Get Ready for World Jump Day!
Want to drive the earth out of its orbit?? Well here's your chance!
There's a web-driven initiative to try to deviate the earth from its orbit depending on how many people participate: http://www.worldjumpday.org/
Basically, these folks want to use the internet to help coordinate how many people jump simultaneously to provide enough force to push the earth out of its orbit on July 20, 2006
The entire theory of pushing the earth out of its orbit via simultaneous jumping, in my opinion, is UTTERLY LUDICROUS!
Why, you ask?
Oh, I can't even begin to name the reasons. Oh, yes I can!
First of all, I guess it depends on how you define "out of its orbit". Technically, the so-called "butterfly flapping its wings" does cause an infinitely small force on the earth, just like my typing right now pushes on the keyboard which pushes on the desk which pushes on the floor ad infinitum.
So the amount you push the earth out of its orbit has to be measurable.
Basically, if you do the math you'll find out that all people on earth jumping at the same time would have about 2% of the effect of pushing on the earth as a modern H-bomb.
That's assuming everyone jumps exactly the same height and the same way and exactly at the same time. And on the same side of the earth, mind you, otherwise you get people in Australia canceling out people in Canada!
Since we know that many H-bombs have been tested on earth, in modern times, and that the earth hasn't yet shifted from its orbit, the idea of a bunch of people managing it on one specific day is simply impossible.
It also depends on what you mean by "its orbit"! The earth does not exactly trace its exact path every year due to a significant amount of gravitation pull by its nearest neighbors, namely Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and the Moon.
Don't credit me here: the physics here I got here come from this website with the best explanation: Ask Mad Physics article on World Jump Day. Or read the discussion going on on kottke.org.
It just goes to show once again how people can take advantage of how the general public forgets to apply everyday physics.
Two examples that illustrates this forgetfulness:
How deep does water have to be for your car to float?? About 24 inches, or 2 feet. See here and here.
Don't even get me started when it comes to a car trying to beat a train at a railroad crossing! When a 15000 ton train is bearing down on you and your 1-ton vehicle, you will soon realize how abundantly important physics becomes!
Good Night!
There's a web-driven initiative to try to deviate the earth from its orbit depending on how many people participate: http://www.worldjumpday.org/
Basically, these folks want to use the internet to help coordinate how many people jump simultaneously to provide enough force to push the earth out of its orbit on July 20, 2006
The entire theory of pushing the earth out of its orbit via simultaneous jumping, in my opinion, is UTTERLY LUDICROUS!
Why, you ask?
Oh, I can't even begin to name the reasons. Oh, yes I can!
First of all, I guess it depends on how you define "out of its orbit". Technically, the so-called "butterfly flapping its wings" does cause an infinitely small force on the earth, just like my typing right now pushes on the keyboard which pushes on the desk which pushes on the floor ad infinitum.
So the amount you push the earth out of its orbit has to be measurable.
Basically, if you do the math you'll find out that all people on earth jumping at the same time would have about 2% of the effect of pushing on the earth as a modern H-bomb.
That's assuming everyone jumps exactly the same height and the same way and exactly at the same time. And on the same side of the earth, mind you, otherwise you get people in Australia canceling out people in Canada!
Since we know that many H-bombs have been tested on earth, in modern times, and that the earth hasn't yet shifted from its orbit, the idea of a bunch of people managing it on one specific day is simply impossible.
It also depends on what you mean by "its orbit"! The earth does not exactly trace its exact path every year due to a significant amount of gravitation pull by its nearest neighbors, namely Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and the Moon.
Don't credit me here: the physics here I got here come from this website with the best explanation: Ask Mad Physics article on World Jump Day. Or read the discussion going on on kottke.org.
It just goes to show once again how people can take advantage of how the general public forgets to apply everyday physics.
Two examples that illustrates this forgetfulness:
How deep does water have to be for your car to float?? About 24 inches, or 2 feet. See here and here.
Don't even get me started when it comes to a car trying to beat a train at a railroad crossing! When a 15000 ton train is bearing down on you and your 1-ton vehicle, you will soon realize how abundantly important physics becomes!
Good Night!
posted by Dan at 11:17 PM
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