- #1
ahrog
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Homework Statement
One design for orbitting space stations has a structure that is very much like a large wheel. The astronauts live near the rim, where the spinning of the wheel provides an acceleration that mimics the effects of gravity.
a) If the station has a diameter of 94m, what period of rotation would be required for the astronauts at the rim to experience an acceleration similar to the acceleration of gravity on earth?
b) Imagine that you are sitting motionless in a spacecraft outside the space station. You are watching the space station spin. Explain the effects on the astronauts who are spinning in the space station from your frame of reference.
c) Imagine that you are now an astronaut on the space station. Explain the effects on your body from this frame of reference.
Homework Equations
Ac= v2/r
v= 2pir/t
Fc=mv2/r
Gravity on Earth = 9.8 m/s2
The Attempt at a Solution
a) Yet again my textbook and module booklet give me absolutely no help towards this problem. I know I need to find the revolutions per second or how long it takes for a revolution to occur. I don't know how to get this number though. The only way I can think of is guess and check...lol Please help!
b) I'm guessing they want something along the lines of the person outside is seeing the astronaauts maintain a velocity as they rotate around the space station. However, they give a very large answer box, and I'm not sure how I should expand on this idea...
c) I'm guessing the person is not feeling much of a difference in the space station as they would on earth, as the rotation is keeping artificial gravity. The person has a centrifugal force pinning him down to the side.
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