If water seeks its own level, how can oceans conform to the curve of the earth?

[Sluggo]

Just a random thought that kept me laying awake at 4 AM.

 

[Kalvin00]

Because of gravity.

 

[SoylentGreen]

Where do you propose the water to go?

 

[Spoooon]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
Because of gravity.

You mean it doesn't hold on real tight?

 

[Orsorum]

The oceans equalize their level to a common equilibrium - that which is even between the open seas. I would imagine that equalizing pressure (air pressure?) overrules gravity (in the sense that denser materials at different areas in the earth's crust have negligible effect on the overall water level).

Of course, I could just be talking out of my ass.

 

[Ameesh]

lets all say it together "GRAVITY"

 

[SoylentGreen]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
Of course, I could just be talking out of my ass.

You usually are, but you sound intelligent in this post.

Is someone using your account?

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
lets all say it together "GRAVITY"

I do not think he realizes the gravity of this post

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
lets all say it together "GRAVITY"

Gravity is what makes it seek its own level, not what makes it curve to fit the earth.

 

[thirtythree]

I could be wrong but I'm guessing gravity has something to do with it.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: Kiyup

Originally posted by: Orsorum
Of course, I could just be talking out of my ass.

You usually are, but you sound intelligent in this post.

Is someone using your account?

Nope, I've just had an insane amount of tea over the last three hours.

 

[Heisenberg]

What the water is really doing is seeking the lowest possible gravitational potential energy state. On a very small scale, this looks level. On a large scale, such as the whole planet, it must conform to the curvature of the earth in order to have the lowest potential energy.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
What the water is really doing is seeking the lowest possible gravitational potential energy state. On a very small scale, this looks level. On a large scale, such as the whole planet, it must conform to the curvature of the earth in order to have the lowest potential energy.

Damn, you beat me to it... We're both 1-1 now in physics Q/A threads

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
What the water is really doing is seeking the lowest possible gravitational potential energy state. On a very small scale, this looks level. On a large scale, such as the whole planet, it must conform to the curvature of the earth in order to have the lowest potential energy.

Thanks, I will have a restful sleep tonight.

Unless another question comes up.

 

[IcemanJer]

of course once you throw in the gravitational pull of the moon, not all sea levels are equal.

 

[silverpig]

To add on though, there's nothing special about water so that it tries to be level. If you spill water in space it'll just float around as a blob and break apart into little globules before it freezes. It's not like it tries to form a sheet of water floating in space or anything.

In the presence of a gravitational well such as the earth, all mass is attracted to the earth in a direction pointing towards the earth's centre of gravity. Water, as a liquid, is free-flowing and has no shape-holding property. It's individual molecules are fairly loosely bound. Just as a rock will roll down a hill to the bottom, so do the water molecules in the oceans. They always try to find the lowest possible spot to sit.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Sluggo
Just a random thought that kept me laying awake at 4 AM.

Gravity man. The same force that makes boobs hang lower every year.

 

[OokiiNeko]

While gravity may be the obvious answer, why are the Atlantic and Pacific at different levels at the Panama Canal?

Atlantic... = Pacific?

 

[SithSolo1]

Originally posted by: OokiiNeko
While gravity may be the obvious answer, why are the Atlantic and Pacific at different levels at the Panama Canal?

Atlantic... = Pacific?

They're not are they? They use lifting/ lowering docks to raise ships on one side and lower them on the other just so they can get them over the land..

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: SithSolo1

Originally posted by: OokiiNeko
While gravity may be the obvious answer, why are the Atlantic and Pacific at different levels at the Panama Canal?

Atlantic... = Pacific?

They're not are they? They use lifting/ lowering docks to raise ships on one side and lower them on the other just so they can get them over the land..

That's true... but I think there may also be a difference due to tides? I'd have to check on that though.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: SithSolo1

Originally posted by: OokiiNeko
While gravity may be the obvious answer, why are the Atlantic and Pacific at different levels at the Panama Canal?

Atlantic... = Pacific?

They're not are they? They use lifting/ lowering docks to raise ships on one side and lower them on the other just so they can get them over the land..

That's true... but I think there may also be a difference due to tides? I'd have to check on that though.

Dood, some guy got a great deal on a pump and now he's pumping water from one side to the other.

 

[silverpig]

The man in the moon?

 

[OokiiNeko]

You guys crack me up!

There are NO pumps involved in the locks. All the water is provided by Lake Gatun, the largest manmade freshwater lake when it was created.

The Atlantic and Pacific are at different levels (by about 40 feet). That seems like a lot for water that is separated by only 30-40 miles. You would think the tidal action would be equal with two bodies of water so close at that point.

 

[illusion88]

Originally posted by: OokiiNeko
You guys crack me up!

There are NO pumps involved in the locks. All the water is provided by Lake Gatun, the largest manmade freshwater lake when it was created.

The Atlantic and Pacific are at different levels (by about 40 feet). That seems like a lot for water that is separated by only 30-40 miles. You would think the tidal action would be equal with two bodies of water so close at that point.

See, after seeing such movies as Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, I discovered that the gravity is different in different parts of the earth. Take China, there is far less gravity there. This is due to the fact that they are on the bottom of the earth and thus fall down (away) from the earth a little bit more then we do. Now apply this concept to the Panama situtation. See how it works out? Now go to sleep.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

The earth is round, and gravity pulls water toward the center of the earth. That is the direction that it's pulled... downward, into a globe. The oceans are round for the same reason the earth is round. Gravity pulls toward the center of gravity.