2
   

A wondering mind is a wonderful thing(Gravity)?????

Forums: Science, Gravity, Physics
Email this Topic • Print this Page
 
 
LoadedGhost
 
Reply Mon 13 Sep, 2010 10:23 am
theoretically speaking if you bore a hole through the center of the earth so there was a direct path from one side to the other and then droped a marble in the hole what would happen? Would it stop directly in the center ?
  • Topic Stats
  • Top Replies
  • Link to this Topic
Type: Question • Score: 2 • Views: 1,237 • Replies: 6
No top replies

 
BillRM
 
  1  
Reply Mon 13 Sep, 2010 01:32 pm
@LoadedGhost,
If there was no air or other factors causing friction it would just oscillate backs and forth between the two sides of the earth forever.

Second note that is with a pole to pole hole as the rotation of the earth at other locations would interfere with it dropping straight down the hole.

With friction it would settle sooner or later at the earth center after a numbers of oscillations, the numbers depending on the degree of friction.
0 Replies
 
cicerone imposter
 
  1  
Reply Mon 13 Sep, 2010 02:24 pm
Actually, it'll melt and disappear.
0 Replies
 
fresco
 
  1  
Reply Mon 13 Sep, 2010 03:31 pm
@LoadedGhost,
Discounting rotation of the earth and friction, you don't need a hole through the centre to obtain oscillatory motion. Any straight or arced tunnel drilled between two points on the earth's surface would theoretically give a positive gravitational vector for the first half of the motion and an opposite (negative) one for the second half. This lead to speculation on another thread (several years ago) about "minimal energy input travel" through such a conduit, ignoring of course the energy needed to construct it !
BillRM
 
  1  
Reply Mon 13 Sep, 2010 03:40 pm
@fresco,
Quote:
Discounting rotation of the earth and friction, you don't need a hole through the centre to obtain oscillatory motion. Any straight or arced tunnel drilled between two points on the earth's surface would theoretically give a positive gravitational vector for the first half of the motion and an opposite (negative) one for the second half. This lead to speculation on another thread (several years ago) about "minimal energy input travel" through such a conduit, ignoring of course the energy needed to construct it !


I would think that you would have a gravity compound in such a situation that would result in the object coming into contact with the walls of the tunnel.

Are you assuming no friction walls?
fresco
 
  1  
Reply Mon 13 Sep, 2010 03:48 pm
@BillRM,
Yes...I did say "discounting friction...." but we might settle for technology which gives "minimal friction".
BillRM
 
  1  
Reply Mon 13 Sep, 2010 03:51 pm
@fresco,
Quote:
Yes...I did say "discounting friction...." but we might settle for technology which gives "minimal friction".


I guess I just hate the idea of the object bounding off the walls of the tunnel.
0 Replies
 
 

Related Topics

U.S. Lags World in Grasp of Genetics and Acceptance of Evolution - Discussion by Robert Gentel
Intelligent Design Theory: Science or Religion? - Discussion by wandeljw
New Propulsion, the "EM Drive" - Question by TomTomBinks
New species of hominid discovered - Question by FBM
The Science Thread - Discussion by Wilso
Why do people deny evolution? - Question by JimmyJ
Are we alone in the universe? - Discussion by Jpsy
Fake Science Journals - Discussion by rosborne979
More (much more) dinosaur soft tissue turning up - Discussion by gungasnake
Must Scientific Knowledge Be Considered Relative? - Discussion by wandeljw
Controvertial "Proof" of Multiverse! - Discussion by littlek
 
  1. Forums
  2. » A wondering mind is a wonderful thing(Gravity)?????
Copyright © 2024 MadLab, LLC :: Terms of Service :: Privacy Policy :: Page generated in 0.03 seconds on 04/29/2024 at 03:07:34
▲ ▼