I was thinking, since you're further away from the Earth, is gravity less (even by a fraction of a percentage) in an aiplane?
2007-09-23 14:39:57 · 5 answers · asked by Jeff W 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes. If you're relatively close to the earth, the gravity decreases by about 0.05% for every mile you go up. Contrary to what others have said, this is easily measurable with sensitive instruments. If you weigh 165 lbs on the ground, you will "lose" about 1.3 ounces for every mile you go up.
2007-09-23 14:53:56 · answer #1 · answered by RickB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the acceleration due to gravity = G*(m' * m") / r², where
r is equal to the distance between the centre of the earth and the body. To calculate the 'g' in the plane, r = (radius of earth + height of the plane.)= (R+h). As the denominator is more naturally the 'g' will be less. But this difference will be negligibly small.
2007-09-23 15:11:02 · answer #2 · answered by Joymash 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree, the further you get from the mass of earth, the less it can pull on you. The problem is that the difference is so slight that there may not be instruments able to detect or measure the difference.
2007-09-23 14:49:42 · answer #3 · answered by good gesser 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to laws of physics, yes, but the difference is infinitely small.
2007-09-23 14:48:26 · answer #4 · answered by D.Torrence 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are considering even a small change (verryy small) then yes, you can calculate this by Fg=G(m1*m2)/r^2
2007-09-23 14:48:43 · answer #5 · answered by italiax06 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋