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Gravitational acceleration can be calculated by g=GM/r^2 . One could also adjust

ID: 1313020 • Letter: G

Question

Gravitational acceleration can be calculated by g=GM/r^2 . One could also adjust this equation such that you can calculate the acceleration due to a distribution of mass by integrating over dm. It was assumed at one point that electromagnetic radiation required a medium called ether to travel through it. Since the speed of light is constant one could assume also that the density of this material would be uniform throughout the universe. Let's make these assumptions and let the density of ether be a uniform 10.6 kg per cubic kilometer evenly distributed throughout the entire universe. Using the law of super position what would the change in gravitational acceleration be near the surface of the earth due ONLY to the addition of this uniform ether?

Explanation / Answer

There would be no change in gravitational accelerations due to this uniform layer of ether as it is uniformly distributed in the entire universe. The force of attraction from all sides would be equal and cancel each other out (force being a vector). This is because the size of the universe is infinite and the dimensions of the earth comparatively are infinitesimal.