- #1
Whateverworks
- 20
- 0
Hello PF.
I learned, for some time ago, that objects in space in orbit are weightless and to this day it still blows my mind.
Its rumored that Issac Newton sat under the apple tree and in the same view he saw that apple drop from the tree to the ground he also noticed the moon up in space and he asks him self; "Why is the apple falling when the moon is not?"
The same gravitational force would be operating on them both. But the moon is falling.
As far as I have learned if we take an example like an cannonball. If we shoot it from a hill with a little speed it will go not very far before it hits the ground. Shoot the cannonball a little faster it goes further before it hits the ground. So there must be a certain speed where you can launch the cannonball so it stays in orbit and never hits the ground.
The cannonball is in free fall towards Earth and therefore weightless. The amount that the cannonball is falling towards Earth is the amount that Earth have curved away from the cannonball so it stays in orbit and never hits the ground. Am I correct?
Now back to my first question.
I have done a little experiment with a bottle of water. I cut small holes from bottom to the top so the water will come out. If you take that bottle and drop it the instant it leaves your hand it is in free fall and therefore weightless which means the water does not slip out of the hole until it hits the ground.
Is the object in space for instance the Earth and the moon in free fall and therefore weightless? After the research I've done and the experiment all evidence show that its true but it still blows my mind. So I would be very glad if you can explain to me why that is and if I am wrong please also say.
/WeW/
I learned, for some time ago, that objects in space in orbit are weightless and to this day it still blows my mind.
Its rumored that Issac Newton sat under the apple tree and in the same view he saw that apple drop from the tree to the ground he also noticed the moon up in space and he asks him self; "Why is the apple falling when the moon is not?"
The same gravitational force would be operating on them both. But the moon is falling.
As far as I have learned if we take an example like an cannonball. If we shoot it from a hill with a little speed it will go not very far before it hits the ground. Shoot the cannonball a little faster it goes further before it hits the ground. So there must be a certain speed where you can launch the cannonball so it stays in orbit and never hits the ground.
The cannonball is in free fall towards Earth and therefore weightless. The amount that the cannonball is falling towards Earth is the amount that Earth have curved away from the cannonball so it stays in orbit and never hits the ground. Am I correct?
Now back to my first question.
I have done a little experiment with a bottle of water. I cut small holes from bottom to the top so the water will come out. If you take that bottle and drop it the instant it leaves your hand it is in free fall and therefore weightless which means the water does not slip out of the hole until it hits the ground.
Is the object in space for instance the Earth and the moon in free fall and therefore weightless? After the research I've done and the experiment all evidence show that its true but it still blows my mind. So I would be very glad if you can explain to me why that is and if I am wrong please also say.
/WeW/