- #1
b.j.c
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This is probably a stupid question, but anyway...
If you calculate the force of gravity between the Earth and a, say, 70.0kg person, it comes out about 688N.
Now, we are spinning with the Earth and at the surface of the equator the speed is about 1669km/hr. If you calculate the centripetal force required to keep a 70.0kg person rotating in a fixed orbit (radius of earth) at 1669km/hr you will find it comes out around 3e7N.
So it would seem that we should just go flying off the planet because gravity cannot supply the centripetal force required to keep us orbiting with the same radius. How do we stay on the ground then? What have I missed?
If you calculate the force of gravity between the Earth and a, say, 70.0kg person, it comes out about 688N.
Now, we are spinning with the Earth and at the surface of the equator the speed is about 1669km/hr. If you calculate the centripetal force required to keep a 70.0kg person rotating in a fixed orbit (radius of earth) at 1669km/hr you will find it comes out around 3e7N.
So it would seem that we should just go flying off the planet because gravity cannot supply the centripetal force required to keep us orbiting with the same radius. How do we stay on the ground then? What have I missed?