The Earths absolute speed through Space?

Question

I was wondering if it is possible to determine the Earths true absolute movement through space. The Earth orbits the sun at approx 30km/s and our solar system orbits the galaxy at approx 300 km/s, but movement though space if always relative to something else.

Would it not be possible to determine the Earths ABSOLUTE movement through space by taking 3 lasers and running them perpendicular to each other (X,Y,Z)? Then by measuring the red/blue shift on each X,Y,Z, would that not give the Earths true direction and speed relative to space itself? Or is that red/blue shift measurement not detailed enought? Has anyone ever tried this in the spirit of research?

Answer 1

You have to be very careful when talking about 'absolute speed'. All speeds are measured with respect to something else. In your experiment, there would be no red or blue shift observed. In fact, something close in spirit to this experiment was performed in the latter part of the 19th century by Michelson and Morley. They got a null answer. This is what eventually led to special relativity.

With that said, it IS possible to measure our velocity relative to that of the universal expansion. This is done by looking at the cosmic background radiation and measuring the size of its diploe moment. The result come out to about 200 km/sec.

Answer 2

I not sure about the laser thing. But maybe you can find its speed based off of the gravity created by earth verses its mass.

The Earth creates more gravity than it should with mass alone. Since earth is moving in space it makes the gravity more intense and acts like a multiplier to the gravity created by mass. If you can find out how much gravity is created by a mass at absolute zero speed then you can figure out earths speed.

Earth gravity must have very small variations through out the year depending on the direction it is heading as it orbits the sun. The time with the least gravity would be the direction towards the big bang or the starting point. Unfortunately the earth is in a flat plane so the chances of it heading directly to the origins of the universe is extremely remote.

Answer 3

As the earth travels around the sun at about 30km/sec., and the sun circles the Milky Way at a speed of about 240km/sec, then depending on the orbit of the arth, as it pertains to the direction of the sun's travel, will have a variable speed in relation to the galaxy's center.
Red or blue shift of a laser could only be observed as motion away from or towards an observer, in relation to that observer's position.

Answer 4

Well, what would the lasers be moving relative to? In order to determine the absolute speed of something, you would have to compare its movement relative to the center of the universe. And where exactly is that, if there even is one?

Answer 5

Yeah what Wisdom Cube & Critical Mass say; and what if the whole universe, lazers included are falling south. I think that if you add all the speeds of a hydrogen atoms electron thru space you get the speed of light. Scifuntubes

Answer 6

i'm not sure about the laser thing, but i've always understood that a velocity has to be relative to something. maybe if you defined some "center of the universe" point, from which everything else is moving away in all directions. it sounds like you already understand that, so i guess i can't help.

Answer 7

The determine the absolute speed of earth we have to find center of the universe. Since, our universe is infinite (many says), the center point can't be defined. To determine center point, we have to find its end point.

Answer 8

to what reference are you going to stabilize/control these lasers in their positions