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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!Glacier!kestrel!king
From: king@kestrel.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Re: Dinosaurs in Distress
Message-ID: <1272@kestrel.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 21-Sep-85 01:18:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: kestrel.1272
Posted: Sat Sep 21 01:18:23 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 25-Sep-85 06:08:50 EDT
References: <369@cornell.UUCP>
Organization: Kestrel Institute, Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 18
Summary: Well, not quite...

In article <369@cornell.UUCP>, michaels@cornell.UUCP (Michael I. Schwartzbach) writes:
> With considerable amusement I have been following the Ted Holden vs.
> The World debate, and if I understand his postings (which may not be
> the case) he claims that the gravity on earth in ancient time was
> felt to be lower, since Saturn was hanging somewhere in the sky and
> causing tremendous tidal-effects. Now, on the hemisphere closest to
> Saturn gravity would indeed be lower, but on the far side gravity
> would in the same manner be much higher (right?).
Actually, not quite.  In a tidal situation the point under Saturn AND
ITS ANTIPODES would have light gravitation; the points midway
in between would have the heaviest.

Think of the situation as the point under Saturn being pulled away
from the main mass, but the main mass of Earth being pulled away from
objects on Earth's far side.  The midway points (which see Saturn on
the horizon) are pulled towards Saturn with the same force as the
Earth itself, but in a direction with an inward vector.

-dick


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