Would life on Earth even be possible if the gravitational constant was any different?

Question

The gravitational constant is 6.67300 × 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2.
What if it was instead 6.0 or 7.0 × 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2... how would life on Earth be any different? Would life as we know it even be sustainable?

Answer 1

This is a universal constant so the universe would not be as we see it now. Having a higher number (7.0 ....) and the universe would probably collapsed on it's self. The lower value (6.0 .....) and the universe would have fly a part. I'm not a cosmologists so, the collapse and flying a part might not be totally correct. The big G you speak of is universal so it's the same on every planet every star. The little g the one here on earth is what can be 'changed' (like natural disasters or on other planets). Life could take changes in little g but I'm guessing changing big G would be the death of the whole universe

Answer 2

I imagine that the atmospheric pressure would differ from what we know, so boiling points of liquids will decrease (6.0) or increase (7.0), but water will still be liquid at 0 to at least 90 °C. There is no reason to imagine life different.
What would have been the influence on the evolution of life is not imaginable. Eventually no changes at all, but that also is not imaginable.

Answer 3

I think your not asking about would one person be able to withstand a sudden change, but if life itself would ba able to compensate. the anser is yes it would. People would grow differently if exposed to more or less gravity and would need to learn to deal with that. For instance if you were born on the moon and lived there your whole life, you would probably end up being taller and have less muscle. If you were born on Uranus or some other larger mass planet, you would be shorter and need more muscle to move around. Life adapts to its environment, you'd have a hard time putting it out just from some gravity glitch.

Answer 4

Wow, it extremely is a extensive strengthen! in view that we would all be directly overwhelmed, it is not basic to reply to any of your questions. this is one factor to think approximately. on the previous value, the earth's velocity keeps it in orbit around the sunlight. With the recent value, that's orbit will substitute dramatically, getting lots nearer to the sunlight. If it would not outright crash into the sunlight, it will be orbiting in a ridiculously close orbit. communicate approximately worldwide warming! in line with danger you may calculate the place the recent orbit could be; which would be worth some greater credit. Gravity additionally holds the sunlight jointly against the explosive rigidity of photograph voltaic fusion. often, because of fact the sunlight "burns down" and gravity is decreased, it would be estimated to enhance right into a pink extensive, earlier collapsing right into a white dwarf. The substitute in G might substitute that technique in a great way too. The sunlight might probably crumple directly, probably right into a black hollow (communicate approximately worldwide cooling; think of the sunlight all of sudden going out). With such variations happening, that's in all likelihood too late for "protection precautions." of direction, in line with danger there's a hidden assumption that we've been waiting to proceed to exist in some way. Disclaimer: i'm no longer a cosmology expert, so all of those techniques are in basic terms guesses consistent with what i've got examine in magazines or seen on Nova.

Answer 5

Yes, opinion only. Not yet proven
my reason
a) astronauts on their training have survive the extremes
b) ordinary people experiencing the roller coaster - they survive
c) people accidentally fall - they survive

if K is different ?
a) The digestive system might be different
b) The body weight / proportion might be different
c) The skull size might be different
d) The bone strength is different
e) The general appearance might not look human

Answer 6

The sun's rate of fusion is sensitive to Big G (core compression and density - fusion reaction rate varying as its square). A few percent this way or that makes a big difference in the solar constant and hence the Earth's surface temp. Consider all the Enviro-whiner pissing and moaning a global tenth degree C is causing.

6/6.673 = 0.899
(0.899)^2 = 19.2% less. Ice cube Earth
7/6.673 = 1.049
(1.049)^2 = 10.0% more. Boiled oceans Earth.

Either way, no iPods.

Answer 7

I don't know that life on earth as it now exists would be unlivable, but I suspect that a change in gravity would have great cosmological implications for structure and stellar formation.

Answer 8

Actually the gravitational constant changed microscopicly after the big earthquake/ tsunami a few years ago. As the planets mass and size was reduced, and its rotation increased.

Answer 9

I'm sure that's within acceptable limits