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General Science => General Science => Topic started by: sarahpanter on 12/01/2009 08:50:06

Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: sarahpanter on 12/01/2009 08:50:06: sarahpanter asked the Naked Scientists:

Hi, can you tell me why if the Earth is round, why people in Australia are not upside down?

Sounds silly but I know about gravity and that earth is so vast but I can't understand why people that are not on top of Earth can have their feet on the ground and not be 'hanging downwards' is the only way I can put it.

If a fly say walks around a ball, when it is underneath it will be upside down, so why is this not so for people on earth. People I have asked have said it's because of gravity and I get that but it stilll doesn't explain why.

Please can you tell me, thank you.

What do you think?
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: blakestyger on 12/01/2009 09:03:21: If you think about it, they are upside-down - relative to someone 180⁰ the other side of the Earth - as are we. There is no top and bottom in space.
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: LeeE on 12/01/2009 09:32:00: Gravity always pulls things and the direction it pulls them is through the center of gravity. With a ball, or sphere, the center of gravity is right at the middle, so gravity tries to pull everything towards the middle. This means that no matter where you are standing on a spherical object, like the Earth, gravity will always try to pull you inwards. If you think of gravity as pulling you in, instead of down, it might make things a bit clearer.
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 12/01/2009 09:51:45: If one person was at the North Pole and another was at the South Pole, which one would be upside down? It doesn't matter. We are basically 'trapped' on Earth and there is no reference point to determine what is up-side down and what isn't.
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: lyner on 12/01/2009 12:06:26: If you took a photo from the Moon, with the North Pole at the top, then the Ozzies would look nearly upside down.

But 'down' for them would be towards the centre of the Earth.
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: JnA on 12/01/2009 13:03:56: Quote from: blakestyger on 12/01/2009 09:03:21
If you think about it, they are upside-down - relative to someone 180⁰ the other side of the Earth - as are we. There is no top and bottom in space.

you can check out who here

http://www.antipodemap.com/ (http://www.antipodemap.com/)

but most land masses end up in one of the oceans...

http://www.peakbagger.com/pbgeog/worldrev.aspx (http://www.peakbagger.com/pbgeog/worldrev.aspx)
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 12/01/2009 13:11:18: Aussies may not be upside-down, but they are definitely backward *hides*
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Bored chemist on 12/01/2009 19:05:05: None of us is "the right way up" or "upside down", what we are is "feet towards the middle".
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: MonikaS on 12/01/2009 22:01:52: Quote from: Chemistry4me on 12/01/2009 09:51:45
If one person was at the North Pole and another was at the South Pole, which one would be upside down? It doesn't matter. We are basically 'trapped' on Earth and there is no reference point to determine what is up-side down and what isn't.

Oh really, Luke, admit it! You are standing upside down! g,d&rvvf
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 12/01/2009 22:20:46: Alright, I'll admit it. I can just feel the blood rushing to my head, or is that my face? [:I] [:I] turns into [V] [V] [V]!
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: MonikaS on 12/01/2009 22:34:27: Awwww, poor thing.
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 12/01/2009 22:37:49: Il a tourné le rouge! [:o]
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 12/01/2009 22:38:55: If there was no gravity, I would fall off my chair, but so will you! So who is upside down now?

Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 12/01/2009 22:37:49
Il a tourné le rouge! [:o]
[???]
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 12/01/2009 22:43:33: Quote from: Chemistry4me on 12/01/2009 22:38:55
If there was no gravity, I would fall off my chair, but so will you! So who is upside down now?

Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 12/01/2009 22:37:49
Il a tourné le rouge! [:o]
[???]

Quoi?
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 12/01/2009 22:49:52: I don't speak French *said in an attempted French accent*
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 12/01/2009 22:51:07: I said "Él ha dado vuelta a rojo"
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 12/01/2009 22:56:49: And I said "please speak English"
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 12/01/2009 23:35:27: Gawd - the things I do for colonials. I said "He's turned red" [::)]
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 12/01/2009 23:37:12: Very red [V] [V]
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 13/01/2009 08:29:42: revaeB .rD sdrawkcab em gnillac uoy erA

!?
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 13/01/2009 08:34:08: Is that Aborigine?
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: dentstudent on 13/01/2009 08:36:50: !oot ti kaeps nac I ,kool ,oN
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 13/01/2009 08:38:33: What the heck is going on here? [???] [???] What is that? More Aborigine?
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: MonikaS on 13/01/2009 08:45:23: .egaugnal siht kaeps nac enoyrevE
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 13/01/2009 08:49:03: Now now boys and girl, there is no need to rub it in! [:(] [:(]
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: dentstudent on 13/01/2009 09:00:30: !delaever eb lliw lla ,neercs eht fo noitcelfer eht ees ot ti otni kool dna ,rorrim a teg ouy fI
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 13/01/2009 09:08:40: Ideally, it would be nice if you spoke in English!
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: JnA on 13/01/2009 09:09:04: Quote from: Chemistry4me on 13/01/2009 08:49:03
Now now boys and girl, there is no need to rub it in! [:(] [:(]

well it's not upside down...
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: dentstudent on 13/01/2009 09:13:41: Quote from: Chemistry4me on 13/01/2009 09:08:40
Ideally, it would be nice if you spoke in English!

and it is English....
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 13/01/2009 09:15:20: Quote from: dentstudent on 13/01/2009 09:00:30
!delaever eb lliw lla ,neercs eht fo noitcelfer eht ees ot ti otni kool dna ,rorrim a teg ouy fI
Doesn't look like English to me!!!
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: MonikaS on 13/01/2009 09:34:40: Then look at it in a different way...
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: dentstudent on 13/01/2009 09:38:54: Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 12/01/2009 13:11:18
Aussies may not be upside-down, but they are definitely backward *hides*

Hint....
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: blakestyger on 13/01/2009 09:48:34: [>:(].cipot ffo teg elpoep ylkciuq woh dezama be ot esaec reven I
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 13/01/2009 09:53:10: Ohhhhh.... [:o] [:o] [:o] Oh man!! How did I not see that! [:I] [:I] [:I] DOH! @^*@#(&@. HAHA, apologies folks for my ignorance. Hmm...*clears throat*, sorry Mr. blakestyger, I'll be sensible now. [;D]
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: SquarishTriangle on 14/01/2009 13:21:11: iaΛa!|aq ! 'os|e aJe Vur pue snp!peW !umop ap!sdn w,!
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: dentstudent on 14/01/2009 13:55:16: Quote from: SquarishTriangle on 14/01/2009 13:21:11
iaΛa!|aq ! 'os|e aJe Vur pue snp!peW !umop ap!sdn w,!

I think so too!

That must have taken ages!
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 15/01/2009 07:01:33: Quote from: SquarishTriangle on 14/01/2009 13:21:11
iaΛa!|aq ! 'os|e aJe Vur pue snp!peW !umop ap!sdn w,!
That is a very impressive effort.
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 15/01/2009 09:00:15: haha, you win SquarishTriangle :)
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Sammy123 on 15/01/2009 09:44:47: Although this is somewhat tangential to the topic. i think its odd that if you start out say in the US...(there is no real reason to start there but for it being awesome and good reference for most of u as it is a well known location) and go south...and keep going south...eventually you will be traveling north. whereas if you travel east. and keep on truckin' that'away you will always be going east...works the same with west...boggles the mind.
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: SquarishTriangle on 15/01/2009 12:23:03: Quote from: Madidus_Scientia on 15/01/2009 09:00:15
haha, you win SquarishTriangle :)

(: isno!Jas w'! +nq 'oN
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 15/01/2009 13:24:33: d: hzeJ) hlsno!Jas
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Don_1 on 15/01/2009 15:26:38: THUD

YEOWWWW

Well thank you all so very much........ I fell of my chair.

This internet thingy is supposed to make easier for us isn't it???

Yet here I am in great pain due to going A**E over T*T trying to read this lot standing on my head and looking in a mirror.
Title: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: CZARCAR on 10/07/2011 22:10:05: i know "bottoms up" but how does "upside down" work? or is that how aussie drinx?
Title: Re: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: Truths33k3r54 on 08/09/2016 23:54:10: Quote from: blakestyger on 12/01/2009 09:03:21
If you think about it, they are upside-down - relative to someone 180⁰ the other side of the Earth - as are we. There is no top and bottom in space.

Because the earth is not a ball. its flat disk shaped. The idea that we can live on a ball is so ridiculous i seriously do not how most people actually still believe this nonsense! How does water stick to a ball spinning 1000 mph? why is there no curvature? water always finds a level plane . we have have all been lied to about the world we live on. oh yeah .. space is lie also.. its all to hide god, the Creator.
Title: Re: Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?
Post by: chiralSPO on 09/09/2016 00:06:34: Quote from: Truths33k3r54 on 08/09/2016 23:54:10
Because the earth is not a ball. its flat disk shaped. The idea that we can live on a ball is so ridiculous i seriously do not how most people actually still believe this nonsense! How does water stick to a ball spinning 1000 mph? why is there no curvature? water always finds a level plane . we have have all been lied to about the world we live on. oh yeah .. space is lie also.. its all to hide god, the Creator.

sarcasm, I hope?