Shit That I Don't Get: The Direction Up
- Thread starter IGNOREME
- Start date
Recommended Videos
All directions in space are relative to some object. As we live on Earth we use that for reference, and gravity influences how we navigate. Up is against gravity, down it with it.
If you leave Earth then you either have no directions, or still give them in relation to Earth still or maybe a space ship you're using. If you go to another planet you can use them the same way there.
They're just words, they don't have any innate truth to them.
If you leave Earth then you either have no directions, or still give them in relation to Earth still or maybe a space ship you're using. If you go to another planet you can use them the same way there.
They're just words, they don't have any innate truth to them.
All directions and movement are relevant to a certain point.
Think about it. The universe is infinite (or essentially so), therefore you can never get closer to the edge of the universe. Does that mean you aren't moving?
No, because with respect to the ground you are moving
You are also not actually going 60 miles/hr while driving a car since the Earth is rotating and orbiting.
Think about it. The universe is infinite (or essentially so), therefore you can never get closer to the edge of the universe. Does that mean you aren't moving?
No, because with respect to the ground you are moving
You are also not actually going 60 miles/hr while driving a car since the Earth is rotating and orbiting.
Their is no definate gravitational boundary where the force is equal to zero as it scales as 1/(r^2). So f=0 at r=infinate. However we use the concept of a sphere of influence, the sphere in which that body is the greatest contributing factor to gravitational forces. In the case of the Earth the sphere of influence has radius of about 925,000km Once outside this you are within the sun's sphere of influence, in which the Earth exists as an orbiting body. Hope that clears this up a little.shedra said:
Also, on topic, Up is defined by humans, its not something that inhearently exists in the system. It's a concept we have come up with to describe a direction and as such an idea of up is towards the sky/away from the ground and has no real meaning once in space.
I KNOW, RIGHT?
People always think I'm playing dumb when I can't figure out what way the mean when they say 'up', but unless it's on top of a fucking mountain it's not up, dammit.
People always think I'm playing dumb when I can't figure out what way the mean when they say 'up', but unless it's on top of a fucking mountain it's not up, dammit.
Heh, don't be sorry. I'm willing to bet you are American and quite young. American because you're fitting in other places on the planet compared to you rather than it being a normal thing. Young because, well, you seem sincere.Person Dude said:
A quick cyber stalk later and your profile says you're American at least, so 50%.
Anyway, what I really want to say is that you're interested in thinking (about random stuff), that's cool. Welcome to the club. Keep doing it, it's fun and it'll get you far.
Also, two first posts in this thread? @Astro-Boy and @MilitaryAviation1, I've never really been a stickler for social etiquette so I might not be the best person to welcome you into the fold but, I'll give it a go.
If I remember rightly it was something like; definitely go into the R&P basement and ignore the mods sticky post on the rules. Also, don't grab a pony avatar or you'll be added to my 97 strong ignore list.
...
That last might have been a personal addition but overall it was something like that, anyway; toodles.
When people say "up" they actually mean "the direction radially away from the center of the earth." However, that takes too long to say, so we just say "up." A perfectly good question, I actually find it fun to make complex definititions for seemingly simple concepts. Like up...Person Dude said:
It's relative, just like left and right. "Your right" and "my right" are different, but it's not obsolete because it's still useful. "Up" is generally agreed upon to be the direction away from the earth, above your head. Even if it's not the same direction for everyone, they understand what you mean. Things don't have to be precise as long as you're understood.
That depends on the meaning you imply on "UP". If by it you mean a vector pointing from you index finger all the way to infinity, then yes "UP" is not an absolute measurement. But if you think "UP" as meaning "Away from earth (or to be more general, Away from your plane of perspective)" as a line that begins in the center of the planet, crosses your finger towards infinity, then it is a common sense, here, in China, or elsewhere in the universe.
"Up" is away from the centre of the earth. It is the opposite direction that gravity pulls us. You're welcome.
I'm omniscient, directions mean nothing to me, i'm at my house and next to all of you right now, I can see your other tabs you freaking pervs.
I've never actually heard the song, but as with most of the interwebs I knew the lyric "fuckin' magnets how do they work?". What a terrible song... DERP I DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, MUST BE MIRACLE.CM156 said:
Sorry to go off topic.
I think this thread was over with this post:
thiosk said:
