I don’t know why I’m so obsessed with this. I know that rotational gravity is real. I’ve been on a tilt-a-whirl, I just don’t fully understand WHY it works.
Here is a scenario to illustrate what I mean: I am an astronaut inside a “hollow donut” type ship like in 2001. There is no air, we are in space. No relative gravity whatsoever from anything else. I am inside the ship, it is not moving or spinning and I am not close to the hull or anything.
From what I understand if the ship begins to “spin” to induce the artificial gravity effect, I will be affected by it and pushed out toward the outer wall or hull.
Why? What is ACTING on me. I know it might sound like a weird question. I love science and am convinced by it 100% I just feel like I don’t get what exactly is going on.
In: Physics
The “rotating ship” will not affect you unless you are moving along with the rotating part of the ship. If you are not moving you will see no apparent gravity. If you are moving faster or slower, you will see more or less apparent gravity, respectively.
If you start out free floating, an easy way to get up to speed is to attach yourself to the rotating part. Once you get some speed, you can stand on the rotating surface, and the friction will eventually be enough on it’s own to get you up to the same speed
I say “apparent” gravity because it’s not real gravity. Gravity doesn’t act that way. Remember the scene in 2001 where they are jogging around the inside of the room? If they jog in the same direction as rotation, they’ll feel more weight than if they jogged in the other direction. That could be as problem for sprinters
Latest Answers