Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?

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?

blakestyger · « **Reply #1 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.

LeeE · « **Reply #2 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.

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #3 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.

lyner · « **Reply #4 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.

JnA · « **Reply #5 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/

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

http://www.peakbagger.com/pbgeog/worldrev.aspx

DoctorBeaver · « **Reply #6 on:** 12/01/2009 13:11:18 »

Aussies may not be upside-down, but they are definitely backward *hides*

Bored chemist · « **Reply #7 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".

MonikaS · « **Reply #8 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

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #9 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]!

MonikaS · « **Reply #10 on:** 12/01/2009 22:34:27 »

Awwww, poor thing.

DoctorBeaver · « **Reply #11 on:** 12/01/2009 22:37:49 »

Il a tourné le rouge! [

]

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #12 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! []

[

]

DoctorBeaver · « **Reply #13 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! []
[]

Quoi?

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #14 on:** 12/01/2009 22:49:52 »

I don't speak French *said in an attempted French accent*

DoctorBeaver · « **Reply #15 on:** 12/01/2009 22:51:07 »

I said "Él ha dado vuelta a rojo"

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #16 on:** 12/01/2009 22:56:49 »

And I said "please speak English"

DoctorBeaver · « **Reply #17 on:** 12/01/2009 23:35:27 »

Gawd - the things I do for colonials. I said "He's turned red" [

]

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #18 on:** 12/01/2009 23:37:12 »

Very red [V] [V]

Madidus_Scientia · « **Reply #19 on:** 13/01/2009 08:29:42 »

revaeB .rD sdrawkcab em gnillac uoy erA

!?

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Why aren't Australians 'Upside-down'?

sarahpanter

blakestyger

lyner

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