[time-nuts] Pendulums & Atomic Clocks & Gravity

[Magnus Danielson]

From: Bill Beam <wbeam at gci.net>
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Pendulums & Atomic Clocks & Gravity
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 13:06:10 -0800
Message-ID: <0JIO00C202MK0B30 at msgmmp-1.gci.net>

> On Sat, 26 May 2007 13:34:24 -0700, Brooke Clarke wrote:
> 
> >Hi Bill:
> >
> >It's my understanding that a satellite is in free fall, hence zero g.
> >
> 
> 'Free fall' implies that g is not zero!
> 
> If g=0 was true, then the satellite would not be falling at all.
> It is beacuse g is not zero, that the satellite is in 'orbit' rather
> than moving off in a straight line.
> 
> Jumping off a cliff also is "free fall" and surely g is not zero.
> The only difference between the cliff jumper and a satellite
> in orbit is the satellite never reaches the ground.

They do, once they run out of altitude correction fuel and air drag slowly
eats up the energy they have until they start to slowly decent and as they do
they experience more friction and eventually drop out of the sky. Takes a while
thought. Even at GPS satellite height, the drag is there even if it is small.

Cheers,
Magnus