Gravity - Do atoms orbit humans ?

In summary: Atoms and air particles are constantly in motion due to various forces, such as thermal energy and air pressure, and are not affected by the same gravitational forces as celestial bodies. In summary, atoms and air particles do not orbit humans due to differences in mass and distance, as there is no orbit to begin with and other forces are at play.
  • #1
DLeuPel
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If the Earth orbits the Sun due to the difference in their mass and their distance, then do atoms like air particles orbit humans due to the same reasons?
 
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  • #2
What do you think and why?

A good starting point might be to calculate the gravitational force between a human body (maybe 100 kg) and an atom (google will find a reasonable value for the the mass of an atom) at a given distance. What orbital speed does that correspond to? How does it compare to the other forces acting on the atom?
 
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Likes Bystander
  • #3
Nugatory said:
How does it compare to the other forces acting on the atom?
And how does it compare to the normal thermal range of speeds for the atom.
 
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  • #4
A gravitational field does not produce a larger acceleration when acting on a very light object, unlike the electromagnetic force between objects of some given electric charge. I think this is the misconception in this case.
 
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Likes Dale
  • #5
DLeuPel said:
If the Earth orbits the Sun due to the difference in their mass and their distance, then do atoms like air particles orbit humans due to the same reasons?
Things don't orbit really large objects due to mass difference, they orbit them because gravity is a weak force that acts best at large distances where other forces don't interfere.

For example, you can get a spacecraft to orbit a mountain sized asteroid in space. But even ignoring Earth's gravity you couldn't get something to orbit a mountain on Earth because the orbit would be so slow that wind would disrupt it!

Note that objects of equal mass can orbit each other, so mass difference means nothing. For example, Jupiter's mass fraction of the sun is about the same as a golf ball vs you.
 
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  • #6
DLeuPel said:
If the Earth orbits the Sun due to the difference in their mass and their distance,

They each orbit their common center of mass. Earth's orbit is indeed larger because of its smaller mass.

But that doesn't explain why there's an orbit to begin with.

then do atoms like air particles orbit humans due to the same reasons?

No, because there is no orbit to begin with.
 

1. What is gravity?

Gravity is a force that exists between any two objects with mass. It is what keeps planets in orbit around the sun and what causes objects to fall towards the Earth.

2. How does gravity work?

Gravity works by pulling objects towards each other. The strength of the gravitational force depends on the mass of the objects and the distance between them. The larger the mass and the closer the distance, the stronger the gravitational force.

3. Do atoms orbit humans?

No, atoms do not orbit humans. Atoms are made up of a nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons, and electrons that orbit the nucleus. The electrons are attracted to the positively charged nucleus, creating a stable orbit. However, this is on a much smaller scale than the orbit of planets and objects in space.

4. How does gravity affect atoms?

Gravity affects atoms by creating a force between the nucleus and electrons. This force helps to keep the electrons in their stable orbit around the nucleus. Gravity also plays a role in the formation of atoms and the creation of elements in the universe.

5. Can gravity be explained by the theory of relativity?

Yes, the theory of relativity, specifically Einstein's general theory of relativity, explains gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of mass. This theory has been confirmed through numerous experiments and is the most widely accepted explanation for the phenomenon of gravity.

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