What if the gravity on earth increased?

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2002-11-10 01:34pm

I know it's kinda crazy but what if it increased without explanation from 1G to 1.5G in the timespan of 24 hours?
How would the world be affected, and how would it cope with this change?

Also, same question, but with 2G's

Exonerate · Post by **Exonerate** » 2002-11-10 01:36pm

People would be a little bit shorter, and there would probably be a sudden increase in accidents

David · Post by **David** » 2002-11-10 01:54pm

We would probably all die of exaustion. Living outside of "normal" conditions is hard on the human body.

David · Post by **David** » 2002-11-10 02:03pm

I imagine it would have the same effect on us as it has on pilots that speed up to fast, blacking out and that sort of thing. Of course, pilots don't have to live in those kinds of conditions 24/7, so it would probably be worse for us.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2002-11-10 02:35pm

David wrote:I imagine it would have the same effect on us as it has on pilots that speed up to fast, blacking out and that sort of thing. Of course, pilots don't have to live in those kinds of conditions 24/7, so it would probably be worse for us.

Pilots don't black out at 2gees. It usually takes 6 or 7 at the very least.

Exonerate · Post by **Exonerate** » 2002-11-10 02:36pm

I think the human limit is like 8 or 9 Gs... Not sure, my memory is spotty.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2002-11-10 02:38pm

Exonerate wrote:I think the human limit is like 8 or 9 Gs... Not sure, my memory is spotty.

Actually a man has been subjected to and survived 42Gs in some airforce tests. A pilot generally begins blacking out under 8 or 9Gs though.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2002-11-10 02:45pm

42 Gs !!!

David · Post by **David** » 2002-11-10 02:46pm

But what would happen if they had to be in that condition all the time.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2002-11-10 02:49pm

1.5G's hmm human musle mass increases certian plants an animals die out(Ants, Flys the exoskeleton probably won't take it)

You can figure out how baddly 1.5Gs woul be by taking you weight 1/2 it then filling up a backpack or harness of a similar amount

One could grow used to 1.5 or maybe even 2.5 but not anywhere above that

XaLEv · Post by **XaLEv** » 2002-11-10 02:56pm

It wouldn't be good for the various space programs around the world.

Probably wouldn't be very good for all the satellites in orbit, either. Or Luna.

David · Post by **David** » 2002-11-10 02:56pm

I looked up a few of NASA's sites about the affects of decreasing and increasing gravity. Seems the part most affected is the bones and cardiovascular system. I'd bet anyone with any type of heart condition would die.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2002-11-10 02:58pm

Anyone whose not reasonably fit is likely going to die, and where going to see massive economic collapse. Much of the machinery and constructions we depend on will either not function or will rapidly were out under the increased stress.

David · Post by **David** » 2002-11-10 03:03pm

The snack food industries would go out of business because all of their customers would be dead.

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2002-11-10 05:03pm

David wrote:The snack food industries would go out of business because all of their customers would be dead.

I've heard we are slowly losing the Moon on the Discovery Channel is that true?

XaLEv · Post by **XaLEv** » 2002-11-10 05:18pm

Captain Lennox wrote: I've heard we are slowly losing the Moon on the Discovery Channel is that true?

Yeah. It's slowly getting further from Earth at about an inch a year or something like that.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2002-11-10 06:16pm

Captain Lennox wrote:
David wrote:The snack food industries would go out of business because all of their customers would be dead.
I've heard we are slowly losing the Moon on the Discovery Channel is that true?

What? But the moon's our bitch. We can't just let it leave.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2002-11-10 07:14pm

If we want to get all the cheese off the moon, we should do it now. As for the gravity increasing, the change would be uncomfortable for many, there would be more sagging in some structures, perhaps some would collapse. And, the earth's orbit might change a little. Also, asteroid impacts would be worse, as they would hit wth more KE from the doubles rate of accleeration.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2002-11-10 07:19pm

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi wrote:If we want to get all the cheese off the moon, we should do it now. As for the gravity increasing, the change would be uncomfortable for many, there would be more sagging in some structures, perhaps some would collapse. And, the earth's orbit might change a little. Also, asteroid impacts would be worse, as they would hit wth more KE from the doubles rate of accleeration.

Question out of curiosity: Would a chest wrap do anything to help prevent that?

XaLEv · Post by **XaLEv** » 2002-11-10 07:59pm

And there would be an increase in air and water pressure around the world. This could have some rather nasty effects on ocean ecologies.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2002-11-10 08:24pm

The moon's orbit is progressively expanding, yes. I believe it was twice as close or so when it was formed.

Yogi · Post by **Yogi** » 2002-11-10 09:04pm

A lot of our tall building would collapse, as well as good parts of the transportation system.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-11-10 09:11pm

If the Earth's gravitational pull suddenly increased, the Earth would either shrink in radius or spontaneously gain mass. The former would lead to the ground being literally pulled out from under everyone. Not sure what would happen if the Earth just gained mass for no reason.

Also, the Moon/Earth orbital system would be drastically altered, which would fuck with the tides.

Post by **Coyote** » 2002-11-10 09:40pm

Well, in more ways than just figuratively, we'd all BEND OVER.

Planes in flight would be smacking the ground and probably no more could fly until we made new ones with structural reinforcements. Ships at sea would have a much lower freeboard, some woud sink. Most tires would pop, and I'm not sure about track vehicles, if they use torsion bar suspension they might warp and twist...

Those of us that survived all the falling buildings would be able to whoop ass like never before after a few years of constant 'workout', but then a simple fall from a common stepladder would shatter bones and possibly kill us. I'm guessing that the tops of the highest mountain peaks would be forever inaccessible without full oxy gear. Most of our deepest mines and tunnels would be off-limits due to pressure; many would just collapse.

We'd gain coastline as the ocean compacted; we'd be off-limits at much shallower depths. Subs would be crushed, releasing nuclear shit all over the sea bed. This would create a race of undersea mutants that will rise up to fight us and take our women... oh, shit, what were we talking about? Oh, yeah... for the first few years, infants wouldn't walk for a couple of extra years. Cattle given growth hormones to be fat as hell would go lame.

Life would suck.

XPViking · Post by **XPViking** » 2002-11-11 02:54am

Undersea mutants! LOL! Thank you for the laugh!

XPViking