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MissMath
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is it true that if Earth's density wasn't uniform then the gravitational force was half of what it is now? can you give me a mathematical calculation of why that would reduce to half of its current value.thanks
Vanadium 50 said:The Earth's density isn't uniform.
Nonetheless, the density distribution of the Earth does not influence the gravity at the surface. That's determined solely by the mass and radius.
Vanadium 50 said:The Earth's density isn't uniform.
Nonetheless, the density distribution of the Earth does not influence the gravity at the surface. That's determined solely by the mass and radius.
MissMath said:oops! i meant if the density was uniform the gravity was half of its value. are u sure? if yes what does this article say?
http://www.csr.utexas.edu/grace/publications/press/032007_discovermag.pdf
The article doesn't say anything like that.MissMath said:oops! i meant if the density was uniform the gravity was half of its value. are u sure? if yes what does this article say?
http://www.csr.utexas.edu/grace/publications/press/032007_discovermag.pdf
That's not true, either. Knowing how Earth's gravity varies with latitude and longitude is very important if you want to, for example, accurately predict the motion of a satellite or find a new oil field.Vanadium 50 said:The Earth's density isn't uniform.
Nonetheless, the density distribution of the Earth does not influence the gravity at the surface. That's determined solely by the mass and radius.
D H said:That's not true, either. Knowing how Earth's gravity varies with latitude and longitude is very important if you want to, for example, accurately predict the motion of a satellite or find a new oil field.
MissMath said:is it true that if Earth's density wasn't uniform then the gravitational force was half of what it is now? can you give me a mathematical calculation of why that would reduce to half of its current value.thanks
In light of the original post which posits that a uniform density would alter Earth's gravity by a factor of two, Vanadium is correct. Assume the Earth is spherical and isn't rotating. So long as the Earth's density depends only on radius, how that density varies with distance from the center of the Earth does not affect gravity on the surface by one bit. All that matters is the total mass of the Earth. Here are three models for this hypothetical spherical, non-rotating Earth:Vanadium 50 said:While that's true, let's go back to the OP's question. ... the approximation of the Earth as a sphere whose density depends only on radius is a pretty good one to answer the OP's question.
If the Earth's density was not uniform, the gravitational force would vary in different regions of the Earth. This could result in uneven distribution of mass, causing the Earth to become lopsided and potentially leading to changes in its rotation and orbit.
Yes, the strength of gravity would change in different regions of the Earth. This is because the gravitational force is directly proportional to the mass of an object, so areas with higher density would have a stronger gravitational force than areas with lower density.
Objects on the Earth's surface would experience varying levels of gravitational force depending on their location. This could result in objects falling or moving towards areas with higher density, and potentially causing disruptions in natural processes like tides or weather patterns.
Yes, the Earth's density is not completely uniform and this can be seen in the variations in gravity experienced in different parts of the world. For example, the force of gravity is slightly stronger at the poles compared to the equator due to differences in the Earth's density.
Yes, uneven density on Earth could have an impact on other planets or objects in our solar system. This is because gravity not only affects objects on Earth, but also influences the motion and orbits of celestial bodies. Any changes in the Earth's gravity and mass distribution could potentially affect the gravitational interactions between planets and objects in our solar system.