2006-10-02 09:50:02 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Technically, there is no air pressure in space to to keep water in it's liquid form and it would degrade into individual molecules (i.e. a gas form). If the gravity is high enough and some limited atmosphere on a body like a large moon, the molecules may remain near the surface. But many moon bodies are just too small to have significant gravity and the water would just disperse into space and be lost.
2006-10-02 10:07:50 · answer #1 · answered by Nesbitt 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Arthur C. Clarke has written some interesting stories about swimming pools in space. In microgravity it would be a big solid bubble of water. You'd stand a good chance of getting disoriented and drowning. But in one of his stories they have a continuously-accelerating rocket which uses water as the reaction mass to propel the rocket; 5000 tonnes of it. The water doubles as a swimming pool. Of course, water is so heavy that even a small swimming pool is something of a luxury in space. But with continuous acceleration, it's like artificial gravity and you won't drown.
2006-10-02 20:24:55 · answer #2 · answered by zee_prime 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The water could float around, if you are not careful. If it were on certain parts of the international space station, it would work just fine. If it were just out in space without the influence of gravity, people were swimming in it, (and had breathable air) eventually it would disperse into water bubbles with pockets of air mixed in.
2006-10-02 16:55:54 · answer #3 · answered by designer_brian 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Conceivably possible if it is done in an enclosure and swimming on/in it would be a totally new feeling. However, if water is not contained and being left open in space, the entire mass of water could possibly turned into a spherical shape that swimming through it might just break a big wobbly gel like water mass into many smaller spheres of water masses.
2006-10-02 17:26:52 · answer #4 · answered by Micky 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely, I can't think of a better application for the, frequently used in science fiction, giant rotating Wheel-like space station. This would keep the water in the pool!
2006-10-02 16:54:35 · answer #5 · answered by entropy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The water would not only float away, it would turn into a gas of hydrogen and oxygen atoms instantly and would disperse in every direction. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit at sea level. On top of Mt. Everest, with less atmospheric pressure, water boils at a temperature where you can stick your finger in the boiling water without scalding yourself. With zero atmospheric pressure, water would boil away instantly.
2006-10-02 21:08:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not only water, the person would also lost his/her balance and just flying around in space.
2006-10-02 16:53:51 · answer #7 · answered by Brian 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it wouldn't float away because it would be frozen in place.
2006-10-02 19:04:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋