2007-01-13 23:31:23 · 4 answers · asked by winliya j 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Of course work is done. The space station has mass, and it is accelerating at all times precisely due to gravity. If there was no gravity the ISS would fly off in an absolutely straight line and never accelerate. Remember, Force = Mass X Acceleration, and Work = Force X Change in Position, so (if my algebra is correct) Work = Mass X Acceleration X Change in Position. Since the ISS continually falls due to gravitational acceleration (change in position, but offset by the curvature of the earth and the velocity tangential to the surface), and has mass, work is done. And, it is not something for nothing...the ISS exerts the same forces on the earth, accounting for it's much smaller mass.
2007-01-14 02:57:01 · answer #1 · answered by David A 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No work is done by G, because the orbit is stable. Work is force times distance. If there's no change in the space station's motion due to G, then no work was done by G.
2007-01-13 23:41:12 · answer #2 · answered by bobo383 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No,
because the force(Gravity)is always perpendicular to the velocity vector.
and since the orbit is stable there is no overall displacement in a period
2007-01-13 23:39:51 · answer #3 · answered by Tharu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
2007-01-14 00:20:15 · answer #4 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋