gravity and height - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Drider_it · 02-02-2004, 05:33 AM

ok say you have a bag that has it contents weighing about 40 lbs. at ground lvl thus.. but say 40 stories up does it still weigh the same?

was wondering this cuz i took out the trash this morning and at ground lvl it felt less heavy..

or was it just the fact that i was glad i finally made it to the ground floor?

tecoyah · 02-02-2004, 05:36 AM

If anything it would be something like 0.00000001 milligrams heavier due to increased air pressure

Peetster · 02-02-2004, 06:13 AM

Of course the mass will remain the same. The force it exerts changes inversely with the square of the distance from the center of the earth's mass, but the difference between 40 stories up and ground level is negligable.

Even if you were 1km higher, since the radius of the earth is a bit more than 6000km, the difference in gravitational force would be less than 1/6001^2 - 1/6000^2 or less than .008%. Remember this example has you a kilometer up, and the trash would weigh .0047 ounces less.

So technically, the trash was heavier at ground level.

RAGEAngel9 · 02-02-2004, 06:14 AM

Actually I believe the bag or whatever should weigh VERY slightly less at the 40th story. This is due to gravity being stronger the closer you are to an object.

Now, I could be wrong since I wasn't very good at physics. Please correct m if I am wrong.

stingc · 02-02-2004, 06:16 AM

For all practical purposes, things weigh the same no matter if you're in a skyscraper or a cave. In reality, there are very very small differences for various reasons, but they're way below anything you could feel.

krwlz · 02-02-2004, 06:35 AM

Hell dude, im metric the gravity at ground level is about 9.8 N/kg.

Where the satellites orbit its between 7 and 8N/kg...

Definatly not going to notice a change, and definatly not going to be lighter at the bottom.

dimbulb · 02-02-2004, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tecoyah
If anything it would be something like 0.00000001 milligrams heavier due to increased air pressure

The increased air pressure would not cause the object to be heavier. This is because air pressure acts on all the surfaces of an object. So if the air exerts a force on the top of the object, it will exert a (roughly) equal force on the bottom of the object. Especially if it is a small object. Not talking about skyscrapers here.......

An object would weigh (not mass.. weight) as much in a high pressure chamber at (lets say.. ) sea level, as in a vacuum chamber at sea level.

MSD · 02-02-2004, 09:20 AM

The feeling that it was lighter was caused by your arm going numb after carrying 40 pounds down 40 flights of stairs.

Dilbert1234567 · 02-02-2004, 02:26 PM

remember weight and mass are difrent

it would weight a bit less the force of gravity is inversly perpotional to the distance. so being a bit further would reduce the 'pull' but the mass of the bag would be the same.

Bigt6909 · 02-04-2004, 03:16 PM

It should be about the same, the only difference, like everyone else has said, is the air pressure, but gravity still is the same

Peetster · 02-12-2004, 07:47 AM

/me hits Bigt over the head with a tuna for not actually reading any of the posts.

02-02-2004, 05:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
Drider_it Junkie Location: Louisiana	gravity and height ok say you have a bag that has it contents weighing about 40 lbs. at ground lvl thus.. but say 40 stories up does it still weigh the same? was wondering this cuz i took out the trash this morning and at ground lvl it felt less heavy.. or was it just the fact that i was glad i finally made it to the ground floor? __________________ It means only one thing, and everything: Cut. Once committed to fight, Cut. Everything else is secondary. Cut. That is your duty, your purpose, your hunger. There is no rule more important, no commitment that overrides that one. Cut. The lines are a portrayal of the dance. Cut from the void, not from bewilderment. Cut the enemy as quickly and directly as possible. Cut with certainty. Cut decisively, resoultely. Cut into his strength. Flow through the gaps in his guard. Cut him. Cut him down utterly. Don't allow him a breath. Crush him. Cut him without mercy to the depth of his spirit. It is the balance to life: death. It is the dance with death. It is the law a war wizard lives by, or he dies.

02-02-2004, 05:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
tecoyah Illusionary	If anything it would be something like 0.00000001 milligrams heavier due to increased air pressure __________________ Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

02-02-2004, 02:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	remember weight and mass are difrent it would weight a bit less the force of gravity is inversly perpotional to the distance. so being a bit further would reduce the 'pull' but the mass of the bag would be the same. __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

02-04-2004, 03:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
Bigt6909 Crazy Location: Michigan	It should be about the same, the only difference, like everyone else has said, is the air pressure, but gravity still is the same __________________ Beer. Now there's a temporary solution. --Homer Simpson

02-02-2004, 06:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
Peetster Right Now Location: Home	Of course the mass will remain the same. The force it exerts changes inversely with the square of the distance from the center of the earth's mass, but the difference between 40 stories up and ground level is negligable. Even if you were 1km higher, since the radius of the earth is a bit more than 6000km, the difference in gravitational force would be less than 1/6001^2 - 1/6000^2 or less than .008%. Remember this example has you a kilometer up, and the trash would weigh .0047 ounces less. So technically, the trash was heavier at ground level.

02-02-2004, 06:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
RAGEAngel9 Insane Location: Vermont	Actually I believe the bag or whatever should weigh VERY slightly less at the 40th story. This is due to gravity being stronger the closer you are to an object. Now, I could be wrong since I wasn't very good at physics. Please correct m if I am wrong.

02-02-2004, 06:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
stingc Psycho Location: PA	For all practical purposes, things weigh the same no matter if you're in a skyscraper or a cave. In reality, there are very very small differences for various reasons, but they're way below anything you could feel.

02-02-2004, 06:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
krwlz Fledgling Dead Head Location: Clarkson U.	Hell dude, im metric the gravity at ground level is about 9.8 N/kg. Where the satellites orbit its between 7 and 8N/kg... Definatly not going to notice a change, and definatly not going to be lighter at the bottom.

02-02-2004, 09:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	The feeling that it was lighter was caused by your arm going numb after carrying 40 pounds down 40 flights of stairs.

02-12-2004, 07:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
Peetster Right Now Location: Home	/me hits Bigt over the head with a tuna for not actually reading any of the posts.