the lack of gravity might explain it ? since there is no wind ?...or is there !
2007-02-09 15:05:19 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Well; the answer is somewhat more complicated than the posters here have thought about. They are correct in that there is no wind to make it move, but that doesn't mean that there is no other way for it to move.
Consider the following
Scenario1:
A flag is connected to a flag pole that is sticking out of the moons surface. A meteorite impacts the moons surface close enough and with enough force to create a "moon quake" the equivalent of 10.0 on the Richter scale. I submit to you that the vibrations as well as the bombardment of the flag with high velocity moon dust will cause it to "wave" for several minutes.
Scenario2:
The moon, being without either an atmosphere nor a magnetosphere is subject to intense cosmic ray bombardment. During a particularly intense storm, cosmic rays produce ionizing radiation could set up a static electrical charge in the cloth causing the flag to thrash to and fro the same way static causes a woman's skirt to ride up in the dry of winter.
2007-02-10 04:56:31 · answer #1 · answered by lampoilman 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is no air on the moon, and hence no wind. Air doesn't just blow things about- it also opposes motion such as a flag flapping (waving?) about. This means that on Earth a flag needs constant wind to flap about at all.
On the Moon there is no wind to flap a flag about- however the lack of air also means the disturbance to the flag which the astronauts initiate by planting it is not opposed (except by the material / flag weight- which is 1/6 that on Earth)- hence it may flap back and forth for a minute.
2007-02-09 23:32:15 · answer #2 · answered by Peter F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The flags the Apollo astronauts put on the moon were held in the unfurled position by an aluminum rod running across the length of the flag top.
The video of Neil Armstrong getting out of the lunar module were taken by a radio controlled camera set in the landing leg.
The reason stars aren't visible in the photos from the moon's surface is the glare from the sunlight washed the stars' images out. Same reason as you can't see many stars when under the bright lights of a city at night.
2007-02-10 00:25:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no wind or any atmosphere on the moon. So if a flag has to waver it needs some wind or some external agent to make it waver. But since there is no atmosphere on the moon it will not waver
2007-02-10 01:32:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being in an area with no wind does not freeze a flag solid. If you mess with the pole it's on, the flag will wave. The flag STOPPED waving as soon as the astronaut's hand came off it. Coincidence?
EDIT: I assumed you were talking about the moon landing hoax. If you were just asking a general science question, I apologize. Kindly ignore me.
2007-02-09 23:09:17 · answer #5 · answered by Omni D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are talking about the flag waving in the NASA footage of the moon landings, there are two reasons for it. The astronaut who planted the flag on the moon shook the flag as he stuck it in, so the flag shook for awhile. When the Lunar Module took off from the moon, the blast from the rocket motor shook the flag as it took off.
2007-02-09 23:29:09 · answer #6 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually I saw a film of the American Astronauts as they planted an American flag on the moon, & it looked like it had been stiffened with something. It didn't look like it would have done much if they hadn't made it all stiff like that. As a matter of fact it probably would have just sat there rather limp from the way I saw it behaving in the film I saw of it.
2007-02-09 23:13:08 · answer #7 · answered by No More 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How long are the idiot conspiracy theorists goiing to keep circulating that particular silliness? You'd think they'd at least try to think up something new--at least they'd be more entertaining if they'd show some imagination!
The flag "moved" in the tapes because it was suspended from a wire that vibrated when the astronauts stuck the flagpole in the ground. End of story.
2007-02-09 23:21:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the little crinkle had to do with the extender rod in the top of the flag. it didn't extend correctly, and the astronauts liked the look so they did nothing to change it. well, unless you believe the moon landing was a hoax, in which you still have to explain why the flag didn't continue to move.
2007-02-09 23:17:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, their is no atmosphere on the Moon so it wouldn't wave. You need to wind to have a flag wave and their is no wind for the flag to wave.
2007-02-09 23:07:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋