2007-04-21 03:49:40 · 3 answers · asked by sweet l 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
No. Wiki gravitation.
I believed this when I was 8 or so years old. The reason was that I read an article about gravity: how things stay in orbit, why there is "zero gravity" in space, and how gravity can be simulated there. I was born in 1960, and folks were landing on the moon soon, so kids like me needed to know this stuff. The article explained that the effect of gravity can be simulated by centripetal acceleration. There was a drawing of a guy swinging a bucket full of water around on a rope, and the water stayed in the bucket when it was overhead. I immediately jumped to the conclusion that spinning was the key to gravity. It took a while (a year or so), I swung the bucket myself, and argued with my little brother. We eventually realized that it would be in the wrong direction, and what about the poles? He concluded finally and I agreed that the earth must just attract stuff.
2007-04-21 05:17:03 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No...it would still have gravity even without its rotation....since graviational force is directly proportional to its mass.
I used to think it was rotation...much like the centrifugal force rides at six flags.
Gravity has nothing to do with rotation...the best answer we have yet to describe it is that it occurs due to a mass in space (AND time!) displacing that same space, causing it to curve like an imploding dimple all around the object of mass.
2007-04-21 10:56:17 · answer #2 · answered by bradxschuman 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Gravity is the force of attraction arising between any two objects with mass. So it is the mass of the Earth which gives it its gravity.
It is worth noting, however, that no-one has yet provided a widely accepted explanation of the actual physical cause of gravity or the mechanism by which it acts.
2007-04-21 10:54:00 · answer #3 · answered by PJ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋