Can Immersion in a Liquid with Equal Body Density Mimic Zero Gravity Experience?

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SUMMARY

Immersion in a liquid with a density equal to the average body density does not replicate the zero gravity experience. While the upthrust in such a liquid matches body weight, internal organs remain pressed against the body, unlike in microgravity where they float freely. NASA utilizes neutral buoyancy tanks for astronaut training, which simulate microgravity conditions but introduce the challenge of moving through a viscous fluid. These tanks provide a training environment for longer durations compared to the brief experiences on the 'vomit comet'.

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kky
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Suppose I prepare a liquid whose density is equal to the average density of my body.
Hence when I am completely immersed in it the upthrust provided will be equal to my weight. Will what I experience in such a liquid be similar to what I'll experience in zero gravity?
 
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Not really. I'm no expert, but your various organs would still impede upon your body as normally. In micro-gravity (there's no such thing as zero-g), the organs would be free-floating within your body. You would still feel, for instance, your intestines and liver pressing against your back in an SD tank, but not in free-fall. Circulation and respiration would similarly behave differently in the two environments.
 
kky, what you describe is indeed used to simulate ug conditions for astronaut training- NASA has a few giant swimming pools (neutral bouyancy tanks):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral_Buoyancy_Laboratory

As Danger points out, this is not exactly the same as ug conditions. Another trade-off is that the astronauts have to move through a viscous fluid which is not normally present. However, neutral bouyancy tanks are useful for training situations that require periods of time longer than the 20 seconds achieved on the 'vomit comet'.
 

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