Check out some similar questions!

nykkyo · Sep 5, 2013, 05:48 PM

Like separating heavier bodies from lghter ones in a centrifuge, why does iron and heavier masses seek the center of the rotatiing Earth? Physically shoud the heavier mass be thrown to the circumference?

smoothy · Sep 5, 2013, 05:58 PM

Look at the speed centrifuges rotate at.

Then make a consideration of how gravity works...

nykkyo · Sep 5, 2013, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by smoothy

Look at the speed centrifuges rotate at.

Then make a consideration of how gravity works...

This scenario dictates the Earth may be hollow. Gravity and physics may not be exactly as we conceive. In that case, what we refer to as modern physics may be metaphysical mumbo-jumbo. Is it possible that the iron we think is at the center of the Earth is held together by a force that exceeds the equal and opposite force of centripetal force.

Tuttyd · Sep 6, 2013, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by nykkyo

This scenario dictates the Earth may be hollow. Gravity and physics may not be exactly as we conceive. In that case, what we refer to as modern physics may be metaphysical mumbo-jumbo. Is it possible that the iron we think is at the center of the Earth is held together by a force that exceeds the equal and opposite force of centripetal force.

Why would you think that the earth is hollow? Seismology would suggest the opposite.

ebaines · Sep 6, 2013, 06:05 AM

Its obvious why the "centrifuge efffect" has no bearing - and smoothy hit it on the head. Think about it for a second - if the earth rotated fast enough to cause denser metals inside the core to overcome gravity and rise, then that would mean it rotates so fast that you could not stand on the surface of the earth without being thrown off into space. So clearly the "centrifuge effect" is much, much less significant than the force of gravity.

But for fun let's do the math. At the surface of the earth acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s^2. Let's compare that to the centripetal acceleration due to the earth's rotation, which is calculated from $a=\omega^2 r$ , where $\omega$ is the rotational velocity of the earth:

$<br /> \omega = \frac {1\ Rev}{Day} \times \frac {1 \ Day}{24 \ Hr} \times \frac {1 \ Hr}{3600\ s} \times \frac {2 \pi \ Radians}{Rev} = 7.27 \times 10^{-5} \ \frac {radians}{s}$

Given the radius of the earth being about 6360 Km, the centripetal acceleration at the surface of the earth is:

$a = 6.36 \times 10^6 m \times (7.27 \times 10^{-5} s^{-1})^2 = 0.034 \frac m {s^2}$

Thus the "centrifuge effect" is about 1/300 as strong as gravity. That's why you don't fly off the earth and that's why denser metals tend to sink in the earth's core.