How does gravity affect rotation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kirl
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Gravity Rotation
Click For Summary
The discussion explores how a planet's gravity affects a rocket's rotation when flying past it. While the gravity pulls the rocket more strongly on the side closer to the planet, this can create a torque that alters the rocket's rotation rate. However, in most scenarios, this effect is minimal unless the rocket's length is comparable to its distance from the planet. In low Earth orbit, gravity gradient torque can be significant, as seen with the Space Station maintaining a "torque equilibrium attitude." Understanding these dynamics is crucial for accurate modeling in space-related simulations or games.
Kirl
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
I think this is an aproriate forum to ask this, I'm curious to the effect a planets gravity field has on a rocket flying past.

I know it would simply pull in the object harder the closer it gets to it, but does it affect the rotation of the rocket as well? If one slingshots around a planet would the rocket always point the direction it was going in, or would it simply move around the planet in it's original orientation?

I need this info for a game I'm working on, but I found I'm not actually as familliar with gravity as I always thought I was... :wink:
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
There are small tidal effects caused by the fact that the planet will have a stronger pull on the near side of the rocket than the far side. This can apply a torque and change the rotation rate. However, in most realistic scenarios, this force would be far too small to be noticable. It's only important when the length of the rocket is comparable to its distance to the planet.
 
That is not correct. The gravity gradient torque is a significant effect in low Earth orbit. The Space Station is typically in "torque equilibrium attitude", the spacecraft attitude in which the gravity gradient and aerodynamic torques cancel one another.
 
I stand corrected. Here is a more formal treatment of the problem for the OP:

http://www.aoe.vt.edu/~cdhall/courses/aoe4140/SatDy.pdf"
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Thread 'Looking for info about the Sombrero Galaxy'

Hi, I saw someone with an avatar on a different forum that turns out to be the sombrero galaxy. AI says, too distant to know much about, aside from billions of starts, potentially tons of planets, and a supermassive black hole in the center. I find that setup fascinating, despite knowing close to nothing about the universe. So I ask: could anyone point me in the direction of, or provide information about this galaxy? I do not trust AI beyond general information, and I like to go pretty...
View full post »

Similar threads

Undergrad How does gravitational self-interaction affect the Milky Way Galaxy?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad How Does Gravity Affect Spectral Line Strength?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Does being tidally locked affect a planet's magnetic field?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Undergrad How is asteroid 101955 Bennu possible?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Undergrad Evidence for existence of a 9th Planet in the solar system
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
High School What would the planets look like in real life?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
Undergrad Reconciling smooth spacetime with variable, rotating, earth gravity
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
How would gravity on another world influence human lifespan?
  • · Replies 41 ·
2
Replies
41
Views
4K
Undergrad On gravity and the conservation of energy
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
5K
Why is gravity stronger on earth than the moon?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
7K