The Straight Dope

Go Back   Straight Dope Message Board > Main > General Questions

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-07-1999, 09:26 PM
Guest
 
What is it about Earth or any heavenly body that does not allow us to feel if we're on it's top , bottom ,side etc Is it it's size or the fact that there is really no top or bottom for something floating in space. I mean from space it may seem odd to look at the bottom of Earth and say "Hey you know people are actually standing up down there"
Reply With Quote
Advertisements  
  #2  
Old 06-07-1999, 10:02 PM
Guest
 
Quote:
What is it about Earth or any heavenly body that does not allow us to feel if we're on it's top , bottom ,side etc
It's called gravity, and the reason you don't feel like you're on the top, side, or bottom is that you're not. If you are out in space looking at the earth, there is no up or down, or sides. "Down" is the direction toward the stronger gravity, not any specific direction like left or right.

Quote:
Is it it's size or the fact that there is really no top or bottom for something floating in space.
Yes, see above.

Quote:
I mean from space it may seem odd to look at the bottom of Earth and say "Hey you know people are actually standing up down there"
No, see above. They're not upside down any more than you are.

Ugly
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-13-2002, 03:43 PM
flapcats flapcats is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Would a person subconsciously/intuitivly feel that 'down' was the direction toward their feet if they were floating in the vaccum of space?

Didn't Dave Matthews also ask Freejack00's question?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-13-2002, 03:54 PM
Church Key Kid Church Key Kid is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Quote:
Would a person subconsciously/intuitivly feel that 'down' was the direction toward their feet if they were floating in the vaccum of space?
I doubt it. If you diving in your pool face first, with your feet pointing 'up', you still know that you are facing 'down'.

Most likely, if there were no gravity at all, you would consider 'down' to the direction that you initially came from (ie, your spaceship).
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-15-2002, 12:02 AM
kniz kniz is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
If you are standing on the North Pole, why don't you get dizzy?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:05 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Send questions for Cecil Adams to: cecil@chicagoreader.com

Send comments about this website to: webmaster@straightdope.com

Terms of Use / Privacy Policy

Advertise on the Straight Dope!
(Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks.)

Publishers - interested in subscribing to the Straight Dope?
Write to: sdsubscriptions@chicagoreader.com.

Copyright © 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC.