The gravitational pull of the earth plays a very important role in the life of every living creature on it.
It is necessary to know the different gravity levels on Earth in order to determine the different conditions on earth. If we know more about the nature of gravity, then the effects of society based activities will be reduced. Also it would be possible to create artificial intelligent life forms that can colonize the moon and Mars.
There are different gravity levels on Earth according to different scientific models. For example; some geologists believe that it is not in the interest of humans to colonize Mars because the gravity on Mars is too great. On the other hand, others believe that if humans establish colonies on both the Moon and Mars, then the human population will never increase and the budget for such exploration will thus be wasted.
It is also interesting to note that different gravity is found on the Moon and Mars. This also has implications for different planetary science experiments on Earth. For example; the experiments on the moon, which are related to mineral resource production use the different gravity found there. Similarly, studies of Mars have revealed evidence of seasonal weather variations using the different gravity.
How is this useful for our earth science activities?
Well, to understand this, one needs to first understand why different gravity levels are there on the planets. Basically, gravity is a force that acts towards objects. The centrifugal force of rotation of the earth due to its spin axis causes centrifugal force on other objects, like the moon, on the other hand; the solar system’s pull of various celestial bodies including the sun exerts a similar centrifugal force on the earth, on the other hand; the space available in our solar system is filled with various smaller space debris, like comets and stars.
Hence, there are different gravity levels on the different planets. The moon appears to be closer to the earth due to its spin axis and so it experiences less centrifugal force when spinning. Mars has much less gravity than the moon and so it spins much faster. Jupiter and Saturn also experience high G-powers. Hence, studying the gravity field around these planets helps us to understand their atmosphere as well.
Understanding gravity and how it affects our planet goes a long way in protecting our life on earth from being ruined by natural calamities or from society made impacts. Studying different gravity levels on earth helps us understand whether any change in the environment on earth might affect the moon, the earth, or the moon and the planets in general. Also, studying the different gravity levels on earth helps us understand the distribution of gravity on the other planets in the solar system.
What Makes Low Gravity Like Earth?
The lowest point on earth is also known as the mean solar latitude or the mean orbital velocity. This is a measurement of the gravity. It is measured from a station on the equator where the sun, stars, and satellites all appear like points of light that float in the empty space. It is a measurement of 3.14km/s, which means that it takes the Earth about 99 million years to traverse this distance.
When you get close to the equator, it starts to get closer as you begin to drift closer. At the equator, it’s still quite far away, but as you begin to travel farther east and north, the weight of the air you are displacing goes down due to atmospheric pressure. As you get closer to the poles, there is actually no air, and you can only push against it due to centrifugal force. This means that you will experience less acceleration due to gravity at the poles than at the equator. This is why polar bears live on the poles and why polar stratospheric airplanes fly over the polar regions.
Why is this important to us? We are always being bombarded with information that travels faster than the speed of light, so of course we need to understand this concept as well. We need to know what it means when you cross the equator and head towards the north pole, since this will allow us to understand what will cause an impact with our planet’s gravity. Knowing this will allow us to develop methods for preventing such an impact, or even just making sure that we do not trigger one if it should happen.
How would this affect the weight of a satellite? If the atmosphere was thin, the satellite would not be able to maintain its stability and weight. The same would apply if the parachute did not protect the passenger from depressurization. There are many other ways in which our satellites could be damaged if the atmosphere is too thin. Therefore, it would not be surprising to find ourselves traveling to the poles, or even heading into a black hole.
Why is this so important to understand if we plan to visit the moon? The moon is also rotating, which means that it also moves around the planet. It would not take long for the astronauts to notice if the equator or the inner edge of the solar system were moving around. It will also have an effect on the weight of the moon, since the heavier the mass of the moon, the lower it would have to be to maintain the same gravitational constant that it does now.
In fact, the moon may be moving faster than the earth, and we do not even know it! This is because the centrifugal pull of the moon is much greater than the pull of the earth’s gravity. The moon pulls at least twice as much from each planet as it does from our planet. Therefore, there is more than enough gravity for the moon to keep itself spinning in a very circular orbit.
Knowing the different gravity levels on earth also allows us to build better structures. For instance, we can build structures that will not tip over because of the difference in gravitational forces. We can prevent catastrophic earth changes because of the different gravity levels on earth. There are more things that are affected by gravity on earth than one would imagine. It is definitely a very interesting topic.
There are many benefits to studying gravity. If you have the dedication and time, then you can explore this subject matter in depth. It’s fun to learn about the different effects on earth at different gravity levels. And if you decide to go for graduate studies of planetary science, then you will need to know this material as a necessary part of your degree. After all, your goal is to become a respected, independent researcher in this field.
Provided by Antonio Westley
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. So, make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion.
