Re: Neophyte question.


"Dave Reckoning" <John@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:r-udnYpxc7gY35HbnZ2dnUVZ_sapnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have been nagged for years by the following:

Let's say that the earth started spinning really fast on it's axis. So
fast
that we all flew off because of centripetal force.

Likely more correct, is to say that it is because of inertial force.

What would it have to be spinning relative to in order for this to happen?
The Sun? The "Universe"? It's own sub atomic particles?

We measure that it is spinning relative to the distant stars. From there on
we move to metaphysics. After some reflection, Newton and also Einstein held
that this implies some kind of physical "space". As Einstein put it in 1920:
"the mechanical behaviour of a corporeal system hovering freely in empty
space depends not only on relative positions (distances) and relative
velocities, but also on its state of rotation, which physically may be taken
as a characteristic not appertaining to the system in itself. In order to be
able to look upon the rotation of the system, at least formally, as
something real, Newton objectivises space. [...] this conception of the
ether to which we are led [...] not only conditions the behaviour of inert
masses, but is also conditioned in its state by them." -
http://www.mountainman.com.au/aether_0.html

If the earth was the only thing in the universe, would it be possible for
it
to spin?

It depends on what you mean with "thing". If there is nothing else (not even
"space"), obviously it cannot spin.

Harald


.

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