All Questions
9
questions
0
votes
2
answers
47
views
Lopsided planet
Something that has always puzzled me about Pangaea.
If we have a "roughly" spherical mass of solids, aren't two points on opposite sides approximately the same distance from the center of ...
- 369
27
votes
6
answers
16k
views
Does gravity get stronger the higher up you are on a mountain?
So I saw this article stating that gravity is stronger on the top on the mountain due to there being more mass under you however I have read some questions other people have asked and most of the ...
2
votes
2
answers
285
views
What's the minimum possible size of a round astronomical body?
What's the minimum possible size of a spherical shaped rocky planet or satellite? Is it possible to occur a spherical shaped planet without having a molten core?
43
votes
8
answers
85k
views
If the gravity at the center of the Earth is zero, why are heavy elements like iron there?
If gravity is zero at the center of the earth, why is there a core of heavy elements, such as iron?
Alternate question for the opposite hypothesis:
If gravity is greatest at the center of the earth,...
- 449
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Rotational oblateness
I am trying to compute the amount of oblateness that is caused by planetary rotation. I picture the force of gravity added to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the planet as follows:
$\...
- 416
10
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How do we know that Earth is not perfect sphere?
I've just read here that:
Equatorial radius = 6378.16 kilometers. Polar radius = 6356.78
kilometers, so the difference in circumference is 71.1 kilometers. It
is not a perfect sphere, but kind ...
- 213
8
votes
6
answers
42k
views
Lowest gravity on Earth's surface?
I am trying to determine which on Earth's surface has the lowest gravity. Googling is not finding anything concrete. My natural inclination would be to think of Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador, being on ...
- 4,545
2
votes
2
answers
280
views
How does gravity behave outside the geoid?
I was watching a program about the geoid recently and the relative "height" of the Himalayan plateau gave me an idea. It makes sense for the geoid to be "highest" (is that the correct term?) there as ...
- 123
39
votes
5
answers
34k
views
Would you be weightless at the center of the Earth?
If you could travel to the center of the Earth (or any planet), would you be weightless there?
- 543