Red Wings

[jaadam4]

lol...

[jaadam4]

Holland better be trying to lock Howard up really soon. This kid is getting better and better. I thought we might have a few extra $'s to spend next season but we might be hurting once he resigns.

Its sad he spent so long in the minors and now he could become a FA at the end of the year.

[Panoptes]

The DUCKS are the definition of average (in the lightest sense of the word).

[bimmer84]

How much does planet Earth weigh?

Measuring Earth's weight is derived from the gravitational attraction that the Earth has for objects near it.

It would be more proper to ask, "What is the mass of planet Earth?"1 The quick answer to that is: approximately 6,000,000,000,000 ,000,000,000,000 (6E+24) kilograms.

The interesting sub-question is, "How did anyone figure that out?" It's not like the planet steps onto the scale each morning before it takes a shower. The measurement of the planet's weight is derived from the gravitational attraction that the Earth has for objects near it.

It turns out that any two masses have a gravitational attraction for one another. If you put two bowling balls near each other, they will attract one another gravitationally. The attraction is extremely slight, but if your instruments are sensitive enough you can measure the gravitational attraction that two bowling balls have on one another. From that measurement, you could determine the mass of the two objects. The same is true for two golf balls, but the attraction is even slighter because the amount of gravitational force depends on mass of the objects.


Newton showed that, for spherical objects, you can make the simplifying assumption that all of the object's mass is concentrated at the center of the sphere. The following equation expresses the gravitational attraction that two spherical objects have on one another:
F = G * M1 * M2 / R2



* R is the distance separating the two objects.
* G is a constant that is 6.67259x10-11m3/s2 kg.
* M1 and M2 are the two masses that are attracting each other.
* F is the force of attraction between them.

Assume that Earth is one of the masses (M1) and a 1-kg sphere is the other (M2). The force between them is 9.8 kg*m/s2 -- we can calculate this force by dropping the 1-kg sphere and measuring the acceleration that the Earth's gravitational field applies to it (9.8 m/s2).

The radius of the Earth is 6,400,000 meters (6,999,125 yards). If you plug all of these values in and solve for M1, you find that the mass of the Earth is 6,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 kilograms (6E+24 kilograms / 1.3E+25 pounds).

1 It is "more proper" to ask about mass rather than weight because weight is a force that requires a gravitational field to determine. You can take a bowling ball and weigh it on the Earth and on the moon. The weight on the moon will be one-sixth that on the Earth, but the amount of mass is the same in both places. To weigh the Earth, we would need to know in which object's gravitational field we want to calculate the weight. The mass of the Earth, on the other hand, is a constant.

[Newbomb Turk]

It turns out that any two masses have a gravitational attraction for one another. If you put two bowling balls near each other, they will attract one another gravitationally. The attraction is extremely slight, but if your instruments are sensitive enough you can measure the gravitational attraction that two bowling balls have on one another. From that measurement, you could determine the mass of the two objects.

this is exactly why I don't wear boxers.......

[DanO]

"It turns out that any two masses have a gravitational attraction for one another."
----------------------Not true. Just ask any divorced couple.

GO LIONS "10" !!!!!!!!!!

[chemiclord]

Well, of course, forces of repulsion come into play on occasion, DanO.

[bimmer84]

this is exactly why I don't wear boxers.......

lol

[DanO]

LOL Chemi. Repulsion is right. :-)

GO LIONS "10" !!!!!!!!!!

[jaadam4]

Man the Sharks really put the smack down on us at home. Tough loss after the road trip for the waery legs.

We had them all but knocked out of the game after we scored the first goal then came right back with a goal 7 seconds later that was waived off. That wistle was blew WAY too early. Bad call.

[jaadam4]

Dats had one of the best goals I've ever seen on the backhand last night. He's a magician.

The Habs had a pretty large contingent of people at the Joe. It's been awhile since I've heard that many people cheer for an opposing team in our house.

Howard was exceptional in goal. I really hope he comes through come playoff time. This kid could very well be the great goalie we've been looking for all these years.

[Newbomb Turk]

too bad we don't play the Habs again until the Hailey Bop comet returns...........

[WingsFan]

Osgood in goal, very sharp tonight. 4-1 win over the Devils in NJ


note: Osgood got his 399 win tonight

[jaadam4]

Thank goodness. Howard needs to slow down a little with these starts. There's plenty of season to go here. Keep the man fresh.

[Newbomb Turk]

Looks like the Wings decided to take in the football game instead