Comments on: When at rest on the launching pad, the force of gravity on the space shuttle is quite huge - the weight of…? http://www.airhogszerogravitymicro.com/LatestNews/air-hogs-zero-gravity-micro/when-at-rest-on-the-launching-pad-the-force-of-gravity-on-the-space-shuttle-is-quite-huge-the-weight-of/ Sat, 19 May 2012 03:42:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: quantumrift http://www.airhogszerogravitymicro.com/LatestNews/air-hogs-zero-gravity-micro/when-at-rest-on-the-launching-pad-the-force-of-gravity-on-the-space-shuttle-is-quite-huge-the-weight-of/#comment-1246 quantumrift Sat, 13 Feb 2010 11:45:38 +0000 http://www.airhogszerogravitymicro.com/LatestNews/air-hogs-zero-gravity-micro/when-at-rest-on-the-launching-pad-the-force-of-gravity-on-the-space-shuttle-is-quite-huge-the-weight-of/#comment-1246 When a body is in orbit around the earth (stable), it is essentially free falling. So it is still under the influence of gravity, however, as it 'falls' the curvature of the earth falls away as well so it continues in motion. There is a force of gravity acting upon their body. In fact, if it were not for the force of gravity, the astronauts would not be orbiting in circular motion. It is the force of gravity which supplies the centripetal force requirement to allow the inward acceleration which is characteristic of circular motion. The force of gravity is the only force acting upon their body. The astronauts are in free-fall. Like the falling amusement park rider and the falling elevator rider, the astronauts and their surroundings are falling towards the Earth under the sole influence of gravity. The astronauts and all their surroundings - the space station with its contents - are falling towards the Earth without colliding into it. Their tangential velocity allows them to remain in orbital motion while the force of gravity pulls them inward. That's the basis of an orbit. There must be gravity for there to be an orbit. So that leaves us with choices A and B... let's examine a bit further: If the space station orbits at an altitude of approximately 400 km above the Earth's surface, then the value of g at that location will be reduced from 9.8 m/s/s (at Earth's surface) to approximately 8.7 m/s/s. This would cause an astronaut weighing 1000 N at Earth's surface to be reduced in weight to approximately 890 N when in orbit. While this is certainly a reduction in weight, it does not account for the absolutely weightless sensations which astronauts experience. Their absolutely weightless sensations are the result of having "the floor pulled out from under them" (so to speak) as they are free-falling towards the Earth. SO at 400km it's still nearly as strong as the surface of the earth but not as strong. I'd have to vote for A on this one since the shuttle is only about 200 km above the earth's surface. A is the correct answer. The Space Shuttle still has MASS as well. That does not change. When a body is in orbit around the earth (stable), it is essentially free falling. So it is still under the influence of gravity, however, as it ‘falls’ the curvature of the earth falls away as well so it continues in motion.

There is a force of gravity acting upon their body. In fact, if it were not for the force of gravity, the astronauts would not be orbiting in circular motion. It is the force of gravity which supplies the centripetal force requirement to allow the inward acceleration which is characteristic of circular motion. The force of gravity is the only force acting upon their body. The astronauts are in free-fall. Like the falling amusement park rider and the falling elevator rider, the astronauts and their surroundings are falling towards the Earth under the sole influence of gravity. The astronauts and all their surroundings - the space station with its contents - are falling towards the Earth without colliding into it. Their tangential velocity allows them to remain in orbital motion while the force of gravity pulls them inward.

That’s the basis of an orbit. There must be gravity for there to be an orbit. So that leaves us with choices A and B… let’s examine a bit further:

If the space station orbits at an altitude of approximately 400 km above the Earth’s surface, then the value of g at that location will be reduced from 9.8 m/s/s (at Earth’s surface) to approximately 8.7 m/s/s. This would cause an astronaut weighing 1000 N at Earth’s surface to be reduced in weight to approximately 890 N when in orbit. While this is certainly a reduction in weight, it does not account for the absolutely weightless sensations which astronauts experience. Their absolutely weightless sensations are the result of having “the floor pulled out from under them” (so to speak) as they are free-falling towards the Earth.

SO at 400km it’s still nearly as strong as the surface of the earth but not as strong. I’d have to vote for A on this one since the shuttle is only about 200 km above the earth’s surface.

A is the correct answer.

The Space Shuttle still has MASS as well. That does not change.

]]> By: SirWilliam http://www.airhogszerogravitymicro.com/LatestNews/air-hogs-zero-gravity-micro/when-at-rest-on-the-launching-pad-the-force-of-gravity-on-the-space-shuttle-is-quite-huge-the-weight-of/#comment-1245 SirWilliam Sat, 13 Feb 2010 11:28:42 +0000 http://www.airhogszerogravitymicro.com/LatestNews/air-hogs-zero-gravity-micro/when-at-rest-on-the-launching-pad-the-force-of-gravity-on-the-space-shuttle-is-quite-huge-the-weight-of/#comment-1245 ...the force of gravity on the surface of the Earth is not effected by the weight of the object... it remains a "constant" on the entire object...(if you could take the weight of the space shuttle and lift it 500 ft. in the air and next to it, have a bowling ball...drop both of them at the exact same time and "they" will hit the ground at the same time)... The answer to your question is "c". …the force of gravity on the surface of the Earth is not effected by the weight of the object… it remains a “constant” on the entire object…(if you could take the weight of the space shuttle and lift it 500 ft. in the air and next to it, have a bowling ball…drop both of them at the exact same time and “they” will hit the ground at the same time)… The answer to your question is “c”.

]]> By: George N http://www.airhogszerogravitymicro.com/LatestNews/air-hogs-zero-gravity-micro/when-at-rest-on-the-launching-pad-the-force-of-gravity-on-the-space-shuttle-is-quite-huge-the-weight-of/#comment-1244 George N Sat, 13 Feb 2010 11:03:22 +0000 http://www.airhogszerogravitymicro.com/LatestNews/air-hogs-zero-gravity-micro/when-at-rest-on-the-launching-pad-the-force-of-gravity-on-the-space-shuttle-is-quite-huge-the-weight-of/#comment-1244 I'd say A. (nearly as much) Gravity does weaken with distance, but 200km is not enough to cut the force in half (ruling out B). C and D can both be eliminated. If there was little to no gravitational attraction, the shuttle wouldn't stay in orbit, but would shoot off into space. I’d say A. (nearly as much)

Gravity does weaken with distance, but 200km is not enough to cut the force in half (ruling out B).

C and D can both be eliminated. If there was little to no gravitational attraction, the shuttle wouldn’t stay in orbit, but would shoot off into space.

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