A bowling ball is 10m above the ground and the earths gravity suddenly has no effects on it. What would happen?
Name:
Krieger2007-11-27 17:39
It would continue on the path in which that particular side of Earth was moving. If this occurred during Sunrise, it would begin moving towards the sun, and vise versa during sunset. Also, there would be the movement based on Earth's rotation. Basically, it would begin 'floating' upwards due to the centrifugal forces no longer being counteracted by gravity, although it may cease to to the wind resistance, assuming that the air is still being affected by gravity. At the north pole, though, Earth's rotation wouldn't affect it, although Earth's orbit still may. You would see the ball moving off in a curved motion. This all is assuming it doesn't make contact with any objects that are still affected by gravity or which are anchored to Earth.