Discussion»Questions»Science and Technology» Why don't we turn upside down when we travel to the other side of the Earth? How does the Earth know to right- side us?
There is no up or down...from space. It's a human concept on the surface. Everything is referenced to the force of gravity. Wow...a serious answer from me. Quota exceeded.
This post was edited by Element 99 at September 26, 2017 2:20 PM MDT
Here is the concept that I cannot grasp. What the hell does no up or down in space mean? The planet has form. There is some reference point somewhere where you can define up or down or else what the f*ck?
This post was edited by Just Asking at September 26, 2017 5:58 PM MDT
One must have a reference point. In deep space, far from any large bodies, your reference is the spacecraft, which can be oriented in any direction. Up is up and down is down inside the craft.
This post was edited by Element 99 at September 26, 2017 2:20 PM MDT
Down is a human concept. We learn about down vs up with regard to what happens when we no longer have support between us and the earth.
At which point we fall (down) unless we hit a springboard at the top of our support "structure" (diving board) and go slightly up before we go down.
Now, let's stick with Newton rather than Einstein for the moment.
When you do the math on the force of attraction between an essentially spherical body like the earth and anything so small as a individual person (or one in a helicopter), the force of attraction acts as if it were originating at the center of the sphere.
So to us in the helicopter, we don't experience what your poster suggests---the sensation of "upside down"---we just know that the force is pulling us toward the center of the earth just as it did when were in the Northern Hemisphere and we associate that direction with "down."
If that doesn't help, reply---I don't know how much better I can do, but your reply might suggest another way to explain things.
'Wilson's Theory of Gravity,' Gravity is the result of objects that displace space. The moon is one seventh the size of Earth and therefore has one seventh the gravity. Space is not empty, but full of gravity that cannot be detected unless an object such as a planet displaces it. It is a major force yet subtle. Hold a balloon under water and you will feel the powerful force that comes from 'displacement.'
The moon's gravity is 1/6 of Earth's. Gravity is a major Universal force, but in fact it is rather miniscule. The Universal Gravitational constant is 6.67 X 10E-11. (The unit is made up so it fits the equations using it.) The force felt by holding a balloon underwater is buoyancy. Sorry...I got carried away with my physics teaching.
Element 99 