What Makes The World Go 'round | Physics Forums

• Insights Blog -- Browse All Articles -- Physics Articles Math Articles Education Articles Bio/Chem/Tech Articles
• Forums Classical Physics Quantum Physics Quantum Interpretations Special and General Relativity Atomic and Condensed Matter Nuclear and Particle Physics Beyond the Standard Model Cosmology Astronomy and Astrophysics Other Physics Topics
• Trending

Log in Register What's new

• Classical Physics
• Quantum Physics Quantum Interpretations
• Special and General Relativity
• Atomic and Condensed Matter
• Nuclear and Particle Physics
• Beyond the Standard Model
• Cosmology
• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Other Physics Topics

Menu Log in Register Navigation More options Style variation System Light Dark Contact us Close Menu You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.

• Forums
• Physics
• Other Physics Topics

What makes the world go 'round

• Thread starter Thread starter Dagenais
• Start date Start date Jul 23, 2003

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of what makes the world go 'round, exploring both the scientific explanation involving gravitational forces and angular momentum, as well as more philosophical interpretations such as love and truth. The scope includes conceptual and theoretical aspects of physics, as well as some ambiguity in the original question regarding Earth's rotation and orbit.

Discussion Character

• Exploratory
• Conceptual clarification
• Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

• Some participants suggest that the sun's gravitational pull is responsible for the Earth's orbit, while others introduce the concept of conservation of angular momentum as a key factor.
• One participant questions whether love could be considered a factor in what makes the world go round, contrasting it with the scientific explanation.
• Another participant points out the ambiguity in the original question, noting that it could refer to either Earth's rotation on its axis or its orbit around the sun.
• A later reply proposes that momentum from the Earth's formation contributes to its motion, while the sun's gravity influences its orbital path.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the interpretation of the question and the factors involved in Earth's motion. There is no consensus on a singular answer, as multiple competing perspectives are presented.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in clarity regarding the original question and the definitions of terms like "rotation" and "orbit." There are also unresolved aspects regarding the relationship between gravitational forces and the motion of celestial bodies.

Dagenais Messages 289 Reaction score 4 Hmmm... Some people say money, some say love. I just want to double check. In short, what makes the world go around is basically the sun's gravitational pull which rotates the Earth and other planets around it right? Or is love really the answer? Physics news on Phys.org

• Topological antenna could pave the way for 6G networks
• Light-based Ising computer runs at room temperature and stays stable for hours
• Researchers demonstrate organic crystal emitting red light from UV and green from near-infrared

Ivan Seeking Staff Emeritus Science Advisor Gold Member Messages 8,213 Reaction score 2,660

Originally posted by kenikov I just want to double check. In short, what makes the world go around is basically the sun's gravitational pull which rotates the Earth and other planets around it right? Or is love really the answer?

Conservation of angular momentum. When a mass is trapped in the gravitational field of another body, a set of equations from Johann Kepler tell us that cirtain stable orbits can result. When this happens, as is the case with our planet, the momentum that the planet had continues until something steels it away. Of course, I am not aware of any proofs that show that conservation of angular momentum is not love. Dagenais Messages 289 Reaction score 4 Okay, so my Sun theory was somewhat right, right? Last edited: Jul 23, 2003 Ivan Seeking Staff Emeritus Science Advisor Gold Member Messages 8,213 Reaction score 2,660

Originally posted by kenikov Okay, so my Sun theory was somewhat right, right?

The sun only tries to pull us towards its center. We go around the sun because just as much as it pulls on us, we try to run away in a straight line. An elliptical orbit results. The Earth spins on its axis because as the Earth formed, the material was caught in the earth’s gravitational field; which made it orbit the earth. As this material crashed into the forming planet, the momentum of this motion is conserved as the rotation of the planet. So, right. You were wrong on this one. That's OK though. Most of science is about being wrong many times, but then getting it right just once in a great while. Dagenais Messages 289 Reaction score 4 Hrm, thanks. Hanging around here will make me look so much more knowledgeable in school. Mr. Robin Parsons Messages 1,243 Reaction score 0 IMO Truth, makes everything go!. HallsofIvy Science Advisor Homework Helper Messages 42,895 Reaction score 983 Actually, the original question was very ambiguous. "What makes the world go round?" Is that referring to Earth's rotation on it's axis or it's orbit around the world? The later question "whether sun's gravitational pull which rotates the Earth and other planets around it right?" doesn't make it any clearer! LURCH Science Advisor Messages 2,549 Reaction score 119 I suppose it could be looked at as a two-part question. Momentum makes the Earth go (it was in motion when it formed, and nothing has happened to stop it), and the Sun's gravity makes that "going" round (rather than straight).

Similar threads

Angular momentum conservation on a merry-go-round

• May 3, 2024 · Replies 5 · May 3, 2024

Replies 5 Views 2K Graduate Where does the energy for gravity come from?

• May 11, 2015 · Replies 32 · May 19, 2015

2 Replies 32 Views 9K High School How far away can a World So Newly Born Be at relativistic velocities?

• Nov 9, 2024 · Replies 18 · Nov 14, 2024

Replies 18 Views 1K Undergrad What Factors Create the Windiest Exoplanets?

• Jul 30, 2024 · Replies 8 · Aug 1, 2024

Replies 8 Views 3K High School At Home Experiments to Prove Scientific Facts

• Jun 29, 2015 · Replies 25 · Jun 30, 2015

Replies 25 Views 3K High School Hi, I'm learning physics -- Why do things near me not fall toward me?

• Apr 27, 2022 · Replies 12 · Apr 27, 2022

Replies 12 Views 1K High School The Sun's Influence on the Moon's Orbit: Is it Negligible?

• Jul 17, 2023 · Replies 4 · Jul 18, 2023

Replies 4 Views 3K Undergrad Balloon experiment - Classical Physics vs. Statistical Physics

• Aug 12, 2023 · Replies 16 · Aug 13, 2023

Replies 16 Views 2K I want to make friend with who love physics

• Aug 9, 2012 · Replies 9 · Aug 10, 2012

Replies 9 Views 3K Questions about a habitable second moon

• Jan 16, 2023 · Replies 37 · Jun 28, 2023

2 Replies 37 Views 7K

• Forums
• Physics
• Other Physics Topics

Hot Threads

• P

  Graduate Predictions for the Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 (results: John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis)

  • Started by pines-demon
  • Sep 2, 2025
  • Replies: 37
  • Other Physics Topics
• 

  Graduate How do people explore new ideas in physics?

  • Started by adam_snyder
  • Aug 28, 2025
  • Replies: 52
  • Other Physics Topics
• 

  New person here, where do I post my own personal hypothesis?

  • Started by Legodudelol9a
  • Dec 12, 2025
  • Replies: 15
  • Other Physics Topics
• 

  Graduate RIP Chen Ning Yang (1922-2025)

  • Started by robphy
  • Oct 18, 2025
  • Replies: 6
  • Other Physics Topics
• J

  High School Individual photons or electrons on a screen?

  • Started by johnthekid
  • Jan 16, 2026
  • Replies: 17
  • Other Physics Topics

Recent Insights

• 

  Insights Thinking Outside The Box Versus Knowing What’s In The Box

  • Started by Greg Bernhardt
  • Oct 13, 2025
  • Replies: 26
  • Other Physics Topics
• 

  Insights Why Entangled Photon-Polarization Qubits Violate Bell’s Inequality

  • Started by Greg Bernhardt
  • Sep 29, 2025
  • Replies: 28
  • Quantum Interpretations and Foundations
• 

  Insights Quantum Entanglement is a Kinematic Fact, not a Dynamical Effect

  • Started by Greg Bernhardt
  • Sep 2, 2025
  • Replies: 22
  • Quantum Physics
• 

  Insights What Exactly is Dirac’s Delta Function? - Insight

  • Started by Greg Bernhardt
  • Sep 2, 2025
  • Replies: 33
  • General Math
• 

  Insights Relativator (Circular Slide-Rule): Simulated with Desmos - Insight

  • Started by Greg Bernhardt
  • Sep 2, 2025
  • Replies: 1
  • Special and General Relativity
• P

  Insights Fixing Things Which Can Go Wrong With Complex Numbers

  • Started by PAllen
  • Jul 20, 2025
  • Replies: 7
  • General Math

Back Top