to axial rotation).
Because you're closer to the center of the earth (Gmm / r^2) at the poles, you weigh more there.
Conversely, you weigh less at the equator which is why we launch shuttles from the state closest to the equator--Florida.
2006-12-04 20:30:08 · answer #3 · answered by Stu F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1000mph sounds like a lot of centrifugal force - until you factor in your radius from the axis of rotation, which, at the equator is about 4000 miles. Net result is, yes, by a few micro-ounces. In addition, gravity is ever-so-slightly more at the poles than at the equator due to the oblate-spheroid shape of Earth, add perhaps a couple more micro-ounces
2006-12-04 21:16:35 · answer #4 · answered by Gary H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok here you go, first there is a centerfugal force, no it is not a natural force, but a force non the less. the fact is you put a tennis ball on a string and spin it, the ball will be moving faster than your hand which is in the center, the ball wants to "fly" away. that is the centerfugal force. kind of like being on one of thoes spinning rides like you see in a playscape at the park, you sit in the middle and you get dizzy that is it, but try to sit on the outside of it and you fall off. the only other variable is gravity, but "techincly" if you were to stand at the poles you would be "feel" heavier than at the equator.
2006-12-04 20:28:46 · answer #5 · answered by monkeyfingerslap 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The difference is very slight. Even people in orbit in...say the ISS, have a very slight difference as to how much the gravity of the body known as Earth pulls upon it. The actual reason that they feel "no gravity" is because they are in free fall going about the earth. Their downward descent is turned into their motion of revolution about the earth.
Hope this helps. That's a REALLY simple explanation of a highly complex subject.
2006-12-04 20:29:03 · answer #6 · answered by shaunmhardy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no such thing as a centrifugal force.
Weight is the Force of gravity on an object. The weight you feel is the Normal Force, which is the earth pushing back on you. If the person is the same distance from the center of the earth at both points, then his/her weight would remain the same.
A person's weight will become less the farther away from earth the person moves.
2006-12-04 20:21:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
That's a very well-educated question. I hope there is someone smart enough to answer that, but unfortunately it isn't me. However, here's a thought: when a man is on the moon, he seems to 'weigh' less because of the difference in gravatational pull, but in actuality he still has the same body mass so his 'weight' really hasn't changed at all. Even if you were at the poles or the equator or wherever, you would still contain the same body mass, thus your weight really doesn't change, only the force of gravity upon your person.
2006-12-04 20:17:21 · answer #8 · answered by LADY ~ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
oooo .. good one.. im watching this.
you would think the difference would be significant.
but obviously it cant be that profound.. but with such speed it seems like it would be a a HUGE difference..
cetrifugal force= (mass x velocity^2) / radius
so a 50kg person
1000mph= about 447 meters per second
earth radius=6378,000meters
so it comes out to 1.56 newtons.. and thats not jack... i really dont see why the radius matters.. the speed and weight should... and the speed will depend on the radius.. but the radius itself doesnt seem like it would matter...
but i guess the makers of that formula know more than me... maybe...lol
2006-12-04 20:17:42 · answer #9 · answered by causalitist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like to learn something every day, so I guess this is my ? of the day to learn...
2006-12-04 20:23:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋