Is there anyone proficient in math who wishes to prove/disprove a paleogravity theory?

Question

Paleogravity is the theory that the apparent low-gravity characteristics of dinosaurs ("too heavy to support their weight on land") are due to an actual lower surface gravity of the planet beyond 65 million years ago. I have proposed that this was possible due to higher core temperatures, and therefore an expanded Earth volume. Thus, the dinosaurs would have lived in the gravity zone where some of our satellites orbit today. So, how do I calculate the number of miles the Earth's radius would have to increase to reduce the surface gravity by such-and-such a percentage? I used to study analytic geometry but that was some years ago... I'm going to start re-learning that but thought I would throw this out there in case anyone else is willing. Some other fellas and I are arguing the theory at:

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.co...

Please jump on in there if you have an answer!

Thanx campbelp2000! Hope you don't mind that I quoted you. Hey David_bo..., I think you misunderstand in that I do not argue that dinosaurs weren't land animals. They were. And, I would like nothing better than for you to actually check out the discussion at the link provided and give some well-thought-out pointers on EXACTLY where paleogravity falls short of being a theory.

Answer 1

Gravity is an inverse square force. Double the distance means a quarter the gravity. The distance in question is the distance from the center of mass. For gravity on the surface of the planet that is the radius of the planet. Earth has a radius of about 4,000 miles and a gravity of 1 (1 gee). So if the radius were increased to 5,000 miles, gravity would be (4000/5000)^2 which is 0.8^2 (or 0.8 times 0.8) which is 0.64. 64% of what it is now. So pick the radius you want, divide 4,000 by that number, multiply the answer by itself, and you have the new gravity. If the new size of Earth is larger then the gravity will be less than 1 but more than 0. If the new size is smaller (the Earth shrunk) then gravity will be more than 1. If the Earth is REALLY small, like less than 1 mile, then gravity is REALLY big. If the radius is zero, gravity is infinite and you have a black hole.

Answer 2

Where do you get the idea that dinosaurs were "too heavy to support their weight on land"? That idea went out with the 1800's. Look at the massive skeletal structures of the most massive dinosaurs. Those bones weren't made for lower gravitational pull or for spending all their time in swamps. Those bones were made for walking and running on hard surfaces under the gravity we experience today. In addition to the evidence of the dinosaurs themselves, any "expanded Earth volume" capable of lowering the gravitational pull on dinosaurs would have left all kinds of evidence of its eventual "shrinkage" to today's size. Mountain ranges, sediments, river basins, mid ocean ridges, and numerous other geographic features would be noticably different. Plus, you'd still have to explain where all that heat went in the last 65 million years when it had kept an "expanded Earth" swollen for 4.5 billion years previously.

Try another "theory". By the way, what you've got is an "idea", a "hypothesis", a brainstorm, but not a "theory." Theory has massive support from facts, analysis, and experimentation. Your "paleogravity" swelling the earth does not.

Answer 3

Hahhhaahhhahahahahaaa... stop it! You are killing me!

OK. Seriously. No. I do not wish to use my proficiency in math and physics to solve your homework. Not even if you just put about an oder of magnitude more imagination into your little story than it takes to solve a simple quadratic ratio problem.

Answer 4

Wow, this is way beyond my thinking, Duff. But it sounds interesting and yet someone too intelligent for me to even follow. I stink at math by the way.

Answer 5

I am totally unable to do what you ask, but this sounds _fascinating!_

Answer 6

That's maths.