Would gravity affect us differently if we were in the center of the earth.

In summary, if you were at the center of an Earth like this you would experience no gravity from Earth, but you would still be subjected to gravity from other bodies.
  • #1
AgentPancake
9
0
i think it should but I am not sure.
 
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  • #2
AgentPancake said:
i think it should but I am not sure.
If we assume that the Earth is perfectly spherical and uniform (which it isn't really), then we would experience no gravity at the centre of the earth.
 
  • #3
I don't think we need to assume the Earth to be spherical; for as long as it is smooth and symmetrical...you know, it could still be a bit flatten at the poles and wider at the equator...but for as long as it is symmetrical then gravity from one side cancels gravity from the diametrically opposed side, etc. and so, if you were at the center of an Earth like this, you would experience no gravity from earth...but you will still be subjected to gravity from other bodies (moon, sun).
 
  • #4
You've got to be right in the middle though.


An interesting, although not completely related case is that of people actually being on Earth. The atmosphere has mass, and it's not completely negligible...so the gravity just above the troposphere is slightly more than you'd expect. And all because you have to take into account more mass...
 
  • #5
gsal said:
I don't think we need to assume the Earth to be spherical; for as long as it is smooth and symmetrical...you know, it could still be a bit flatten at the poles and wider at the equator...but for as long as it is symmetrical then gravity from one side cancels gravity from the diametrically opposed side, etc. and so, if you were at the center of an Earth like this, you would experience no gravity from earth...but you will still be subjected to gravity from other bodies (moon, sun).

It must have symmetry but also must have symmetrical density
 
  • #6
It doesn't need to be perfectly symmetrical however. The gravitational pull of one tonne, or 10^5 tonnes or any other relatively small amount (we're talking gravity here, the weakest of the forces) won't have a huge difference.
 
  • #7
Oh yeah, in fact, it doesn't need to be regular at all and it doesn't need to have uniform density.

A slightly irregular shape can have an irregular distribution of density and still have C.O.M. in its "centre"
 
  • #8
There was a pretty long and complicated thread a few months back about this. It boils down to this: At the center of the Earth you have no NET pull in any direction. The force of gravity of all that mass surrounding you cancels out in every direction. In effect you should feel like you are weightless. However, you are still under the influence of a gravitational field and would experience all the normal effects such as time dilation and such just like you do here on the surface, but at a slightly greater effect due to being in the middle of the mass instead of just on one side. Of course you would never survive being in the center of the Earth without being crushed...
 

1. How would gravity affect us if we were in the center of the earth?

The gravity at the center of the earth would be essentially zero, as all the mass of the earth would be surrounding us equally in all directions.

2. Would we feel weightless if we were at the center of the earth?

Yes, we would feel weightless as there would be no net gravitational force acting on us at the center of the earth.

3. Is it possible to reach the center of the earth and experience different gravity?

No, it is not possible to reach the center of the earth as the intense heat and pressure would make it impossible for humans to survive. Additionally, the laws of physics do not allow for gravity to act differently at the center of the earth.

4. How does the gravity at the center of the earth compare to the surface gravity?

The gravity at the center of the earth would be significantly less than the surface gravity, as the gravitational force decreases with distance. At the surface, we are farther from the center of the earth and therefore experience a stronger gravitational pull.

5. Would objects at the center of the earth fall towards the surface?

No, objects at the center of the earth would not fall towards the surface as there is no net gravitational force acting on them. They would remain stationary at the center of the earth.

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