Important what if science question (Chingon bait thread)

[AzCat]

Since the forces are finite and nonzero: assuming all other problems are overcome he'd float off to a wall.  Whether or not he remained stationary when he got there depends on quite a few factors.  Happier? 

[CHONGS]

Hypothetical question. Let's say at the exact center of the earth, or any similarly sized planet, there was a void the size of a room or so. And you were in that void. What would happen? Gravity-wise, pressure-wise? The void could withstand the physical pressure of the earth bearing on it, but would gravity be stronger there? If it were, would you just be crushed, suspended in the center of the room? Or would it just be like space, where you could just float around? I need some help here, man.

Gravitational force at exact center would be 0 N.

True if: 1) the Earth is a perfect sphere (it isn't), 2) the Earth is also of uniform density (it isn't), and 3) the Earth exists in a void in which no external objects exert a gravitational force on it (theyd do).

1) Close enough, the assumption of a  well defined "center" implies a sphere is which is enough to answer his question
2) As long as the density is only dependent on the distance from the center the variance in density doesn't matter
3) Yes the every other object in the visible Universe exerts a gravitational force as well, but I don't think ew2x4 wanted to include every possible other object in the visible Universe.

But yes you can successfully nitpick an infinitum if you want.  You sure showed those EP1 profs a thing or two I bet!

1) The Earth isn't spherical, its basic shape is more that of a nonuniform oblate spheriod (those approximately 19 extra miles of mass around the equator are going to throw off your rather unclever assumption).  And because your next unclever assumption is rather obvious: so will surface nonuniformities, you know, small things like continents, mountain ranges, etc.

2) The Earth's density is most definitely not a function only of the distance from "center" (another rather unclever assumption that prevents you from reaching the correct answer).  Unless you, for example, believe that the air in Mammoth Cave has precisely the same density as the rock surrounding it.  Similarly, since the material composition of the planet isn't uniform anywhere your assumption of uniformity is merely uniformly ignorant.

3) There exists an object with which you may be familiar, colloquially referred to as "The Moon" (take a few moments to familiarize yourself with it before we continue), that exerts sufficient gravitational force on the surface of the Earth to cause tides despite the roughly 238,000 mile distance between the bodies. 

Suppose that, for the sake of argument, we move forward by assuming as true your false assumptions about the spherical uniformity and uniform density of the Earth.  Even then your answer is wrong as the net gravitational force exerted on a body at the "center" of the Earth is still not zero.  This is true for many reasons one of which is that the moon will exert a finite gravitational force on this body ... unless of course you believe that the gravitational force is somehow able to act at distance of approximately 238,000 miles but will not act at distance of approximately 242,000 miles.  Your theory of gravitation must be fascinating, please do take the time to share it with us.

The question you answered was, "Hey what would happen to a point mass in a perfectly spherical void at the precise center of a perfectly spherical body made of a uniform material that is of precisely identical density at every point and which exists in a closed universe where no other masses or forces exist?"  Unfortunately, for you, the OP asked about the Earth for which none of those assumptions even begins to hold.

EP was  but obviously you should have paid more attention.

[AzCat]

Hypothetical question. Let's say at the exact center of the earth, or any similarly sized planet, there was a void the size of a room or so. And you were in that void. What would happen? Gravity-wise, pressure-wise? The void could withstand the physical pressure of the earth bearing on it, but would gravity be stronger there? If it were, would you just be crushed, suspended in the center of the room? Or would it just be like space, where you could just float around? I need some help here, man.

Gravitational force at exact center would be 0 N.

True if: 1) the Earth is a perfect sphere (it isn't), 2) the Earth is also of uniform density (it isn't), and 3) the Earth exists in a void in which no external objects exert a gravitational force on it (theyd do).

1) Close enough, the assumption of a  well defined "center" implies a sphere is which is enough to answer his question
2) As long as the density is only dependent on the distance from the center the variance in density doesn't matter
3) Yes the every other object in the visible Universe exerts a gravitational force as well, but I don't think ew2x4 wanted to include every possible other object in the visible Universe.

But yes you can successfully nitpick an infinitum if you want.  You sure showed those EP1 profs a thing or two I bet!

1) The Earth isn't spherical, its basic shape is more that of a nonuniform oblate spheriod (those approximately 19 extra miles of mass around the equator are going to throw off your rather unclever assumption).  And because your next unclever assumption is rather obvious: so will surface nonuniformities, you know, small things like continents, mountain ranges, etc.

2) The Earth's density is most definitely not a function only of the distance from "center" (another rather unclever assumption that prevents you from reaching the correct answer).  Unless you, for example, believe that the air in Mammoth Cave has precisely the same density as the rock surrounding it.  Similarly, since the material composition of the planet isn't uniform anywhere your assumption of uniformity is merely uniformly ignorant.

3) There exists an object with which you may be familiar, colloquially referred to as "The Moon" (take a few moments to familiarize yourself with it before we continue), that exerts sufficient gravitational force on the surface of the Earth to cause tides despite the roughly 238,000 mile distance between the bodies. 

Suppose that, for the sake of argument, we move forward by assuming as true your false assumptions about the spherical uniformity and uniform density of the Earth.  Even then your answer is wrong as the net gravitational force exerted on a body at the "center" of the Earth is still not zero.  This is true for many reasons one of which is that the moon will exert a finite gravitational force on this body ... unless of course you believe that the gravitational force is somehow able to act at distance of approximately 238,000 miles but will not act at distance of approximately 242,000 miles.  Your theory of gravitation must be fascinating, please do take the time to share it with us.

The question you answered was, "Hey what would happen to a point mass in a perfectly spherical void at the precise center of a perfectly spherical body made of a uniform material that is of precisely identical density at every point and which exists in a closed universe where no other masses or forces exist?"  Unfortunately, for you, the OP asked about the Earth for which none of those assumptions even begins to hold.

EP was  but obviously you should have paid more attention.

That's all you've got?  I guess it must suck to be so amazingly wrong so publicly.   

[CHONGS]

@ AzCat playing "gotcha" in EP1.  Congrats on a "successful" meaningless nitpick that was not required or implied by the question, though I supposed I should have added a +- 10^{-4} N or so to my answer to appease the pedant.

[ew2x4]

Since I'm the OP, I declare Chingon winner. Azcat need to go to nitpick nancy school and stop having such a hard on for showing off what he has googled.

Congrats, Chings. 

[AzCat]

Congrats on being satisfied with the wrong answer (zero is about the worst realistic answer Chings could have given).  It's great that you're seeking knowledge, particularly of the  misleading and highly simplified but therefore easy to understand kind!   

[CHONGS]

Congrats on being satisfied with the wrong answer (zero is about the worst realistic answer Chings could have given).  It's great that you're seeking knowledge, particularly of the  misleading and highly simplified but therefore easy to understand kind!   

Ok how wrong am I?  What is the effect of the earth being barely non-spherical and non having a uniform density?  How big of an error do you get by neglecting the gravitational force between a human and the sun?  the moon?

[ew2x4]

Congrats on being satisfied with the wrong answer (zero is about the worst realistic answer Chings could have given).  It's great that you're seeking knowledge, particularly of the  misleading and highly simplified but therefore easy to understand kind!  

Azcat is Azcat's #1 fan. Not my fault you would rather pick things apart, even though it was all hypothetical, rather than actually attempt an answer.

[ew2x4]

Congrats on being satisfied with the wrong answer (zero is about the worst realistic answer Chings could have given).  It's great that you're seeking knowledge, particularly of the  misleading and highly simplified but therefore easy to understand kind!   

Ok how wrong am I?  What is the effect of the earth being barely non-spherical and non having a uniform density?  How big of an error do you get by neglecting the gravitational force between a human and the sun?  the moon?

he's such a dipshit. LOL    go cats.

[Rage Against the McKee]

Hypothetical question. Let's say at the exact center of the earth, or any similarly sized planet, there was a void the size of a room or so. And you were in that void. What would happen? Gravity-wise, pressure-wise? The void could withstand the physical pressure of the earth bearing on it, but would gravity be stronger there? If it were, would you just be crushed, suspended in the center of the room? Or would it just be like space, where you could just float around? I need some help here, man.

Gravitational force at exact center would be 0 N.

True if: 1) the Earth is a perfect sphere (it isn't), 2) the Earth is also of uniform density (it isn't), and 3) the Earth exists in a void in which no external objects exert a gravitational force on it (theyd do).

1) Close enough, the assumption of a  well defined "center" implies a sphere is which is enough to answer his question
2) As long as the density is only dependent on the distance from the center the variance in density doesn't matter
3) Yes the every other object in the visible Universe exerts a gravitational force as well, but I don't think ew2x4 wanted to include every possible other object in the visible Universe.

But yes you can successfully nitpick an infinitum if you want.  You sure showed those EP1 profs a thing or two I bet!

1) The Earth isn't spherical, its basic shape is more that of a nonuniform oblate spheriod (those approximately 19 extra miles of mass around the equator are going to throw off your rather unclever assumption).  And because your next unclever assumption is rather obvious: so will surface nonuniformities, you know, small things like continents, mountain ranges, etc.

2) The Earth's density is most definitely not a function only of the distance from "center" (another rather unclever assumption that prevents you from reaching the correct answer).  Unless you, for example, believe that the air in Mammoth Cave has precisely the same density as the rock surrounding it.  Similarly, since the material composition of the planet isn't uniform anywhere your assumption of uniformity is merely uniformly ignorant.

3) There exists an object with which you may be familiar, colloquially referred to as "The Moon" (take a few moments to familiarize yourself with it before we continue), that exerts sufficient gravitational force on the surface of the Earth to cause tides despite the roughly 238,000 mile distance between the bodies. 

Suppose that, for the sake of argument, we move forward by assuming as true your false assumptions about the spherical uniformity and uniform density of the Earth.  Even then your answer is wrong as the net gravitational force exerted on a body at the "center" of the Earth is still not zero.  This is true for many reasons one of which is that the moon will exert a finite gravitational force on this body ... unless of course you believe that the gravitational force is somehow able to act at distance of approximately 238,000 miles but will not act at distance of approximately 242,000 miles.  Your theory of gravitation must be fascinating, please do take the time to share it with us.

The question you answered was, "Hey what would happen to a point mass in a perfectly spherical void at the precise center of a perfectly spherical body made of a uniform material that is of precisely identical density at every point and which exists in a closed universe where no other masses or forces exist?"  Unfortunately, for you, the OP asked about the Earth for which none of those assumptions even begins to hold.

EP was  but obviously you should have paid more attention.

The question was obviously referring to the center of gravity, dumbass.

Also, the point at which gravity would be 0 N is infinitely small, so I'm pretty sure you would be crushed and liquified by the extreme heat and pressure.

[ew2x4]

Yes, center of gravity, but hypothetical so no heat and your room won't cave to the pressure.

Hypothetical!!!!

[Rage Against the McKee]

Well, if your body was somehow hypothetically able to withstand the crushing and liquification, I suppose you would be suspended in air at the center of the room.

[pike]

Well, if your body was somehow hypothetically able to withstand the crushing and liquification, I suppose you would be suspended in air at the center of the room.

But we already decided that gravity would not be exactly 0 N 

[steve dave]

If you guys think you're so smart why don't you try this little experiment personally?  That's right, squashed.

[ew2x4]

Well, if your body was somehow hypothetically able to withstand the crushing and liquification, I suppose you would be suspended in air at the center of the room.

You and Azcat need to get a room.

[pissclams]

Well, if your body was somehow hypothetically able to withstand the crushing and liquification, I suppose you would be suspended in air at the center of the room.

you cold wear a kevlar reenforced suit, similar to what the nasa astronauts/russell robinson wears when they are in space.  the suit would be designed to withstand any amount of pressure in the entire universe.

[Rage Against the McKee]

Hypothetical question. Let's say at the exact center of the earth, or any similarly sized planet, there was a void the size of a room or so. And you were in that void. What would happen? Gravity-wise, pressure-wise? The void could withstand the physical pressure of the earth bearing on it, but would gravity be stronger there? If it were, would you just be crushed, suspended in the center of the room? Or would it just be like space, where you could just float around? I need some help here, man.

Well, if your body was somehow hypothetically able to withstand the crushing and liquification, I suppose you would be suspended in air at the center of the room.

You and Azcat need to get a room.

Well, eff you then.

[ew2x4]

Hypothetical question. Let's say at the exact center of the earth, or any similarly sized planet, there was a void the size of a room or so. And you were in that void. What would happen? Gravity-wise, pressure-wise? The void could withstand the physical pressure of the earth bearing on it, but would gravity be stronger there? If it were, would you just be crushed, suspended in the center of the room? Or would it just be like space, where you could just float around? I need some help here, man.

Well, if your body was somehow hypothetically able to withstand the crushing and liquification, I suppose you would be suspended in air at the center of the room.

You and Azcat need to get a room.

Well, eff you then.

I was referring to your conditions, despite having clearly said HYPOTHETICAL!!!!

[bakerman]

Lol at someone who's posts are 90% political board, trying to argue physics with Chingon, a physics Phd....

[pissclams]

absolutely love it

[Rage Against the McKee]

Actually, I take my answer back. I think you would be able to just walk on all 6 sides of the room like a bug, unless you jumped up to the center of the room. Then you would be suspended in the air.

I'm not sure how the human body would handle all of the gravitational forces, though. Your insides might explode.

[pissclams]

can i get anyone to opine on the spacesuit idea/concept?  i really like the idea b/c megaman.