Aha. The point seems to be about awareness. At what level are we
aware of the 'forces' of gravity? Most any sitting person can "feel"
the effects (the pressure in the seat area) - but not everyone can
differentiate the feeling as a downward pressure or an upward
pressure
- some just feel the pressure. I contend that both are there.
In answer to Jonathan's question, I don't think people have to
"learn"
to feel the effects of gravity - but to distinguish what they are
feeling - much like the idea that someone who is very knowledgable
about wine tastes things that I don't. To me, Merlot is Merlot is
Merlot. I've never been able to distinguish between types/brands. I
have a friend who can't even tell Merlot from any other red wine - to
him, red wine is red wine is red wine.
On an anectdotal note - I asked my 4 1/2 year old daughter when she
was sirtting if she felt her body pushing down on the chair, or the
chair pushing up against her or both. She said both. Maybe we lose
that ability as we get older and full of distinctions and boxes and
have to rediscover what it is to really "feel" with our bodies.
As far as the three scenarios - I would contend that if I woke in the
falling elevator I would immediately sense movement (even if I
couldn't see movement occuring). Try standing on your head with your
eyes closed. You don't have to see to know that you are upside down
-
your body feels upside down (more specifically, your head will feel
the pressure of your blood). Try it in a pool - still there, but not
as strong.
Andrea's point about other gravitational fields acting on us is good.
However, I think the issue comes from the difference between
"Sensing"
something and being aware (intellectually) of said sensation. I
contend that at some level, we all feel the forces act on us, it just
may be at such a slight level that we aren't aware of it.
I imagine that if one could find themself in a place that "gravity"
didn't exist - we wouldn't be able to tell if we were up or down or
sideways - it probably would be a non-factor. In fact - perhaps the
only reason we have the concept of up and down is because of this
force called "gravity".
Shalom
David Lind
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Andrea Sosio wrote:
> Hi David, since the list appears to be slow today, I'll add my two
cents
> in this discussion about what your feelings exactly are, as
concerned
> gravitation.
>
> > Question: Supposing the ground you are standing on suddenly gives
way,
> > and you fall a long way (like Alice). Now that you are falling,
and
> > there is no longer any force on your feet (or buttocks), has
gravity
> > ceased to exist?
>
> > David Lind responds:
> > Hmmmm....seems like a trick question. In the above, are we to
discount
> > the sensation of falling? The feeling our body moving? The
sensation
> > of falling is just as indicative of the "force" as the pressure on
the
> > buttocks/feet/etc.
>
> It is a trick question, because you never said that if you don't
feel the
> force, it isn't there; you just said that it is possible (perhaps
limited
> to certain circumstances) to feel it. Nevertheless, you may fall
without
> having the sensation to fall. You are possibly falling towards the
centre
> of the galaxy right now, and I don't think you feel it.
>
> > Now if you had said we were in the space shuttle and there was no
> > longer any force on our feet... :o)
>
> Even on a space shuttle, gravitation is always pulling you towards
Earth,
> towards the Sun, towards the black hole of Cygnus, and even towards
your
> packaged astronaut meal. Gravitation is pulling every cell of your
body
> towards the baricenter of your body. This is in accord with Newton's
law
> (and subsequent modifications) and with the concept of gravitation.
And
> of course, a very small part of it can actually be experienced.
>
> Perhaps you and Glenn were just meaning we feel "weight" (our own
weight
> as well as that of objects). I unconditionally agree to this. Weight
was
> also definitely around a long time before Newton.
>
> (My previous post has more content, or so I guess).
> Andrea
>
> --
> Andrea Sosio
> mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
>
>
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