would the cable be taught as the force of the earth spinning pull the anvil out or would it be slack as the anvil and or the cable is pulled to earth by gravity. I think this has something to do with centrifugal and centripetal forces but I'm really not sure.
2007-01-30 00:45:53 · 7 answers · asked by Zebedeesnose 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Arthur C. Clark proposed an idea for a "Space Elevator" in which an orbiting satellite would be bound to the earth by a cable that could hoist materials etc. into space. Hope that gives you an idea about your anvil.
2007-01-30 00:51:29 · answer #1 · answered by 👑 Hypocrite 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Spinning of the earth would only be a factor if you are still within earth's gravity well. The anvil would drop so the cable would be taut (not taught). I'm not sure about the centrifugal/centripetal forces. Whatever was anchoring the cable would be moving more slowly than the anvil at a lower level so the cable would be at an angle.
Outside of a gravity well the force applied would be your throw. In a vacuum the anvil wouldn't stop and I suspect would be pulled back to you.
2007-01-30 09:27:43 · answer #2 · answered by felineroche 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to "toss" the cable into orbit. Right now, if you toss an anchor rope up, the end comes back down. If you could toss it up 500 or so km and give it about 25000km/h sideways speed, the end would stay up in orbit (like our weather satellites). The anchor would have to be on wheels, running along the surface of the earth underneath to keep pace. So that is, in effect, staying taut.
If you toss it up about 42000 km from the equator and give it the right eastward velocity, then the anchor wouldn't have to move because the free end would take 24 h to go around, just like the Earth. So it would (appear to) hover over the anchor. That's geosynchronous orbit, like the TV satellites.
For a true space-ladder to a geosynchronous satellite, the cable would have to go out double the distance, so the centre of mass of the cable is at geosynchronous height.
2007-01-30 09:09:10 · answer #3 · answered by Rob S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends. If the anvil reaches orbit you would get tension on the cable if its anchored to the earth.(centripetal force). Thats theoretic. more realisticly. . . the total weight of a cable that long would be more that the anvil and simple gravity would pull it all back to earth. the cable would have to be long enought to magnify the centripital force to sustain orbit and would again put tension on the cable.
Or you'd need a larger anvil.
2007-01-30 09:01:44 · answer #4 · answered by Los 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not tie your cable to a satellite that's already there? Then tighten it up and fit a lift to take people into space.
2007-01-30 08:51:09 · answer #5 · answered by Barbara Doll to you 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on what velocity (speed) you throw it out at.
if its greater than escape velocity it will be taught and if not then slack!
2007-01-30 08:55:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God Assay you know a lot for one so young!!!!!
2007-01-30 08:58:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋