So me and a friend were talking and a question came up, so here it is.
So what would happen if there was a object connected by a string to say a crane in a gravitational field. (happens everyday, lol)
-------------------------- <crane
-
- < string
-
----
- - <object
----
now the interesting part, if you were to cut the string then would the object fall instantly? or would it fall after the Information that the string was cut and no longer supporting it be what happens.
We are not sure, lol. It is in a gravitational field so there is always a force acting on it, so when the string is cut it should fall, but is it instantaneous.
I think it would take a certain amount of time before it fell because the information that there is no longer a supporting force can't travel faster then light. So if the string was 1 ft long, then if cut at the top, it would take 1 Nanosecond before it started to fall.
So any ideas on what actually happens, lol
So what would happen if there was a object connected by a string to say a crane in a gravitational field. (happens everyday, lol)
-------------------------- <crane
-
- < string
-
----
- - <object
----
now the interesting part, if you were to cut the string then would the object fall instantly? or would it fall after the Information that the string was cut and no longer supporting it be what happens.
We are not sure, lol. It is in a gravitational field so there is always a force acting on it, so when the string is cut it should fall, but is it instantaneous.
I think it would take a certain amount of time before it fell because the information that there is no longer a supporting force can't travel faster then light. So if the string was 1 ft long, then if cut at the top, it would take 1 Nanosecond before it started to fall.
So any ideas on what actually happens, lol