2007-03-03 10:12:19 · 12 answers · asked by oldtimer 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Hello,
ANS) The whole concept of there being an "up" and a "down" are entirely related to the forces of gravity. Gravity is something we take totally for granted because we live within a gravitational world.
However, because the same forces of gravity that we experience here on earth dont apply in the void of outer space. Then the concept of an up and a down are nolonger relevant or appropriate.
In summary, up & down only applies where there is strong gravitational force. And then the up & down applies to the direction of the pull of that force. With our planet the gravitational pull is towards the earth's core obviously, think newton & apple,etc.
IR
2007-03-03 10:35:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually the answer is yes. But it is not called Up and Down as such. You travel on a three dimensional axis, so you have length, width and depth.
Depending on you space ship design it would have a front, back, top and bottom. So from your start point in space you can travel up and down on you depth axis, forwards and back along you length axis and side to side on your width axis.
Because there is no galactic constant at the moment that has been agreed by all aliens in the galaxy we would probably use the Sol system (that's our solar system by the way) as our point of reference in space. Saying coordinate 0,0,0 is the dead centre of our sun you can say where we are and plot a course from there. If you were outside of our solar system you would use a guide star (the nearest star to your position) and plot a course relative from there.
Up and down is not related to gravity. If you were in the middle of space just floating you can still point up or down relative to you so up and down is relative to the observer in space.
2007-03-03 12:19:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Up and down are relative to a gravity gradient. If you are in space, one can always call whatever is the direction to the closest or most prominent body (planet, moon, star, whatever) the one exerting the highest gravity -- even if one is in free fall and not feeling gravity as such -- "down".
But that is really stretching up the definition.
2007-03-03 10:16:46 · answer #3 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, everything is scattered in all directions. So it depends where you want to go. I think not but none will ever reach the end or the "bottom" or "top" of the universe.
2007-03-03 10:19:04 · answer #4 · answered by Jenna L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no there is no piont of reference in space meaning for there to be and up and down there must be a common thing to compare to, on earth it is the ground for example
2007-03-03 10:15:48 · answer #5 · answered by supremecritic 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, there would be one in relation to your current trajectory. But there's no definite up or or down as we have here on Earth
2007-03-03 10:15:06 · answer #6 · answered by MLBfreek35 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, but its up a spiral arm of a galaxy system (away from the centre) and is related to the predominant gravitational pull
2007-03-03 10:19:13 · answer #7 · answered by DAVID C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Up, down, back, front and sideways would only be relative to where you are standing on a spacecraft.
2007-03-03 10:17:47 · answer #8 · answered by Polo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, but only in relation to Earth.
2007-03-03 10:22:55 · answer #9 · answered by Slappy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, there's only an up and down when you are on a surface
2007-03-03 10:14:58 · answer #10 · answered by Squirrley Temple 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋