Re: Pinhole Digest #283 - 11/07/99

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From: Art Fortgang (afortga@smcoe.k12.ca.us)
Date: Sun Nov 07 1999 - 11:23:24 PST 

Message-ID: <000901bf2955$90289180$7280bcd1@mocha>
From: "Art Fortgang" <afortga@smcoe.k12.ca.us>
Subject: Re: Pinhole Digest #283 - 11/07/99
Date: Sun, 7 Nov 1999 11:23:24 -0800

David

The centripetal force is pointing towards the center of the Earth. This
would mean that an object's "weight" (as observed on a scale) includes not
only its gravitational attraction to the earth, but that it also includes
this centripetal force. Therefore, an object "weighing" less than 2.3N
still has gravitational and centripetal forces keeping him, her or it from
flying off.

Art mailto:afortga@smcoe.k12.ca.us

----- Original Message -----
From: Pinhole Listserv <pinhole@exploratorium.edu>
To: Pinhole Listserv <pinhole@exploratorium.edu>
Sent: Sunday, November 07, 1999 12:20 AM
Subject: Pinhole Digest #283 - 11/07/99

> Pinhole Digest #283 - Sunday, November 7, 1999
>
> Centripetal Force at Equator
> by "David Porter" <dpotasnik@earthlink.net>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject: Centripetal Force at Equator
> From: "David Porter" <dpotasnik@earthlink.net>
> Date: Sat, 06 Nov 1999 08:11:14 -0700
>
> A problem asks why, if the earth spins at such a great speed, don't all of
us fly off. After calculating the centripetal force
> due to gravity that is necessary to hold us down, one comes up with around
2.3 N for the equator. That explains any object, like
> a person, that is heavier than 2.3 N. It obviously doesn't explain why
objects that weigh less don't fly off. This question came
> up with one of my students, but I didn't have an explanation. Is there
anyone out there who does? Thanks, david.
>
>
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