what if earth was stuck exactly between two gravitational pulls, both of equal force
2007-08-21 16:27:18 · 5 answers · asked by coldfire_blacksheep 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
You mean, for example, if it were halfway between two stars of equal mass? And by "stuck," do you mean its sitting still as opposed to whizzing between them?
The net force on the planet would be zero, so theoretically it would just stay there. However, it's a very unstable position--if any small force nudged it out of position, it would tend to fall still further away from the center--so in reality it could not stay there.
My guess is that it would end up in a "figure-8" orbit around the two stars.
2007-08-21 16:46:22 · answer #1 · answered by RickB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would be like being between binary stars. But one would have to have even the slightest mass over the other.
2007-08-21 23:46:16 · answer #2 · answered by Andrew 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be hard to get a good night's sleep.
2007-08-21 23:32:11 · answer #3 · answered by aviophage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would have stay in that one spot,but any disruption would cause havoc.
2007-08-22 08:29:42 · answer #4 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it wouldnt move...isnt that obvious?
2007-08-21 23:48:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋