Tidal force in the sci-fi book "The Integral Trees"

[AnneLysa]

Tidal force in the sci-fi book "The Integral Trees"

Hi
I'm doing an eksamen exercise for tomorrow about the science fiction book "The Inetgral Trees" by Larry Niven and tidal forces. One of the quiestions are if it is realistic with a tidal force at 1/5g (little italic g - g-force, not gram) at one of the trees (it is big trees looking like integral symbols from another solar system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integral_Trees) and I really don't understand how to do. So I hoped maybe some of you know it. It would be such a big help. And it's urgent

And sorry for my bad english. I'm danish

Sorry I posted it twice.

 

[Klystron]

Eleven years later (July 2019) I can attempt a response in order to move this from Unanswered Threads.

I read Niven's "The Integral Trees" (1984) and sequel "The Smoke Ring" many years ago. Despite the title and Niven's reputation for introducing physics into fiction, the novels are concerned with the role of individuals in technological society with at least a nod to Huxley and Orwell.

Spoiler: plot spoiler

The descendants of abandoned crew members from a Soviet spacecraft end as slaves after many adventures among the Trees. The author could be comparing working in an office cubicle to a slave pedaling an exercycle to produce electricity for their masters.

If memory serves, gravity and breathable atmosphere derive from the neutron star with contributions from Goldblatt's World. Though very long and massive, the integral trees provide almost no gravity to human senses. The humans and "tri-foil" creatures essentially live in free fall subject to tidal forces from this odd system. Note the important life-lines when people travel and "feed the tree". Tidal forces vary greatly from one end of a tree to the other.

The author spends much ink describing directions and orientation living in trees around a neutron star while glossing over radiation and other hazards. Good book IMO.