what would happen if the earth...?

Question

was square? Would me and my tuba fall off the edge?

Answer 1

You are off the edge already!

Answer 2

It is impossible due to the physical structure of gravity, and the solar system.

A simply explanation of all this would be in the make up of the earth. Due to the magnetic pull that all matter has toward the Earth's center, due to gravitational force, all matter is equally drawn to the earth's center proportionately in a measurement we refer to as weight. As the particles that make up the ground are evenly pulled toward the earth, it makes logical sense that the Earth would be spherical, because the matter is so compacted, and equally attracted. In a square, some elements or material would have a greater affinity for the magnetic pull than others, which is not the case.

In the case of a square earth, it may be possible for an object to fall off. The Earth would be a stationary object supported by some means undistinguishable, however due to the lack of physical magnetification, it would be bare, and everything would fall off of it.

Answer 3

Hopefully

http://www.sarcasticgazette.com

Answer 4

A cube with the same volume as Earth would have sides of 10,270 km.

For our calculations, we'll use a cube of 10,000 km on a side (volume = 10^12 cubic kilometers). We'll also adjust the density so that the surface gravity is the same as Earth's, when you are located in the middle of a face. And we'll approximate lots of things just to get an idea.

Gravity still tries to pull stuff towards the centre of gravity, located at the centre of the cube. If you are standing at the centre of a face, you are 5,000 km from the centre of the cube. If you are at the centre of an edge, you are at 7,071 km from the centre of the cube (5000*√2). Gravity will be a little more than half what it was at the centre of the face.

If you make it to a corner (your own little corner of the world?), you'll be 10,000 km away from the centre of the cube. Gravity will be approx. on third what it was at the centre of a face. Why not one fourth? Because the mass located in the corners is further from the centre than the observer at the centre of a face and does not contribute to the gravity acting on that observer.

Even though a face is flat, when you move from the centre of a face towards an edge, you are "climbing" away from the centre of the cube. Therefore, you are moving uphill. You have to climb.

Let us say that you are moving towards the centre of one edge (you path is parallel to the edges on either side of you).

When you begin, things are normal. The centre of gravity is immediately below you. The ground is horizontal.

After you have travelled 1000 km, the centre of gravity is 11.3 degrees behind you (arctan(1000/5000)). For every km you travel forward, you are moving "upwards" (away from the centre of the cube) by 200 metres. You'll have the impression of climbing an 11.3 degree hill.

After 2000 km, 21.8 degrees. I'm puffed.

After 3000 km, 31 degrees. Most people will find this a steep climb. Yet, still 2000 km to go.

After 4000 km, 38.7 degrees. Even though your tuba weigh about 2/3 of its original weight, it begins to feel like quite a load on that slope.

Near the edge, 45 degrees. Very difficult to stand, let alone walk. Still, we have given you cleats (on your shoes, not your tuba).

You make it to the edge and, peering over, you see somebody else climbing towards you from the other face, perhaps with a saxophone. Your body makes a 90 degree angle relative to the orientation of the saxophonist.

If you can stand right on the edge, then you'll have the impression that the edge is flat. You are now 5000 km from your starting point at the centre of the face. You are now 7,071 km from the centre of the cube.

You walk towards one end, followed by the saxophonist. At this point, if you are not careful, you could slip and "fall off the edge"; you and your tube would slide down what is, for you, a 45 degree slope back to the centre of a face.

The edge is 10,000 km long, and you start off from the mid-point. After walking 1,000 km, you are climbing at a rate of 8 degrees. Arriving at the corner (5,000 km), you and the saxophonist are climbing at a rate of 35.3 degrees. On either side, the faces are dropping off with a slope greater than 45 degrees.

You arrive at the corner to find four more musicians, two for each of the other two edges meeting at the corner. You take turn trying to stand right on the corner.

From there, you see the three edges slope down 35.3 degrees relative to your perception of "horizontal". The faces in between each pair of edges are sloping down at greater angles, reaching more than 45 degrees at their maximum (halfway angle between each pair of edges).

You have three problems: trying to remain standing on a corner; trying to maintain your equilibrium despite carrying a large tuba (you now regret not having taken up the piccolo or the harmonica); having to remain from slipping or dropping your tuba, despite the other 5 trying to take your place on the apex.

You are 5,000 km from the centre of any of the three edges, 7,071 km from the centre of any of the three faces meeting at the apex, and 10,000 km from the centre of the cube.

Now, play that tuba.

PS:

I now see that any water will run to the centre of the face on which it is. If there is substantial amount of water, each face will have a circular ocean around its centre.

Answer 5

You just described Bizzaro World from Superman comics.

Answer 6

You mean square and flat? Or cubic? It makes a difference, and I have a scientifically proven answer for each.

Answer 7

Sailing to Europe sure would be a hard task.

Answer 8

no, because of the gravity......no matter the form, we are attracted in any place of the world

Answer 9

that would be one challange to live