Atmospheric pressure & the vacuum of space

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the effects of atmospheric pressure and the vacuum of space on objects and humans, particularly in the context of space travel. Participants explore the implications of pressure differences and the structural integrity of spacecraft and astronauts in a vacuum environment.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how astronauts and shuttles can survive in space without exploding due to the lack of atmospheric pressure, suggesting that matter cannot hold itself together without pressure.
  • Another participant argues that the lack of pressure in space does not create a strong enough "sucking force" to cause harm, noting that astronauts' suits puff out in a vacuum, indicating that they are designed to handle pressure differences.
  • A claim is made that matter holds itself together in a vacuum through other forces, countering the idea that a vacuum would cause disintegration.
  • One participant references an experiment involving a steel cube in a partial vacuum, suggesting that it detached internally, which another participant disputes, asserting that this did not happen.
  • It is mentioned that spaceships are pressurized and constructed from materials capable of withstanding the pressure differences encountered in space.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the effects of vacuum on matter and the structural integrity of spacecraft and astronauts. No consensus is reached regarding the implications of pressure differences in space.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the nature of pressure and its effects in a vacuum, with some relying on anecdotal evidence and personal interpretations of experiments. The discussion includes assumptions about the strength of vacuum and the forces acting on matter.

leviterande
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I have a question I long pondered and couldn't find any explanation to exactly what I want.
We all know that atmospheric pressure is due tu gravity acting upon everything on earth. this pressure act from all directions on all our body molecules.

However in space there is no gravity, no air, no such pressure, right? well, how can any shuttle, let alone astronauts get in ONE piece in space in the first place! shouldn't they explode from the inside out? shouldn't their molecules go apart because of the lack of the pressure?

There was one experiment where a steel cube-put inside a partial vacuum box- melted or detached from itsself apart internally. which makes perfect sense since without pressure matter can't hold itself.


Im really puzzled

regards
 
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leviterande said:
However in space there is no gravity, no air, no such pressure, right? well, how can any shuttle, let alone astronauts get in ONE piece in space in the first place! shouldn't they explode from the inside out? shouldn't their molecules go apart because of the lack of the pressure?

No. Because the lack of pressure - the sucking force, isn't that strong. If you notice astronauts when they're doing a space walk, their suits puff out - in normal pressure the suits are floppy. That's as strong as the vacuum gets.

There was one experiment where a steel cube-put inside a partial vacuum box- melted or detached from itsself apart internally. which makes perfect sense since without pressure matter can't hold itself.

That didn't happen. And matter holds itself together in the vacuum by all the other forces.

If the vacuum was infinitely strong it would suck all of our atmosphere out into outer space - this does not happen.

There are vacuums all around you. Nature may abhor them, but it doesn't mean they're impossible. An ordinary light bulb, has a vacuum in it - to stop the tungsten burning. If the vacuum breaks the tungsten burns.
 
Alright. let me just explain a little further, I by no means understand exactly this.

on both sides of your hand you have tremendous pressure, if you were to remove the pressure on 1 side of your hand, your hand would be thrown out/cut off by the left opposing pressure from the other side. all this pressure is removed in vacuum, so how are there no effects, that is what I still don't understand
 
Spaceships are pressurized. The materials used can quite easily handle the few psi of pressure.
 

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