I can't believe there have been a couple of people in here thinking that gravity becomes stronger as you reach the center. Common sense FTW?
Given that the diameter of the earth is over 12km - unless you think you can climb 6km in less than 48 minutes I don't think so
Well, you're being pulled toward the center of the earth, and gravity gets stronger as you get closer to something. It's not entirely non sequiter to make that assumption.
There is plenty of gravity at the center of the earth (gravitons just don't stop, it's the law
) but the combined effect balances out to a weightless effect.
flashbacck
Golden Member
- Aug 3, 2001
- 1,921
- 0
- 76
As you're falling down the hole, more mass is above you, which is pulling you up. So the net magnitude decreases until you reach the center where it would be 0.
DrPizza
Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Assuming the earth had a uniform density (which it doesn't), the acceleration of gravity would decrease linearly with the distance you fell. Even assuming a vacuum, I'm guessing the 47 minute figure is wayyyyy low.
If we assumed air resistance, AND, we magically kept all the air at one atmosphere of pressure, you would slow to a stop before ever reaching the center (or, you would just barely pass the center and then slow to a stop as you re-approached the center... I struggled with the calculations)
If we magically created a tube and perfectly insulated it from the heat inside the earth, and kept it from collapsing under the pressure of the earth pushing on it, - it wouldn't matter anyway. The air pressure would be incredible.
So incredible, in fact, that I've decided the next hypothetical problem worth pursuing is: given a cylinder through the center of the earth, what radius would be necessary such that almost the entire atmosphere of the earth would pour into the hole.
If we assumed air resistance, AND, we magically kept all the air at one atmosphere of pressure, you would slow to a stop before ever reaching the center (or, you would just barely pass the center and then slow to a stop as you re-approached the center... I struggled with the calculations)
If we magically created a tube and perfectly insulated it from the heat inside the earth, and kept it from collapsing under the pressure of the earth pushing on it, - it wouldn't matter anyway. The air pressure would be incredible.
So incredible, in fact, that I've decided the next hypothetical problem worth pursuing is: given a cylinder through the center of the earth, what radius would be necessary such that almost the entire atmosphere of the earth would pour into the hole.
the air won't just go in, it will come out the other end too. So it should be possible to float through, carried by the wind.
Yeah, intuitively it makes sense that you're being pulled to the center of the earth.. when you're OUTSIDE of the earth. So to me it seems that it only appears that you're being pulled to the center, when you're being attracted to EVERY ATOM of the earth, and the net force is toward the center. If you're actually in the center, the net force would be outward.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mechanics/earthole.html
When I tell you that you would be pulled in all directions at once you
probably think of your arm being pulled one direction and your legs in
another and you head being pulled in entirely different direction. This
would not happen. Instead every tiny bit of your body would be pulled
equally in all directions at once and the forces would cancel each other
out. You would feel weightless because you cannot sense that there are
these competing forces which are cancelling each other.
When I tell you that you would be pulled in all directions at once you
probably think of your arm being pulled one direction and your legs in
another and you head being pulled in entirely different direction. This
would not happen. Instead every tiny bit of your body would be pulled
equally in all directions at once and the forces would cancel each other
out. You would feel weightless because you cannot sense that there are
these competing forces which are cancelling each other.
Leros
Lifer
- Jul 11, 2004
- 21,867
- 7
- 81
Assuming no restistance, you would fall out at the same speed you fell in the hole.
You would jump in the hole, falling at X m/s. You would accelerate until you go to the center. Once you passed the center you would start slowing down. Once you reached the other side, you would have slowed down to X m/s.
MrPickins
Diamond Member
- May 24, 2003
- 9,013
- 567
- 126
Wouldn't the air just pour in from both sides? If you tried to float through, you'd end up crushed in liquid(?) gas in the center of the tube.
As for the OP, the weight of the drill would provide force down (from the drillers' reference
) until the bit got to a n equal distance from the core on the other side.
thecoolnessrune
Diamond Member
- Jun 8, 2005
- 9,672
- 577
- 126
Toastedlightly
Diamond Member
- Aug 7, 2004
- 7,213
- 6
- 81
IIRC, gravity is based upon the mass, and as you go towards the center, the mass towards your rear becomes greater, while the mass in front of you decreases. Therefore it is the same both ways.
Toastedlightly
Diamond Member
- Aug 7, 2004
- 7,213
- 6
- 81
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