basically what I'm trying to say is because of gravity is it possible to throw rocks from the moon to earth
2007-04-14 23:55:28 · 16 answers · asked by umbrellaphone 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
No
You have insufficient muscular strength to throw a rock at sufficient velocity to escape the lunar gravitational field.
If you used a mechanical method to augment your strength (just possible) then apart from aiming difficulties, the rock would burn up as a meteorite in Earth's atmosphere.
2007-04-15 00:02:13 · answer #1 · answered by David B 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
True that the moon has less gravity, but it still has an escape velocity. This velocity would have to be sustained right until the rock has escaped the pull of the moons gravity.
I doubt a good hard throw would give enough impulse to the rock for it to break the moons gravitational pull.
And then, even if you could some how throw this rock at such a speed, the rock would then have to survive the journey through the Earth dense atmosphere. For you to obtain a hand full of rock, you would have to begin with a huge bolder thrown from the moon, again, increasing the force you need to throw the rock with.
A good idea, but i doubt it would happen. If you do try, be careful the rock doesn't come back and smack you on the head!
2007-04-15 00:05:36 · answer #2 · answered by wil_hopcyn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO.
The gravity of the moon would catch the rocks and pull them back to the Moon's surface. You could not give the rocks Moon escape velocity by throwing them with your arm or any workable catapult mechanism.
If somehow you did manage to launch them from the Moon toward Earth, they would most likely burn up when entering the Earth's atmosphere at the end of their long flight. If "somehow" they did not burn up, your challenge then would be a massive search of the Earth to locate the bits of fallen rock you threw/launched from the Moon. And, that would indeed be a big, big chore. If you will take a moment to check outside, the Earth is a pretty big place...Right? So you would begin your search for the fallen rocks where???
2007-04-15 02:20:36 · answer #3 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. You may have a really good pitching arm and lunargravity may be smaller than earths but you would still have to be able to hurl a rock with a speed of 5508.530 feet per second or 3755.816 miles per hour. If you can do that you´re certainly up for the major league...
And this (1679 meters per second) is only the speed an object needs to have just to escape the moons gravity (any slower and the rock will eventually fall back). There´s still the matter of actually hitting your lawn...
2007-04-15 00:18:55 · answer #4 · answered by DrAnders_pHd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They probably wouldn't reach your house except as so much fine dust even if they did escape the Moon's gravity. You have to factor in the friction they'll encounter when they hit the atmosphere. That's why so many space rocks that reach Earth disintegrate before reaching the ground.
2007-04-15 03:21:46 · answer #5 · answered by tkron31 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be pretty difficult. For one, to stop the rocks burning up in Earths atmosphere, they'd have to start off pretty damn big, and there's still gravity on the moon(1/6 Earth gravity), so you'd still have to lift them. Then, you'd have the problem of getting them accurately to somewhere you could collect them. given the distances involved, you'd probably want to try and land them in a desert somewhere. Try for your back garden, and you'll probably just destroy yor house. And by the time you got back, someone would probably have swiped them. So you'd have no moon rocks and a crater to live in.
2007-04-14 23:59:51 · answer #6 · answered by Al_ide 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe with a catapault? But then you got the old gravity to think about, you'd be floating about in space and you throw a rock and it just wobbles around and then floats away. Best to go to the moon, pick up a few nice big rocks and take them home in your pocket - good luck :-)
2007-04-15 01:21:29 · answer #7 · answered by floppity 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no they will fall back to the moon after a LONG time, hmmmmm playing football on the moon would be awesome :D, or you can pretend that you are one of the heroes of crouching tiger hidden dragon and jump in cool ways and stuff Haaaa :D
remember the moon still has gravity and throwing a rock using your "human power" won't give it enough power to escape the moon's gravity
2007-04-15 00:08:05 · answer #8 · answered by tarek c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure of moon, but if you throw rocks from Mars, you can surely sell them for something better than mint.
2007-04-15 00:08:57 · answer #9 · answered by Vikrant 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
unless you find a rock big enought to survive entering the atmosphere and not shatter when it hits the ground so still intact
plus still able to throw it at about 11km a second otherwise it would just stay in the earths orbit
2007-04-15 08:37:12 · answer #10 · answered by nurgle69 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋