Measuring Density in Space: How Do You Do It?

[fabbo]

The problems with space...

Just pondering how you would measure an object's density when in space or a vacuum...

Was thinking attach it to a spring and use the spring constant but would a spring work in an area with a low gravitational field strength?

What are other people's ideas?

 

[Integral]

You need to apply a known force, then measure the acceleration of the body. You can do this with a spring (if you know the spring constant). It takes some practice but if you can stretch the spring and hold a constant length as the body accelerates you will be applying the needed constant force.

 

[fabbo]

do you use the natural frequency of the spring or look at the time period and root mass?

 

[fabbo]

a bit confused :s

 

[SonyAD]

If the object is reasonable in size, insert it in your thermos bottle, then fill the thermos from a bottle filled to a known volume.

Have 2 of your astronaut friends spin you while you're doing it if you're having trouble poring and stuff.

Or use a syringe for the purpose instead, and inject water into the thermos till it's full and measure the displacement.

 

[SonyAD]

As for the mass, use a centrifugal scales.