2006-12-18 18:16:24 · 8 answers · asked by ARTURO R 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It would not take 8 minutes to reach us since gravity doesn't move at the speed of light. (This implies some sort of transmission by emission.) Gravity doesn't move at all. The Earth and all of the planets would move in a straight line relative to the direction of their momentum at the time of gravity's removal. With our orbits as large as they are we might not notice more than a considerable Earth quake and nothing more. (Besides of course either flying up.) It would probably be an interesting experience lifting off of the Earth. Most likely our orbits wouldn't be in danger since gravity causes an orbiting object to get closer to the object it orbits the longer it does so due to the loss of energy; so this lack of gravity would undo the billions of years of getting closer that the Moon/Earth/Sun/Etc. have been experiencing. Yours truly,
Mervin DePervin
2006-12-18 21:39:19 · answer #1 · answered by Mervin DePervin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just thinking out loud.
Well, we are traveling through space as a solar system, but probably at a pretty constant velocity.
We are circling the sun, so what is the effect of the centripetal force due to that? Probably pretty small due to the fact that we don't weigh considerably more when we are facing the sun as opposed to 180 degrees away.
Finally, we are revolving like a top. So, I guess the force would throw us off the earth.
Maybe someone should answer how high a 100 kg would go in 10 seconds, if gravity were to stop acting for that long.
I hope no one hits the switch anytime soon. I'm ready for bed and I don't want to have to go looking for it after I land!
2006-12-19 02:27:22 · answer #2 · answered by bkc99xx 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you mean earth's gravity field dissappears then we would start floating and the moon would start moving tangentially respect to its circular orbit until gravity would be "switched on again" and who knows if the moon would be caught in a different orbit or would float away from earth.
If you mean the sun's gravity field disappears for 10s on earth we would not know about it for just over 8 minutes, the time it takes light from the sun to reach earth. As with the above case the earth would maybe find a new orbit or float away forever. Of course there are a lot of other things happening.
2006-12-19 04:21:37 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. X 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We will float in space because the gravity is what pulls us down.
2006-12-19 02:19:39 · answer #4 · answered by Wait&Hope 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We would all get a real big rush
2006-12-19 02:24:02 · answer #5 · answered by Chris B 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
humans would achieve what was thought impossible
flight without external help
2006-12-19 02:59:41 · answer #6 · answered by king p 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
better hope your by a tree or a rock and holt on...
2006-12-19 02:18:59 · answer #7 · answered by Fantasy Sports Guru 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
chaos
2006-12-19 02:18:22 · answer #8 · answered by ...n... 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋