question about Gravitation?

Question

Explain why the following reasoning is wrong.
"The sun attracts all bodies on earth. At midnight, when the sun is directly below, it pulls on an object in the same direction as the pull of the earth on that object. At noon, when the sun is directly above, it pulls on an object in a direction opposite to the pull of the earth. Hence, all objects should be heavier at midnight ( or night ) than they are at noon ( or day). "

Answer 1

The only possible flaw in that statement is the fact that we are accelerating with the earth in the sun's gravitational field, so we're basically accompanying the earth in "free fall". If you are in free fall you will feel weightless. We are attracted to the sun with the same acceleration that the earth is, so we move with it, and our otherwise extra (or less) weight is not experienced.

In general, however (despite above posts) our mass is constant anywhere in the universe, but our weight is not, so an object that weighs a ton on earth will weigh less on the moon, or in free space, and more on a larger planet. All objects in the universe with mass attract all other objects with mass, but this force decreases with distance. The above statement would not be flawed in the case of the moon, because the moon's gravitational field is not uniform around the earth, and thus does not affect the earth's acceleration the same way it does smaller objects on the earth's surface. The position of the moon actually does have a gravitational effect on things, which has something to do with the tide.

Answer 2

Actually, the statement is no more valid for the moon than for the sun, since the sun's gravitational field is not uniform either (which means that it also contributes to the tidal stresses on the earth).

And, contrary to another answer, the existence of tidal forces do not, in fact, prove the truth of the statement, since the waters facing away from the sun and/or moon also bulge outward.

Answer 3

Sun does not attract anything.
It's OUR EARTH that attracts or gravitational pull of the Earth that attracts bodies on Earth. This statement was given by famous scientist Newton.

Answer 4

What's wrong is that you're assuming your statement is wrong. The tides of the ocean prove the TRUTH of the reasoning. Whenever the earth turns an ocean toward the sun (or moon) it beomes lighter and bulges toward the body in question....

Answer 5

Let us see, now..doesn't a ton weigh a ton ANYWHERE, ANY TIME? And a pound a pound, regardless of location - even when floating in space?

Answer 6

I think its wrong, because it does not make sense to me. :P