On Jul 15, 2007, at 12:02 PM, thomas malloy wrote:
I'm subject to weight loss produced by the centripital force produced by the earth's rotation, I'm wondering if centripetal force is a function of revolutions per time unit, or total distance traveled as the planet travels?
The centripetal force gm is essentially due to gravity. More specifically, the centrifugal force m omega^2 R is due to the earth's rotation causing a path of the subject which causes acceleration of the subject inward (i.e. centripetal acceleration) that is sustained by the force of gravitational pull. The outward, or centrifugal, force is due to the inertia of the subject. There are similar force balances relating to motion around the sun and around the galaxy and other objects, but none of these forces are tied to the distance travelled so much as the curvature of the path of travel.
Horace Heffner http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/
