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come2ershad
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What happens with the sea level due to the centrifugal acceleration?
granpa said:
Since the gravitational force is much greater than centrifugal force even at the equator, this is not the case.come2ershad said:I think I got it. A sphere of freely flowing material in free-fall, such as a planet in formation, forms a shape reflecting the balance between internal gravity and centrifugal force from its rotation.
That is exactly backwards. Gravitation is greatest at the poles because (a) the poles are closer to the center of the Earth than is a point on the surface of the Earth at the equator and (b) there is no centrifugal force at the poles.So since the effective gravity is low at poles, the sea level is high and vice versa at equator. Am I right?
D H said:One way to look at sea level is that it is a constant potential energy surface, where the potential is that due to gravitation plus that due to centrifugal force.
come2ershad said:Does that mean the potential energy is constant everywhere on the surface of the sea? or does that mean the Earth's surface is in hydrostatic equilibrium?
Centrifugal acceleration is the force that occurs when an object moves in a circular motion. In the case of the Earth, its rotation creates centrifugal acceleration that is strongest at the equator and gradually decreases towards the poles. This acceleration affects the distribution of water in the oceans, causing the sea level to be slightly higher at the equator and lower at the poles.
The centrifugal acceleration does not directly cause the sea level to rise or fall. However, it does contribute to the overall shape of the Earth and its rotation, which can indirectly affect the sea level through other factors such as ocean currents and tides.
The centrifugal acceleration has a very small effect on the sea level, with a maximum difference of about 21 centimeters between the equator and the poles. This is a relatively small contribution compared to other factors such as melting ice sheets and thermal expansion of water due to climate change.
The centrifugal acceleration is not constant and can vary over time due to changes in the Earth's rotation and the distribution of mass on its surface. These changes are very small and are constantly being monitored and measured by scientists to better understand their impact on the Earth's systems.
No, the centrifugal acceleration is a natural force that cannot be manipulated or controlled by humans. While it does have a small impact on the sea level, it is not a significant enough factor to be manipulated for the purpose of controlling the sea level. Instead, we must focus on addressing the larger factors that contribute to sea level rise, such as climate change and human activities.