Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-02-14

y. 4. A. Cotton Oal.
II does. A body was carried from the
north or south pole 20 the equator would
loso about one-tweifth OF an ounce.
avoirdupois. In every pound. A man
whose weight was 1874 pounds as he stood
ON one Of the poles would weigh only 1893
pounds II he went 10 the equator.
! In both cases he would have TO weigh
himself with a spring balance. because
ordinary scales would fail TO reveal the
loss. since both the body weighed and
the weights In the pan would be subject
to the same diminution OF gravity when
balanced against each other.
This is n very curious subject. and one
which involves the whole problem OF the
shape OF the earth, and OF the existence
of conditions which make Il possible
and a comfortable abode for US. although
suspect that the great majority OF
civilized mankind get through their
school and college days without ever
dreaming OF what they owe 10 the cen-
trifugel effects OF the earth's rotation.
Let us see some OF the surprising re-
suits that this remarkable force" pro-
duces.
The loss OF weight at the equator is
due TO two things. first directly to the
centrifugal force. and second TO the de-
formation OF the earth which that force
has produced. The direct loss by CEN
trfugal force IL l-2Soth Of the force OF
the gravity at the equator.
The indirect loss comes about through
the fact that the globe Of the earth IL
self has been flattened ct the poles and
| bulged around the equator by the cen
trifugal force, so that the surface al
either pole IL about thirteen miles nearer
the center OF gravity of the earth thar
Is the surface at the equator. But the
force OF gravitation decreases with In.
crease OF distance from the center. II
results that the attraction OF the earth
| upon a body on It's surface is 1-5soth
part less at tho equator than at the
poles. Adding the two fractions. i-2&s
and 1850 we get 1884, which. as already
said. Is the actual amount OF the loss
Of weight experienced at the equator al
compared with the weight at the poles
But the loss OF weight does not occur
suddenly at the equator; there IL more
or less loss at every point on the earth
increasing as you go from the poles e
the equator. Between those two fina
points. however, there Is another and q
very remarkable. effect OF the centrl
fugai force.
That force is not directed away from
the center OF the globe. but perpendi
cularly away from It's axis OF rotation
on the equator this Ia equivalent 10 di
rectlon away from the center. but II
the latitude OF New York. for instance
the centrifugal force causes the plumb
lire 10 incline nearly one-tenth OF a de-
gree from the direction OF the earth''
center and toward the equator. the re-
suit being that here there Is a tendency
for everything TO slide oauatorwards.
| II some magician could suddenly turn
/ the earth into a perfect sphere, with &
surface as smooth as glass. we would
| find ourselves uinless we could get q
solid anchorage slipping off toward the
south while IN the southern hemisphere
] everybody would slide northward until
the entire population Of the globe wal
heaped in a promiscuous belt of human
beings. of all eolors. habits and beliefs
whose cries and gesticulations would
probably be as confusing as those OF q
cageful OF frightened monkeys. And Their
think OF the animals that would go skat-
| ing with US.
But centrifugal force itself has saved
US from the possibility OF such a dis,
concerning experience by causing this
earth In the formative stages OF it,
| existence 10 assume a shape correspond.
| ing 10 the resultant OF the forces actinG
upon Il. Instead OF being a sphere II Il
an oblate spheriod, l. O., a body which
IS nearly spherical. but little flattenec
about the poles ana swelled around the