We little creatures have such a distorted view of the immense forces all around us. Like air. It weighs nothing--yet at sea level it weighs so much it's exerting 15 lbs. per square inch of us. If it was sand at that weight we'd know we are being squashed. How much less can we imagine the forces of gravity moving a trillion gallons of water, or the friction of one continent moving a foot against another.
We little creatures have such a distorted view of the immense forces all around us. Like air. It weighs nothing--yet at sea level it weighs so much it's exerting 15 lbs. per square inch of us. If it was sand at that weight we'd know we are being squashed. How much less can we imagine the forces of gravity moving a trillion gallons of water, or the friction of one continent moving a foot against another.