If I were superhuman and could jump to the moon, the earth would definitly rotate whilst up there, so is there a sliding scale? I can't imagine that it is a case of the answer being "No, because I am within the earth's atmosphere" as that would gradually decrease so there can't be a line at which a jump 1m above the earth rotates, and 1m below the earth does not? And if it is a sliding scale, then I imagine the case is that it would rotate at such a low level as not to be noticable, else it is negated by local air resistance?
2006-12-20 21:40:44 · 18 answers · asked by Marky 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
At the rate the earth rotates, so too do the objects on the earth's surface as they are secured by gravity. So, as you jump, you are actually also spinning on the same axis as the earth due to gravity - thus, you will move laterally in the same way that the earth does and return to the same point as you jumped from because of gravity. The higher you jump, the less gravity has an effect on you and, therefore, you would not rotate the same amount as the earth, meaning that the earth would rotate slightly below you and you would land in a different spot. Airplanes use this principal when they're flying in the opposite direction to the rotation of the earth.
2006-12-20 21:45:03 · answer #1 · answered by PETER G 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
only if were to be possible, we could have saved so much of energy!!... We could have got the planes to 'float' from the ground on a specific point and as the earth turned we could 'land' the aircraft on the reqd. location. Sounds great, doesn't it??
but in reality, thats a different equation all together! even if you 'jump' from the earths surface, there's something called as "Gravity" which will keep you binded towards the centre of the earth. As far as you are under it's effect, you will move co-axial with the surface.
But on the other hand if you are able to be exactly on the North/ South pole, since you will be on the pole, the effect of rotation is minimal.
Again even this is a super-human preposition as the body being placed on the pole needs to be SO HUGE that it needs to negate the flatness of the earth's sphere and needs to be supported with either a point/ line of contact on the earth.
2006-12-21 06:06:06 · answer #2 · answered by Vinay V 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a non-super being, you cannot escape the effect of gravity when you jump up off the ground. Since you are travelling at the same speed and in the same direction as the Earth, you will not notice the rotation when you jump.
2006-12-21 05:44:18 · answer #3 · answered by Feeling new @ 42 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are correct, yes if you could jump directly vertical and you would be infinitesimally further from your starting place but you'd have a hard job measuring it. Actually its slightly more complex as your position to the earth forms a curve on the way up and down so actually you would never be able to jump on a vertical trajectory as the trajectory would be measured from you starting point. But don't get hung up on the finer points of this unless you really want to. Best way to think about it is to model, pretend you could jump 1000 meters and you could do it very slowly and then come down very slowly, allow the earth to rotate at normal speeds or perhaps faster and you could see how it works
2006-12-21 05:48:46 · answer #4 · answered by pete m 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
At the equator, the earths rotation is about 1000 mph. That is 16.6 miles per minute or roughly 1/4 mile per second. When you jump straight up (at the equator), you are moving 1000 mph, with the earth.
You are in geosynchronous orbit with the earth.
2006-12-21 06:43:00 · answer #5 · answered by highlander 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The escape velocity (speed, direction need not be considered) of earth is 11.2 km/s ( 40320 km/hkour)
If you jump with this speed from earth then you will never return to earth.
If the vertical speed ( direction is important) is less than this you will return to earth on the same spot from where you jumped.
It is because you and all objects are rotaing about the axis of the earth. With respect to earth you are always on the vertical line from the surface of earth.
2006-12-21 06:06:40 · answer #6 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you would have to escape the atmosphere. Consider the earth is rotating at hundreds of MPH.
2006-12-21 12:10:02 · answer #7 · answered by JOHN Y 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you jumped up whilst on a moving train your relative position would remain the same as you are travelling at the same speed as the train. However, the train relative to its position on the ground has moved. The same would apply if you were to jump up and down whilst on the ground. The relative position would remain the same, but the planet would have moved position relative to the sun.
I hope this simple explanation helps.
2006-12-21 05:53:01 · answer #8 · answered by hotod 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The next time you are on a train, do yourself a favor, and jump while the train is traveling at a constant velocity. Does it move under you? I think that's the simplest illustration of this you can find.
2006-12-21 11:11:26 · answer #9 · answered by Where the 'morrow lives 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
of corse the earth would rotate but you would be moving at the same rate.almoste unable to think that small
2006-12-21 05:47:50 · answer #10 · answered by double 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋