What would happen if you fell through a hole that went through the earth and out the other side?
What would happen if you fell through a hole that went through the earth and out the other side?
If you fell through a hole that went through the earth and out the other side, you would experience a range of intense physical effects. Let’s explore what would happen step by step.
1. The journey begins
As you fall through the hole, gravity would pull you towards the center of the earth. You would gain speed quickly due to the acceleration caused by gravity.
2. Reaching the center
As you continue to fall deeper into the earth, you would eventually reach the earth’s core. The core is mainly composed of solid iron and nickel, and it is extremely hot, with temperatures reaching up to 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5,000 degrees Celsius).
Keep in mind that this is all hypothetical since we currently don’t have the technology to create such a hole or the means to protect someone during this journey.
3. You reach the center point
When you reach the center, you would experience a sudden change in gravity. As you pass through the center, gravity’s force would alter your direction, slowing down your descent until eventually, you would start moving back towards the surface.
4. Reversing direction
As you start moving back towards the surface after passing the center point, gravity would continue to decelerate your motion until you came to a temporary stop at the surface opposite to where you started.
5. Pendulum-like motion
With gravity now pulling you back towards the center, you would start oscillating back and forth like a pendulum. These movements would gradually decrease in amplitude until you eventually come to a stop near the core.
6. Oscillating further
The process of oscillating would continue, with each swing being smaller than the one before. With the force of gravity constantly acting upon you, you would continue oscillating for a significant amount of time.
7. Equilibrium position
After a long time, you would eventually reach a point where the forces acting upon you become balanced, known as the equilibrium position. At this point, you would come to rest near the center of the earth.
Overall, falling through a hole that goes through the earth and out the other side would involve a journey of oscillation between the surface and the core. The temperature, pressure, and inhospitable conditions near the core would make it impossible for any living organism to survive such an extreme trip. However, it’s important to remember that this scenario is purely hypothetical and beyond our current scientific capabilities.
