If we send a space craft to another planet and leave it there does that reduce the mass of the earth and thus reduce the gravity of the earth and thus reduce the weight of everything on the earth?
2007-07-18 16:11:37 · 6 answers · asked by BillD 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Everything attracts everything else in inverse proportion to the square of their separation, including you to the rocket, and it all adds up to one big planet. One rocket wouldn't be noticeable, unless you were standing right next to it before launch. Then it would pull sideways at you towards it. However, if we mined a significant portion of the earth's mass to build rockets and stuff and and flew it all away, the earth's mass and, therefore, gravity would be noticeably less.
2007-07-18 16:29:36 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, yes, but the affect is very minimal. Consider the universal gravitational equation F=G m1 M2 / D2
M1 is the mass of the Earth, which is huge compared to the mass of the stuff we send off it. Lots of mass is also being added to the Earth by constant bombardment, even though most of it gets burned up before reaching the surface. I wouldn't get overly worried about this one.
2007-07-18 16:18:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anthony S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but by a negligible factor. A spacecraft represents about a millionth of a billionth of the mass of the earth.
2007-07-18 16:15:45 · answer #3 · answered by MooseBoys 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but not by any appreciable amount. It's probably not even enough to be calculated by the most sensitive and sophisticated equipment available.
2007-07-18 16:13:57 · answer #4 · answered by Digital Haruspex 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, yeah. Can't you tell?
2007-07-18 16:16:59 · answer #5 · answered by warrentalb 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2007-07-18 17:12:01 · answer #6 · answered by Faology 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋