Re:Random fact... (Score 1)

I think I see what you're saying, the difference is gravity acts on every part of your body so you dont "feel" the force acting on you, even though you are accelerating. The direction of the force vector should be irrelevant, and in the case of the car it will add up with the force of gravity to increase above 1 G. An easier way to think of it may be if you picture yourself holding an accelerometer, which many times is nothing more complicated than a weight hanging from a spring. Sitting on the couch the weight will stretch the spring some, 1 G. Accelerating in the car we have both gravity ,(1 G down), and the cars acceleration, (1 G horizontal), acting on it. These forces will sum together to 1.4 G acting 45 degrees down from horizontal. The spring should now be hanging at 45 degrees, stretched more than before. In free fall the spring should not be stretched at all, 0 G.