I’ve read that at the center of large celestial bodies there’s zero gravity (or close to). While confirmation would be nice, if true, I’m wondering how large that area can actually be and moreover, does it scale up with more mass and/or even size - that is, does the sun have a larger center area of low (zero?) gravity than the earth and so on with evermore mass. Or is that area the same regardless of mass’ size?

Thank you

    • FlowVoid@midwest.socialEnglish
      4·
      1 year ago

      Not quite. If by “edge” you mean the surface of the earth, then the force of gravity from the closer edge will always exactly offset the gravity from the farther edge. So if the earth were hollow, then you would experience zero gravity at any point in the hollow portion.

      Of course, the earth is not hollow. And any mass under you (i.e. closer to the center than you are) will not be offset, and all of it will pull you towards the center. As you move further away from the center, more of the earth’s mass will be closer to the center than you and therefore the force of gravity will increase.

    • Jeredin@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Thank you for replying.

      This feels very close to answering the question in a way my brain can interpret it. So, going outward makes complete sense to me but the area at the center, the way I under your answer is, yes, the area or zone will increase proportional to its mass?

      This may be asking too much, but, have any idea the size of that low gravity zone of earth bs our Sun?

        • Jeredin@lemm.eeOPEnglish
          2·
          1 year ago

          I guess I don’t know enough about the equations necessary to solve for a gradient of area at the exact center, equal to it’s surrounding mass.

          All the same, thank you for replying. Seems like the area might not be as large as I had supposed.