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--==GUY==-

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I have been pondering over this for quite a while but can't think of a possible answear if any ...... If there was a elevator shaft that went STRAIGHT through the Earth like right through the core and you took the elevator all the way down what would happen when you reach the EXACT middle of the Earth :confused: like would you all of a sudden flip up side down or something someone please help :rolleyes:
 
Float

Hi Guy,

As Mr.G. noted, you would indeed be fried (the earth's core has quite a high temperature). But assuming that you invented some way to not be affected by the heat, you would simply float when you reach the center (gravity attracts you equally in all directions). If the elevator would continue towards the other side of the earth, then you would arrive upside down on the other side (you don't flip around).

Bye!

Crisp
 
Crisp ...

I'm bothered by the "you don't flip around" comment.

Are you envisioning an elevator, container, so confining that the occupant is unable to flip over?

If not, it would seem that once past null-G, the center of the earth, the increasing gravity gradient would make you automatically reorient yourself.

Just thinking.

Added thought: Or do you expect that the the resulting deceleration will have you remain oriented to the pseudo-gravity ... until you fall on your head?
 
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But i don't understand like once you hit the middle will you stop anddjust sit there or will you keep going and fall on your noggin?¿

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:
 
Assume you are in an elevator with force field going down in USA arriving out in Australia:

USA: 1g head up
0.8g
0.6g
0.4g
0.2g
0.0g (Center) (head up but weightless)
0.2g
0.4g
0.6g
0.8g
1.0g (Australia, Legs up)
 
Hi all,

Chagur: You will not flip over automatically (as kmguru very clearly indicated in his diagram). You can only flip over by actually doing that yourself. Gravity will not do it for you. You also don't automatically flip over to land on your feet when you're falling head downwards in the US ;).

Guy, if you leave out the elevator from the story (= mechanically driven) and just have a giant hole leading from one side to the earth to the other, then indeed you would stop in the middle (after going up and down a few times, you always have a small "overshoot"). Once you come to a halt, you would float at the exact center of the earth.

Small sidenote for the purists: technically it is very difficult to get EXACTLY to the center of the earth (so that from all sides there's an equal amount of matter attracting you) but we assume in this example that the earth has a homogenous distribution of matter and is perfectly flat (which is a good approximation in most cases).

Bye!

Crisp
 
Okay, Crisp ...

I think the difference is in the way we're imagining the situation.

I think you're imagining a 'free fall' situation and I'm hooked on the controlled decent/ascent of an elevator.

Would make a difference ... would it not?
 
Boris2 ...

Thought about it, didn't change my mind.

Allowing the 'elevator', and the occupant, to immediately 'drop' would result in a freefall situation for both until the 'bungee cord bounce' effect until a 'rest state' is achieved after numerous cycles.

Lowering the 'elevator' to null-G and then pulling it through to the opposite terminal results in the occupant constantly experiencing the effect of gravity except when at the center of the earth. The gravitational effect would be as kmguru presented, but without 'heads up, heads down' conundrum.
 
Hi Chagur,

Even in a controlled descent, you would not flip automatically. Let's take the elevator when it departs in the US and clearly mark the ground "GROUND" and the roof "ROOF" so we can read it at any time when we're in the elevator.

The descent starts, as you'd expect. Your feet remain on the panel labeled "GROUND". Once you reach the center of the earth, you would float. Then the ascent starts towards Australia. You would be attracted to earth again, so your head bounces against the panel labeled "ROOF". Assuming that you don't crawl upright again, you will arrive in australia with your head on "ROOF" (which is now actually on the ground in Australia).

There is absolutely no reason why the elevator should turn around so the panel labeled "GROUND" would end up on the ground in Australia. All that happens is that you'll end up with a headache of standing on your head during the ascent ;).

Bye!

Crisp
 
It's upside-down, Miss Pat.

Crisp has answered it well Chagur.

Why would you "flip" over?


A point with kmguru's post ;-)

0.0g (Center) (head up but weightless)
Click to expand...

All directions are up at this point in a manner of speaking.

In case people are wondering about the header "It's upside-down....". This refers to a childrens show in Aus of a puppet pencil type character that would draw pictures upside-down.

From Boris' file of useless information. ;-)
 
er...

At the center of the Earth, you would be at the focal point of the Earth's gravity well. You would be crushed.
 
At the center of the Earth, you would be at the focal point of the Earth's gravity well. You would be crushed.
Click to expand...


The centre of the Earth is only the centre of the gravity well when doing calculations. The way I see it at the CotE you would experience half the gravity of the surface value. as you have half the mass all around you. If anything you would be pulled in all directions rather than crushed.
 
To all ...

Is it only me and my warped perspective that makes the following exchange hilarious?
Guy
If there was a elevator shaft that went STRAIGHT through the Earth like right through the core and you took the elevator all the way down what would happen when you reach the EXACT middle of the Earth like would you all of a sudden flip up side down or something
Crisp [to Guy]
you would simply float when you reach the center (gravity attracts you equally in all directions). If the elevator would continue towards the other side of the earth, then you would arrive upside down on the other side (you don't flip around).
Chagur [to Crisp]
Are you envisioning an elevator, container, so confining that the occupant is unable to flip over? If not, it would seem that once past null-G, the center of the earth, the increasing gravity gradient would make you automatically reorient yourself.
Guy [to all (?)]
But i don't understand like once you hit the middle will you stop and just sit there or will you keep going and fall on your noggin?¿
kmguru [to Guy]
USA: 1g head up
....
0.0g (Center) (head up but weightless)
....
1.0g (Australia, Legs up)
Crisp [to Chagur]
You will not flip over automatically (as kmguru very clearly indicated in his diagram). You can only flip over by actually doing that yourself. Gravity will not do it for you.
Chagur [to Crisp]
I think the difference is in the way we're imagining the situation. I think you're imagining a 'free fall' situation and I'm hooked on the controlled decent/ascent of an elevator.
Boris2 [to Chagur]
Quote: (Chagur) "Would make a difference ... would it not?"
Explain why you think that would be. You might change your mind. :)
Chagur [to Boris2]
Lowering the 'elevator' to null-G and then pulling it through to the opposite terminal results in the occupant constantly experiencing the effect of gravity except when at the center of the earth. The gravitational effect would be as kmguru presented, but without 'heads up, heads down' conundrum.
Crisp [to Chagur]
Even in a controlled descent, you would not flip automatically ... Assuming that you don't crawl upright again,
Boris2 [to Chagur]
Crisp has answered it well Chagur.
Why would you "flip" over?
Click to expand...
Simple, Boris2: Because I'm not the 'log' Crisp is apparently envisioning. I will do what I've been doing most of my life: I will orient myself so that my feet are on the 'ground' even though someone wrote 'roof' on it! :D
 
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"Once I was blind, but now I see"

I see where you are coming from now Chagur. It took us a while to get to this point don't you agree :)
 
Hi Chagur,

Sorry about that, most physics only describes inanimate matter that doesn't reorient itself to prevent an headache - force of habit hit me once more in my thinking proces :D.

Bye!

Crisp
 
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