Gravity

[witchone]

For Homework, My 11 yr old daughter has to ask a question, to which SHE can not find an answer. (i have helped here), so here goes.

If it was possible to dig a hole at the north pole and through the center of the earth and then appear at the south pole how would you emerge from the ground.

Would you be digging your way out,  would you fall out the ground, would gravity turn you in the middle, if so would you feel the gravity turn you round, or would you actually not be able to come out at the south pole.

I know whats my theory, but i am interested to hear what others think, cos then i can match it to my theory

[Clanad]

You're question has been asked numerous times, but with a slight variation on the theme.  Usually, the question involves a hole dug through the center of the Earth and a heavy object, say a lead ball, then being dropped... what would occur?  Keep in mind the center of gravity is at the center of the sphere.  Therefore, the ball, in this case, would fall and increase its velocity until terminal velocity is achieved.  The ball would then continue through the center of the Earth, due only to inertia.  The ball would, at some point, come to a stop and fall again in the reverse direction.  This would continue for a number of oscillations and eventually come to a stop at the center.  Same principal applies in your case.  As soon as one dug (not possible, but theoretically speaking) through the center, the gravity would then be pulling the digger back towards the center and he would have to actually pull himself out of the hole on reaching the surface...

[Immortal298]

good god!  what school does ur daughter go to?  that's a horrible question.  i'm glad i'm not 11 anymore, or at school.  that's gonna have me wondering forever now.

[witchone]

it had me wondering for i while i got stuck on the fact that gravity would keep me trapped in the middle because of the equal forces of gravity, Clanad has made me think more about it, but she will go to school with the question, She cant find the answer for the question, its only a theory as to what would happen, so i think we covered the homework. lol think we need a homeowrk section on here.