Hey there! I recently got a super interesting question from Martin in Sweden. He asked what would happen if we built a giant ring around the Earth, perfectly round and balanced, and then blew up all the poles holding it up. Would the ring just float there, fall down, or start spinning like crazy?
First of all, Martin, that was a sneaky question! But it’s a fun one, and it introduces us to a cool concept called symmetry breaking. Imagine a perfectly balanced pencil standing on its tip. It doesn’t have a reason to fall in any particular direction, right? The same idea applies to the ring.
If the ring is super strong, it might just stay where it is, “hovering” in the air. This isn’t magic, though. It’s because the ring would be held up by its own strength. Each part of the ring would be pulled towards the center of the Earth equally, and these forces would cancel each other out. It’s like a tug of war where both sides pull with the same strength, so the rope doesn’t move.
But if the ring isn’t strong enough, it might buckle and scrunch up in places. This is similar to what happens when my friend Dianna shrinks coins using a strong, quickly changing magnetic field. Interestingly, you would only need to remove a few meters of the ring for it to be small enough to just lie on the ground.
As for whether the ring would start spinning, Martin might be thinking about how the Earth spins to the east underneath the ring. That’s a whole other topic, and I have another video about it that you should definitely check out!
Thanks for the fun question, Martin! And remember, stay away from high explosives!
Using materials like clay or wire, create a small-scale model of the ring around the Earth. Experiment by removing supports and observe what happens. Discuss with your classmates why the model behaves the way it does, relating it to the concept of symmetry breaking.
Stand a pencil on its tip and gently tap the table. Observe how it falls and discuss how this relates to symmetry breaking. Write a short paragraph explaining how this concept applies to the floating ring scenario.
In pairs, use a rope to simulate the forces acting on the ring. Each student pulls with equal force to keep the rope steady. Discuss how this activity demonstrates the balance of forces that could keep the ring hovering.
Research different materials and their strengths. Create a presentation on which materials could theoretically support a giant ring around the Earth and why. Consider factors like tensile strength and weight.
Use a spinning top to explore rotational motion. Discuss how the Earth’s rotation might affect the ring and what factors would influence whether the ring starts spinning. Write a reflection on how this relates to the Earth’s movement beneath the ring.
Ring – A circular band or structure that can be found in various physical systems, such as the rings of Saturn or circular paths in particle accelerators. – Scientists study the ring patterns in particle accelerators to understand the behavior of subatomic particles.
Earth – The third planet from the Sun, which has a magnetic field that protects it from solar winds and is the only known planet to support life. – The Earth’s magnetic field is crucial for protecting us from harmful solar radiation.
Symmetry – A property where a system remains unchanged under certain transformations, often used in physics to describe balanced forces or structures. – In physics, symmetry helps us understand why certain particles behave the same way under different conditions.
Breaking – The process of a system losing its symmetry or uniformity, often leading to new physical phenomena. – The breaking of symmetry in a crystal can lead to interesting electrical properties.
Forces – Influences that can change the motion of an object, such as gravity, friction, or magnetic attraction. – The forces acting on a falling apple include gravity pulling it down and air resistance slowing its descent.
Strength – The ability of a material or force to withstand an applied load without failure or deformation. – The strength of a magnet determines how well it can attract metal objects.
Hover – To remain in one place in the air, often achieved by balancing forces such as lift and gravity. – A drone can hover in the air by adjusting its propellers to balance the forces acting on it.
Spin – The rapid rotation of an object around its axis, which can affect its stability and motion. – The spin of a figure skater increases as they pull their arms in closer to their body.
Magnetic – Relating to the force exerted by magnets when they attract or repel each other. – The magnetic field around a magnet can be visualized using iron filings.
Balance – The state in which all forces acting on an object are equal and opposite, resulting in a stable system. – A tightrope walker must maintain balance to avoid falling off the rope.
