Why is Everything Accelerating on the Surface of Earth?

In summary, the question is asking why everything moving on the surface of the Earth is likely experiencing acceleration, despite ignoring the Earth's own motion. The answer lies in the fact that the Earth is round and in rotation, causing a centripetal acceleration that changes the direction of an object's velocity, thus fulfilling the definition of acceleration. Additionally, on Earth there is always some form of friction present, which also contributes to the acceleration experienced by objects on its surface.
  • #1
Omid
182
0
Here is a discussion Question :

Overlooking the planet's own motion, why is it likely that everything moving for any appreciable distance on the surface of the Earth is accelerating?

Pleas help me with this question. I think it's talking about acceleration due to changing the velocity vector.
Thanks
 
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  • #2
its because the the Earth is in rotation, and there is a centripital acceleration.
 
  • #3
Acceleration means rate of change of velocity. Velocity is a vector. If the velocity changes direction then acceleration occurs even if the magnitude of the vector remains fixed.
 
  • #4
I'll add to what Tide said:

In space, just because things have a velocity does not mean they are accellerating. However, on earth, you will experience friction of one kind or another. That friction is an accelleration and therefore anything on Earth should be experiencing it.
 
  • #5
I agree with Tide. You are supposed to ignore the Earth's motion, but not the fact that the world is round. It's like when a car goes around a race track even at a constant speed, its velocity is considered to be changing because its direction is changing. And the definition of acceleration is 'a change in velocity'. So the Earth is like a big round racetrack.
 

FAQ: Why is Everything Accelerating on the Surface of Earth?

What is acceleration?

Acceleration is the rate of change of an object's velocity over time. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.

How is acceleration measured?

Acceleration is measured in units of distance over time squared, such as meters per second squared (m/s^2). It can be measured using tools such as accelerometers, which detect changes in an object's velocity.

What causes acceleration?

Acceleration is caused by a force acting on an object. According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.

How does acceleration affect motion?

Acceleration affects an object's motion by changing its velocity. If an object is accelerating, its velocity is changing at a constant rate. This means that its speed is either increasing or decreasing, or its direction is changing.

Can acceleration be negative?

Yes, acceleration can be negative. This means that an object is slowing down or changing direction in the opposite direction of its initial velocity. For example, if a car is traveling east at 50 km/h and then accelerates west at 10 km/h^2, its acceleration would be -10 km/h^2.

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