Electromagnetism is what makes thing fall...

Introduction

Within Flat Earth circles, a recurrent argument posits that "Electromagnetism is what makes things fall." This notion stems from conflating Earth’s magnetic field with a hypothetical central magnetic force pulling objects downward. Advocates often misunderstand early 19^th-century experiments with lodestones and bar magnets, extrapolating that the same principle applies on a planetary scale. They point to visible magnetic effects—compasses aligning north-south, iron filings forming patterns around magnets—and assume Earth must pull every object via an electromagnetic grip.

However, this claim overlooks key distinctions: Earth’s magnetic field arises from fluid motions in its molten iron core, creating a dipole structure, not a unidirectional pull for all matter. Moreover, most objects are electrically neutral on macroscopic scales, experiencing no net magnetic attraction. In this article, we will dissect the origins of this misconception and demonstrate why gravity—an entirely separate interaction—governs falling objects.

Countering the Flat Earth Statement

Flat Earth proponents often assert:

"Electromagnetism is what makes things fall."

We will address this statement point by point:

• Objects are electrically neutral: Most macroscopic objects carry no net charge. If electromagnetism caused falling, neutral objects would remain suspended. Yet they do fall uniformly.
• No evidence of magnetic poles at Earth's center: Earth's magnetic field originates from its molten core dynamics, not a central pole that would attract all matter indiscriminately downward.
• Electromagnetic force varies by material: Different materials respond differently to magnetic fields. However, all materials, whether metal, plastic, or wood, fall at the same rate in vacuum, independent of electromagnetic properties.
• Gravity measured in absence of electromagnetic effects: Vacuum experiments like the Apollo 15 feather-hammer drop isolate gravity. In the absence of atmosphere and thus any charge interactions, both objects fell identically.
• Equations are distinct: Coulomb’s law \[ F = k_e \,\frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2} \quad\text{with}\quad k_e = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} \] depends on electric charge, whereas Newton’s law of gravitation \[ F = G \,\frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2} \] depends solely on mass.

Historical Context

• 17^th Century: Isaac Newton publishes Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (1687), introducing the law of universal gravitation.
• 19^th Century: James Clerk Maxwell formulates his set of equations (1865), unifying electricity and magnetism.
• 20^th Century: Albert Einstein presents General Relativity (1915), describing gravity as curvature of spacetime.

Governing Equations

Newton’s law of universal gravitation, where \(G \approx 6.674 \times 10^{-11}\ \mathrm{N\,m^{2}/kg^{2}}\).

Coulomb’s law for electrostatic force, where \(k \approx 8.988 \times 10^{9}\ \mathrm{N\,m^{2}/C^{2}}\).

Comparative Analysis

Field Line Illustrations

Experimental Evidence

Key experiments demonstrate gravity’s independence from electric charge:

1. Galileo’s Inclined Plane: Showed uniform acceleration for different masses.
2. Vacuum Drop on the Moon: Feather and hammer fell together, confirming no electromagnetic influence.
3. Cavendish Experiment: Measured gravitational attraction between uncharged lead spheres.

Advanced Theoretical Distinctions

General Relativity describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime. Electromagnetism, by contrast, is a force mediated by photons within spacetime.

Einstein’s field equations.

Practical Implications

Distinguishing these forces underpins technologies from electromagnetic shielding in electronics to orbital mechanics in aerospace engineering.

Conclusion

Electromagnetism and gravity are independent fundamental interactions. Gravity’s universal attraction between masses, validated experimentally and described by General Relativity, clearly explains why objects fall—electromagnetism does not.