Perceived Weight on Earthlike Planet w/ Faster Rotation

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In summary, the discussion explores the possibility of negating Earth's gravity through increased rotation. However, it is determined that this is not possible due to the deformation of the planet and the difficulty in achieving complete hydrostatic equilibrium. The real Earth is not homogeneous and would likely be ripped apart before the surface gravity is completely offset by centrifugal forces.
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Steve Manning
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Suppose humans could travel quickly through deep space and are in search of an earthlike planet. A perfect planet is found, with the exception that its mass is huge, such that a human weighing x EarthKilos on Earth (1 G) now feels like he weighs 3x EarthKilos. So the strain on bodily parts might make this planet uninhabitable. And let's assume this new planet rotates once every 24 Earth hours. Would there be any difference in the perceived weight of an object, if that planet rotated every 15 hours, 10 hours, 5 hours, etc. ? Does centrifugal force have an offsetting force to gravity?
 
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Steve Manning said:
Summary:: Is gravity offset by rotational forces?

<mentor moved thread>

Suppose humans could travel quickly through deep space and are in search of an earthlike planet. A perfect planet is found, with the exception that its mass is huge, such that a human weighing x EarthKilos on Earth (1 G) now feels like he weighs 3x EarthKilos. So the strain on bodily parts might make this planet uninhabitable. And let's assume this new planet rotates once every 24 Earth hours. Would there be any difference in the perceived weight of an object, if that planet rotated every 15 hours, 10 hours, 5 hours, etc. ? Does centrifugal force have an offsetting force to gravity?
Yes, effective gravity on Earth is slightly less than it would be if the Earth were not spinning.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_of_Earth#Latitude
 
  • #4
jim mcnamara said:
Here is short discussion/calculation for "negating" 1G by speeding up Earth's rotation. The article states that the length of a full day for Earth would be 1.409 hours:
https://www.quora.com/How-fast-woul...ancel-out-our-gravity-At-least-at-the-equator

It doesn't work that way. The article neglects the deformation of Earth due to the rotation. This deformation affects both the gravity and the centrifugal forces. That makes the calculation extremely difficult.

When I tried it for a homogeneous "Earth" I got a minimum length of the day of 2 hours and 40 minutes. At this point the minimum apparent gravity was still 5.6 m/s². I don't think that it can be completely eliminated. I didn't manage to decrease it below 3 m/s². Beyond that point there seems to be no hydrostatic equilibrium anymore.

The real Earth is not homogeneous, but I wouldn't behave completely different. It would just rotate a bit faster. I expect it to be ripped apart long before the surface gravity is completely compensated by centrifugal forces.
 

What is the concept of "perceived weight" on an Earthlike planet with a faster rotation?

Perceived weight refers to the weight that an object or person would experience on a different planet or celestial body, compared to their weight on Earth. On an Earthlike planet with a faster rotation, the perceived weight would be different due to the change in gravitational pull and centrifugal force.

How does the rotation speed of a planet affect perceived weight?

The rotation speed of a planet affects perceived weight because it influences the strength of the gravitational pull and the centrifugal force. A faster rotation would result in a higher centrifugal force, which can counteract the gravitational pull and make objects feel lighter.

What factors determine the perceived weight on an Earthlike planet with a faster rotation?

The perceived weight on an Earthlike planet with a faster rotation is determined by the planet's mass, radius, and rotation speed. These factors affect the strength of the gravitational pull and the centrifugal force, which ultimately determine the perceived weight.

How would a person's weight be affected on an Earthlike planet with a faster rotation?

A person's weight would be affected on an Earthlike planet with a faster rotation due to the change in gravitational pull and centrifugal force. Depending on the rotation speed, a person's weight could be either higher or lower compared to their weight on Earth.

Can perceived weight on an Earthlike planet with a faster rotation be calculated?

Yes, the perceived weight on an Earthlike planet with a faster rotation can be calculated using the planet's mass, radius, and rotation speed. The formula for calculating perceived weight is W = (G x M x m) / (r + h)^2, where W is the perceived weight, G is the gravitational constant, M is the planet's mass, m is the person's mass, r is the planet's radius, and h is the person's height above the planet's surface.

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