Printer Friendly
The Free Library
14,573,470 articles and books
Member login
User name  
Password 
 
Join us Forgot password?

You Asked ...


WE ANSWERED! EXPERTS REVEAL THE SHOCKING TRUTH BEHIND THE MYSTERIES OF SCIENCE.

Why do sharks like to eat people?

Erika Acosta, 13 Compton, CA

Don't kid yourself! Believe it or not, sharks don't find us too appetizing. We're too lean. They prefer to dine on choicer, rattier meats of seals and sea lions sea lion, fin-footed marine mammal of the eared seal family (Otariidae). Like the other member of this family, the fur seal, the sea lion is distinguished from the true seal by its external ears, long, flexible neck, supple forelimbs, and hind flippers that can be . To survive in the vast ocean, sharks eat for long-term energy storage. So they prey on calorie-packed meats.

So what about all those shark-attack tales? Well, surfers and divers Several; any number more than two; different.

Divers is a collective term used to group a number of unspecified people, objects, or acts. It is used frequently to describe property, as in divers parcels of land.
 in black wet suits flapping vigorously in the water look a lot like sharks' favorite/seal meal. But after one chomp (jargon) chomp - To fail.  ... ick! Sharks usually give up and swim the other way. Researchers note that sharks attack people only when we invade in·vade  
v. in·vad·ed, in·vad·ing, in·vades

v.tr.
1. To enter by force in order to conquer or pillage.

2.
 their territory, disturb their mating rituals Mating rituals: see
  • Mating, for mating rituals in the animal kingdom
  • Courtship, for mating rituals in human culture
, or when they go crazy after smelling blood in the water.

Consider this: In 1997, 57 unprovoked shark attacks on humans were reported worldwide; 11 of them were fatal. But every year humans kill millions of sharks for food (shark's fin is an Asian delicacy) and (some people shark cartilage shark cartilage,
n cartilage obtained from the hammerhead and dogfish sharks, used as an anticancer, antiinflammatory, and antiangiogenic treatment. Precautions for those with liver disease.
 prevents cancer). With most shark species threatened by extinction, it's a shame that "FISH EATS HUMAN" grabs more headlines than "HUMAN EATS FISH."

If Earth suddenly stopped spinning, would we fall off?

Melissa Harris, 11 Hollywood, FL

No, we won't. Gravity is the force that keeps our feet on the ground. But gravity has nothing to do with Earth's spinning or rotation. Gravity is a natural force of attraction, exerted by every object in the universe with mass. So even if Earth stopped rotating, gravity would still keep us grounded.

So what would happen if the Earth stopped spinning? Theoretically, if Earth called a sudden time-out and screeched to a halt, our atmosphere would still zoom at its usual rotational pace of 1,770 kilometers (1,100 miles) per hour at the equator. That force alone would tear away anything not attached to Earth's bedrock (solid rock beneath the soil) like buildings, cars, and the rest of us.

But don't worry. Remember Newton's First Law of Motion Noun 1. Newton's first law of motion - a body remains at rest or in motion with a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force
first law of motion, Newton's first law
: Once something is in motion, it will keep going until some external force stops or changes it. Earth's rotational axis (spin pattern) is so stable, it would take a massive force like a smash-up with another planet-size object to stop Earth's spinning. And scientists say the chance of that happening in our lifetime (or any lifetime) is practically ZILCH!
COPYRIGHT 1999 Scholastic, Inc.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1999, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

 Reader Opinion

Title:

Comment:



 

Article Details
Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback
Title Annotation:why sharks attack humans; gravity and the rotation of Earth
Publication:Science World
Article Type:Brief Article
Date:Mar 8, 1999
Words:405
Previous Article:SEARCHING FOR BLACK BEARD.(shipwreck off North Carolina coast may be Blackbeard's)
Next Article:CORROSION PROTECTION.(experiment for finding protection against rust)(Brief Article)
Topics:



Related Articles
Evidence for new force - may be no. 6.
Space gyroscopes for testing relativity.
Glow-in-the-dark shark has killer smudge.(dark patch on cookie-cutter shark attracts prey)(Brief Article)
What do you know about SHARKS?
WHO'S THE REAL MONSTER OF THE DEEP?(overfishing and shark attacks may be related)(Brief Article)
Mapping with grace: twin satellites chart changes in Earth's gravitational field.
Shark-bite science: turn the page to learn about the forces behind shark bites.(Physical: forces)(Cover Story)
The measurement of little g: a fertile ground for precision measurement science.
Warning: gravity is only a theory.(SECULAR HUMORISM)

Terms of use | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc. | Feedback | For webmasters | Submit articles