Write to Win (Round 5): Earth’s gravity disappears for an hour every day. What should people do?
In our writing contest, students are eliminated one at a time based on your votes and YP editors’ picks
Can you imagine Earth without gravity? Photo: ShutterstockRead the responses to this week’s Write to Win prompt and choose the answer you like most on this form.
Hong Kong: If Earth’s gravity were to magically disappear for an hour each day, hospitals should definitely prepare for a wave of people flooding in with injuries. To prepare, humans should stay indoors and have a well-padded area or a special bunker just for this no-gravity hour to prevent injuries from uncontrollable objects flying around. On top of that, humans should secure all their furniture and objects together so that these items do not become dangerous projectiles that could potentially make holes in walls or cause significant injuries. Lastly, humans should prepare fun things to do during this hour that do not involve physical movement, as gravity’s disappearance would disrupt balance and blood circulation, potentially causing falls and fainting spells. Although losing gravity every day could be quite dangerous, I think it would be fun to be able to practically float around for an hour.
London: Gravity is essential for everything on Earth. Without gravity, Earth would become a chaotic planet with objects floating in random directions. To prepare for the disappearance of gravity, alarm systems should be installed so that people can take precautionary measures to reduce losses. People should wear protective suits with an abundant supply of oxygen. Furniture, such as chairs and tables, should be anchored to the floor to minimise damage caused by objects colliding. All factories, such as power plants, should be shut down to ensure the safety of all living things by lowering the risks of explosions and radiation leakage. Cities should also be covered with enormous domes to prevent them from being overwhelmed by huge blobs of floating seawater.
Write to Win (Round 4): What do you think schools will be like in 50 years?
Sydney: If Earth’s gravity disappeared for one hour daily, society would need to rethink everything from architecture to our routines. I imagine homes with automatic magnetic flooring, classrooms with anchors and sports activities being paused to avoid chaotic mid-air cricket! Schools might even teach students how to float safely as a life skill, just like we practise fire drills now. My love for physics makes me wonder how scientists would stabilise satellites or prevent debris from colliding in orbit. Engineers would probably develop gravity shields or timed ground stabilisers. Public announcements would alert people 10 minutes before “The Float”. But maybe this strange shift would teach us something more profound, too. Gravity, like many natural forces, is invisible but vital. Losing it for even one hour a day might help us appreciate the quiet forces that keep us steady – both in science and in life.
Berlin: If Earth’s gravity disappeared for an hour every day, people would adapt in various ways to ensure safety and normalcy. First, we could install a machine that generates gravity in our homes, while the government can set up similar machines in indoor public areas. Second, we should invent special shoes with a hook on their soles or ones that are magnetic, which would allow people to walk normally down the streets even when there is no gravity. Additionally, public and private transport, such as buses and cars, should be equipped with magnet-based systems to stay on the ground. Lastly, educational videos should be played on televisions and be available on smartphones to teach people precautions and remind citizens about the attention needed during this hour.