How can all of the motion on the space station (astronauts moving, the robotic arm, etc...) not cause the ISS to move also? Wouldn't Newton's second law be acting up all the time (or is it the first law?)?
2006-09-16 13:22:52 · 7 answers · asked by perk 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It does move... However the mass of the astronauts and other small equipment is very small compared to the mass of the ISS; Therefore the movement of the ISS is negligible. (It moves very , very little).
The astronauts and the Station become a system that has its own center of gravity. This center of gravity is the one that changes location within the system as the different parts of the Station, the robotic arm etc move. The center of gravity mantains its trayectory in the orbit. The other components do move with respect to each other.
2006-09-16 13:49:11 · answer #1 · answered by jfmart65 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A good question.
The whole thing, ISS, Shuttle and astronauts are something of a closed system. If one part moves so that it shifts the center of mass then everything will move in such a way that the center of mass follows the same orbit.
You will have noticed that the robotic arms are a little flexible and so is the docking connection between the ISS and the Shuttle. So, if an astronaut on the ISS moved, this would cause the ISS to move also and this would be transmitted through a flexible link to the Shuttle. This would cause the ISS and the Shuttle to move slightly independently of each other. This is why, when the arm on the ISS was being attached to the cargo that was being held in place by the arm on the Shuttle, the astronauts were not allowed to exercise or make any violent moves.
2006-09-16 18:19:59 · answer #2 · answered by Stewart H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spacewalk does not recommend quite walking in area. It ability going out of a spacecraft with a manned maneuvering unit that's decrease than the administration of the astronaut. It additionally ability happening the comparable velocity relative to the ISS by way of MMU (manned maneuvering unit)
2016-10-15 01:57:43 · answer #3 · answered by scharber 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The mass of the ISS is much larger than that of the astronauts, so even though Newton's second law applies, the effect is not that large.
2006-09-16 13:28:32 · answer #4 · answered by mathematician 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the previous answers, and I would like to also add that the ISS does have attitude adjusting thrusters, so if any of the astronauts cause any trouble during a spacewalk, they can have their attitude adjusted.
2006-09-16 13:52:56 · answer #5 · answered by Sciencenut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Their movements do in fact affect the station, but they also average out to 0. Move away from the station. Pull your tether to move back to the station, and so on.
Also, of course, the mass of the astronauts is rather minor compared to the station, so any changes are very minor. THe important thing however is the averaging to 0 net forces over time.
2006-09-16 13:31:04 · answer #6 · answered by Dan C 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hee hee ...
He said attitude adjusted
.
2006-09-16 14:28:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋