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Mad Scientists Science and Mathematics discussion-- theories, arguments, citations, proofs and pudding.

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  #1   Add No sketch to your ignore list  
Old 2008-06-30, 23:15
No sketch No sketch is offline
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Default Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Hello

If gravity were less or more, would the shape and functions of our bodies be different?

1) Muscle mass would increase with more gravity and vise versa.
2) The planet itself would adjust. Nothing would change (we're just talking the planet) because humans couldn't exist any other way.

Any ideas?
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  #2   Add thebigmoney to your ignore list  
Old 2008-07-01, 01:15
thebigmoney thebigmoney is offline
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Madison
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

I'm not sure if the 1) and 2) are supposed to be opposite sides of an argument or not, but if you are positing that, I would say that no, both things would happen. As long as masses of everyday objects stayed the same, humans would definitely gain some muscle because everything was heavier. However, the planet would change too, since more structure would be necessary in plants and trees in order to keep them and their branches off the ground. In fact, I bet nature would start to select for trees with less branching at some point.
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  #3   Add No sketch to your ignore list  
Old 2008-07-01, 01:22
No sketch No sketch is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

No, they are supposed to be 2 points towards my argument.
Good point about the trees.
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  #4   Add harry_hardcore_hoedown to your ignore list  
Old 2008-07-03, 10:47
harry_hardcore_hoedown harry_hardcore_hoedown is offline
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Perth, Australia
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

If there was no gravity whatsoever then biceps would be the same size as triceps, but that's about it. Why?
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  #5   Add Graemy to your ignore list  
Old 2008-07-03, 12:52
Graemy Graemy is offline
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gloucesterVA US
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Quote:
Originally Posted by harry_hardcore_hoedown View Post
If there was no gravity whatsoever then biceps would be the same size as triceps, but that's about it. Why?
Biceps wouldn't have to lift against gravity.
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  #6   Add harry_hardcore_hoedown to your ignore list  
Old 2008-07-03, 13:37
harry_hardcore_hoedown harry_hardcore_hoedown is offline
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Perth, Australia
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Quote:
Originally Posted by Graemy View Post
Biceps wouldn't have to lift against gravity.
I meant why did the OP want to know.
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  #7   Add Graemy to your ignore list  
Old 2008-07-03, 15:28
Graemy Graemy is offline
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gloucesterVA US
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Quote:
Originally Posted by harry_hardcore_hoedown View Post
I meant why did the OP want to know.
he must have a doomsday device that alters gravity and is wondering what would happen.
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  #8   Add No sketch to your ignore list  
Old 2008-07-03, 16:18
No sketch No sketch is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Quote:
Originally Posted by harry_hardcore_hoedown View Post
I meant why did the OP want to know.
I actually do have a doomsday device. However, the details of this will remain undisclosed. (lame, I know, sorry guys.)
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  #9   Add Sentinel owl to your ignore list  
Old 2008-07-06, 03:38
Sentinel owl Sentinel owl is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

how about LACK of gravity? i.e. how would a baby born and raised in orbit develop physically? Too bad we couldn't test it, as it would likely never be able to live on earth (lack of muscle development and weak bones would be very likely)
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  #10   Add No sketch to your ignore list  
Old 2008-07-06, 03:54
No sketch No sketch is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sentinel owl View Post
how about LACK of gravity? i.e. how would a baby born and raised in orbit develop physically? Too bad we couldn't test it, as it would likely never be able to live on earth (lack of muscle development and weak bones would be very likely)
That's an interesting thought. The baby would never crawl or walk, but neither would the parents, given they were also in the same environment, so that's a lost concept. Maybe the lack of physicality might result in the sparking of other realms of consciousness. Maybe that's just me wanting that to happen.

Lack of muscle development is a given. It would be a little jelly baby. It'd have to live without gravity forever.

Humans function better when they exercise, with gravity of course. I duno, there are a lot of possibilities.
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 #11 
Old 2008-07-07, 06:45
AntlerBoy AntlerBoy is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

I actually do have a doomsday device. However, the details of this will remain undisclosed. (lame, I know, sorry guys.)

You want to get the FBI on our shit?

SWIM has a doomsday device, you mean.

>_>
<_<

be very careful.
 #12 
Old 2008-07-07, 06:52
Nibroc Nibroc is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

I'm thinking that bones would have no reason to become solid, because theres nothing for them to do (except ribcage), so bones could become gelatinous. There's also the thought muscles wou;dn't develop in a zero gravity space, because of their lack of need, so less calories would be burned. If someone was to eat and get fat, their body could potentially change shape, because the fat wouldn't sag because nothing would cause it to.
Then flying them down to earth would cause....




Jabba the hut.
 #13 
Old 2008-07-08, 13:05
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Lack of gravity, or too much could cause strain on the aorta. That's why astronauts cannot spend forever in space (unless gravity is simulated).
 #14 
Old 2008-07-08, 23:03
Sentinel owl Sentinel owl is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Astronauts have spent considerable lengths of time in space, though. How long does it take?
 #15 
Old 2008-07-09, 01:47
evilman evilman is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sentinel owl
how about LACK of gravity? i.e. how would a baby born and raised in orbit develop physically? Too bad we couldn't test it, as it would likely never be able to live on earth (lack of muscle development and weak bones would be very likely)

it might be physically weak but it would have the cardiac and gastro/intestinal system of the hulk.

and it depends if were talking about space or just no gravity nut if it was in space it would be incredibly stupid due to lack of stimulation
 #16 
Old 2008-07-09, 01:48
evilman evilman is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

srry 4 double post
 #17 
Old 2008-07-09, 02:57
TruthWielder TruthWielder is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Is anybody else thinking of the gravity machine/room from DBZ and how epic it would be if they could train in it?

...

Just me?

......
 #18 
Old 2008-07-10, 00:30
Entropic Entropic is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

For a good idea of how the body structure of organisms would likely develop in zero gravity, look no further than the oceans. Marine life exists in a very buyoant environment, but many species still developed bones to support larger bodies. Being in water is not quite the same as being weightless, but nearly so, particularly at shallow depths were the water pressure is not a major factor.
 #19 
Old 2008-07-11, 15:12
wormy.butt wormy.butt is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Quote:
Originally Posted by No sketch
Hello

If gravity were less or more, would the shape and functions of our bodies be different?

1) Muscle mass would increase with more gravity and vise versa.
2) The planet itself would adjust. Nothing would change (we're just talking the planet) because humans couldn't exist any other way.

Any ideas?


damn man, i never would of thought of some shit like that.

bravo.
 #20 
Old 2008-07-11, 15:27
OveRTurE OveRTurE is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

A child growing up in zero gravity, would be freakishly tall, due to the lack of gravity pulling him down, A child growing up on the moon, would be not as tall, but still far above the average high of a human on earth. Read it in Uncle John's Bathroom Reader.

Uncle John ftw!
 #21 
Old 2008-07-29, 10:06
Acolyte
 
East Coast Australia
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

I remember reading in this warhammer novel set on a low gravity planet that was of similar conditions to earth (climate, fertility etc.) but on account of the lowER gravity, everything was gigantic. So there were these giant dinosaurs that the titans (sky scraper size mechs) had to battle and the natives rode on the dinosaurs and controlled them.
 #22 
Old 2008-07-30, 12:31
Ormy Ormy is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Quote:
Originally Posted by Entropic
For a good idea of how the body structure of organisms would likely develop in zero gravity, look no further than the oceans. Marine life exists in a very buyoant environment, but many species still developed bones to support larger bodies. Being in water is not quite the same as being weightless, but nearly so, particularly at shallow depths were the water pressure is not a major factor.


Just what I was thinking, I imagined jellyfish evolving into the planets dominant species.
 #23 
Old 2008-07-30, 18:19
No sketch No sketch is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Hey, Mods
Do you know why I can't see posts past the 2nd page?
No sketch
 #24 
Old 2008-07-30, 22:58
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Land of the Ires.
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

I hope gravity doesn't increase or else my fat will droop more
 #25 
Old 2008-07-31, 00:12
No sketch No sketch is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

I can see it now, thx
 #26 
Old 2008-08-11, 09:42
Brophy4Bro Brophy4Bro is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

what if gravity were to slowly increase over time allowing everything to evolve.
but then suddenly the gravity was returned to its normal state?

everything would be vastly stronger in structure
 #27 
Old 2008-08-13, 22:13
Brimstone Brimstone is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

how about actually increasing gravity above 9.8 m/ss? that'd be great to exercise in - you could exercise by just walking..
 #28 
Old 2008-08-13, 22:28
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Land of the Ires.
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brimstone
how about actually increasing gravity above 9.8 m/ss? that'd be great to exercise in - you could exercise by just walking..


That wouldn't be hard, all you'd need is a large spinning chamber about with an appropriate slope on the floor.
 #29 
Old 2008-08-14, 06:53
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Planet Earth
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brophy4Bro
what if gravity were to slowly increase over time allowing everything to evolve.
but then suddenly the gravity was returned to its normal state?

everything would be vastly stronger in structure


Or if, you know, we went to the moon or something.
 #30 
Old 2008-08-14, 17:13
Brimstone Brimstone is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

That wouldn't be hard, all you'd need is a large spinning chamber about with an appropriate slope on the floor.

Such as this carnival ride? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_up

It seems as if that ride would increase the feeling of gravity too much. Or something like the spaceship in 2001: A Space Odyssey?
 #31 
Old 2008-08-16, 14:24
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Madison
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Or something like the spaceship in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

1337. I was waiting for someone to mention this...what a hella awesome movie.
 #32 
Old 2008-09-08, 04:47
Regular
 
Edmonton
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

You want to get the FBI on our shit?

SWIM has a doomsday device, you mean.

>_>
<_<

be very careful.

fuck swim you cunt ass faggot ass mother fucker
 #33 
Old 2008-09-08, 15:12
bobfish bobfish is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

More gravity=denser air=stronger lungs / diaphragms. Also, the earth would have a different orbit or go faster in the current one. Either way, the environment would be different.
 #34 
Old 2008-09-08, 18:01
Moderator
 
Former HB mod.
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

If you trebled gravity CarbonB could probably tuck his moobs under his belt.
 #35 
Old 2008-09-16, 11:13
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run while you can -----&gt;
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Humans would probably go back to being 4 legged creatures, due to the added effects of gravity. Perhaps the earth was spinning mush faster back in the day which meant everything had 4 legs to cope with the massive amounts of gravity?

Lack of gravity might also explain the 4 legs, as it provides a much stabler base, and additional grip.

Tree's/plants in general would grow much thicker to cope with the added gravity, and so would probably be much shorter.

Stuff under the ocean would probably remain unchanged, but maybe they wouldnt evolve to be able to walk on land.

Try it and see?(~hooks giant motor to earth and turns on~)
 #36 
Old 2008-09-16, 16:09
Moderator
 
Former HB mod.
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Perhaps the earth was spinning mush faster back in the day which meant everything had 4 legs to cope with the massive amounts of gravity?

And the connection between increased gravity and Earth's rotational speed is...?
 #37 
Old 2008-09-16, 16:50
Rainbows Rainbows is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

We'd be pretty fucked in the long-term in a high-gravity environment. I doubt our hearts could cope with the added strain from having to pump harder all the time. Our bones would suffer added stress from being constantly weighed down upon and from the additional force exerted on them by our stronger muscles. All our instincts are fine-tuned to what they are today by a long, long chain of evolution in standard gravity, they'd be thrown out of whack completely. Loads of stuff. There should be experiments done.
 #38 
Old 2008-09-17, 22:45
AntlerBoy AntlerBoy is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

fuck swim you cunt ass faggot ass mother fucker

Have my babies.
 #39 
Old 2008-09-19, 05:12
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Brisbane, Australia
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

And the connection between increased gravity and Earth's rotational speed is...?

if earth rotated faster the gravity would increase

ever been on one of those gravitron rides at fairs or themeparks or w/e.

if you haven't, they generate there own gravity by spinning faster.

so if there was more gravity earth would be rotating faster on its own axis and go around the sun at a quicker speed.

the tide would turn quicker
we'd have bigger differences between high and low tide.
shorter days.
shorter years.
and a whole bunch of other shit.
 #40 
Old 2008-09-19, 10:46
Rainbows Rainbows is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

if earth rotated faster the gravity would increase

ever been on one of those gravitron rides at fairs or themeparks or w/e.

if you haven't, they generate there own gravity by spinning faster.

so if there was more gravity earth would be rotating faster on its own axis and go around the sun at a quicker speed.

the tide would turn quicker
we'd have bigger differences between high and low tide.
shorter days.
shorter years.
and a whole bunch of other shit.

I'm preserving this by quote. It's hilarious.
 #41 
Old 2008-09-19, 22:39
Regular
 
Brisbane, Australia
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

I'm preserving this by quote. It's hilarious.

i know i dont really know what i'm talking bout

worth ashot though

and it would change all of those things
maybe not quite like i said but it would
 #42 
Old 2008-09-20, 15:00
Rainbows Rainbows is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

i know i dont really know what i'm talking bout

worth ashot though

and it would change all of those things
maybe not quite like i said but it would

It's not rotational speed that causes gravity. The force on those spinning rides at fairs and stuff is centrifugal force. Gravity's caused by mass; if the Earth was larger or denser, it would have a higher gravity.

It's the moon's gravity that causes the tides. The water in the oceans is gravitationally attracted to the moon. Earth's gravity pulls it back down; if the Earth's gravity was greater, if anything the tidal range would be less because Earth's gravitational influence would more easily overcome the moon's.

If the Earth spun faster it would indeed cause shorter days, but that's nothing to do with gravity.

It's the movement of the Earth around the sun that causes the length of the year, nothing to do with the gravity of the Earth at all. The Earth rotating faster wouldn't cause it to orbit the sun more quickly.

There ya go.
 #43 
Old 2008-09-21, 09:46
Regular
 
Brisbane, Australia
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

It's not rotational speed that causes gravity. The force on those spinning rides at fairs and stuff is centrifugal force. Gravity's caused by mass; if the Earth was larger or denser, it would have a higher gravity.

It's the moon's gravity that causes the tides. The water in the oceans is gravitationally attracted to the moon. Earth's gravity pulls it back down; if the Earth's gravity was greater, if anything the tidal range would be less because Earth's gravitational influence would more easily overcome the moon's.

If the Earth spun faster it would indeed cause shorter days, but that's nothing to do with gravity.

It's the movement of the Earth around the sun that causes the length of the year, nothing to do with the gravity of the Earth at all. The Earth rotating faster wouldn't cause it to orbit the sun more quickly.

There ya go.

but what causes earth to spin round the sun? gravity
what causes the turn of the tides? the moons gravity and earths gravity interacting,
if gravity on earth increased maybe the earth wouldn't orbit faster but it would change tides , there'd be faster changes in the moon cycle because more gravity would make the moon orbit more rapidly which would make tides change quicker.

or at least thats the way i thought of it.
 #44 
Old 2008-09-21, 10:27
Rainbows Rainbows is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

The Earth's gravity doesn't affect its rotation around the sun, only the sun's does.

The moon would orbit closer and faster, but the Earth would exert a greater gravitational force on the oceans. They'd change more quickly, you're right, but the tidal range would be lessened.
 #45 
Old 2008-09-22, 04:18
Regular
 
Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

Perhaps the stereotypical tall grey aliens are comparable to what a child would eventually look like if they developed in space/zero gravity.
 #46 
Old 2008-09-22, 15:19
bobfish bobfish is offline
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Default Re: Gravity Affecting Human Body Shape

The moon would crash into the earth. We would all die.
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