If a laptop was used on the IIS, would be internal fan propel it along?

Question

I assume it wouldn't work in actual Space, because the fan would need air or something to move, but as there is air in the Space Station/Shuttle, but zero gravity, would the internal fan be strong enough to propel it along?

Answer 1

Yes, most definately

Newton's 3rd law tells us that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Assuming you use the laptop inside the ISS, the fan would draw in air and expel it out the vent. This will generate thrust and the laptop will move in the opoosite direction.

The only thing we don't know would be how long it would take to start moving, due to the need to overcome inertia, etc and what effect fan turbulence and motor torque would have on it.

Be sure to ask the shuttle crew to add this one to their work list when they get down ( fingers crossed :¬/ )

Answer 2

I suppose it depends on the mass of the laptop, what the blades of the fan are like (ie: dimensions, pitch, shape), which direction the fan is acting in and if there are other fans in the laptop acting in a different direction (there are usually at least 2 fans in a computer - one for the power supply and one to cool the processor).

For the fan to propel the laptop, it would need to be able to generate enough thrust to overcome the inertia of the stationary laptop (Newton's second law of gravity), and all other opposing forces acting on the laptop (ie: another fan in the laptop facing the opposite direction, some astronaut breathing out in the direction of the laptop causing opposing air currents, etc.).

I think it's quite unlikely.

Answer 3

Yes, absolutely - There is a likelihood that the laptop would rotate, too if the exhaust is not aligned with the center of gravity of the laptop. No matter how small the force, it will propel or rotate an object - but the actual accelaration (and therefore speed obtained) depends on the weight of the object and the force

Answer 4

the fan uses a motor so it would work for a few seconds before it froze up... and yes it would propel it's self forwardor side ways depending where the fan is

Answer 5

I remember seeing video of a portable CD player spinning in space while the CD was playing. The laptop might do a similar thing in space.

Answer 6

Interesting thought. I would imagine eventually that it would provided it could float staionary for long enough. Those fans don't produce much thrust.

Answer 7

Mabye, but it would go very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very slowly. Mabye even slower than a horsefish.