A large wheel-barrow in Zero Gravity (When does it precess or not?)

[kmarinas86]

If you have a large wheel-barrow in space with the wheel spinning at high RPMs, you would expect to feel a strong right angle force when trying to turn the handles of the wheel-barrow. However, what happens if both the wheel and the rest of the wheel-barrow are spinning at the same rate, so that from the frame of the wheel-barrow handles, the wheel of the wheel-barrow does not spin? If one applied a rocket thrust on the handles so as to turn the wheel-barrow on an axis perpendicular to the spin axis of the wheel, would this strong right angle force be observed from the handle's perspective? If this is true, then this means that even *seemingly* stationary wheels, if they actually gyrate around a distant axis, would be subject to a right angle force as well.

 

[AndyW]

Thank you for bringing up an interesting and thought-provoking scenario. I would like to provide some insights on the physics behind this situation.

Firstly, it is important to understand that in space, objects do not experience the same forces as they do on Earth due to the absence of gravity. In the scenario you have described, the force that would be felt on the handles of the wheel-barrow is not a right angle force, but rather a centripetal force.

In the first case where the wheel is spinning at high RPMs and the rest of the wheel-barrow is stationary, the handles would indeed experience a strong centripetal force when trying to turn the wheel-barrow. This is because the wheel is rotating around a central axis and the handles are trying to change the direction of this rotation.

However, in the second case where both the wheel and the rest of the wheel-barrow are spinning at the same rate, there would be no centripetal force felt on the handles. This is because the wheel and the wheel-barrow are rotating together around a fixed axis, and there is no change in direction of this rotation. Therefore, the handles would not experience any resistance when trying to turn the wheel-barrow on an axis perpendicular to the spin axis of the wheel.

In regards to your statement about seemingly stationary wheels in space, it is important to note that all objects in space are constantly in motion due to the absence of friction and gravity. Therefore, even if a wheel appears to be stationary, it is actually rotating around a distant axis and would experience a centripetal force if an external force is applied to change its direction of rotation.

I hope this explanation helps to clarify the concept of centripetal forces in space. As scientists, we are constantly exploring and studying the laws of physics in different environments, and scenarios like this one are always fascinating to consider. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and sparking this discussion.