Sometimes I think going to the moon is impossible..because according to my physic book, every object which go into the earth will always rub against the atmosphere and it will destroy the object..
what do you think??
2007-07-27 14:08:46 · 8 answers · asked by ginagerrard 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
If your book says "every object" and "it will destroy the object", you can consider suing the autors for publishing missleading information.
Objects will experience friction once they enter the athmosphere, and a lot of them will burn and evaporate before they reach the ground, but if you enter at a specific angle/velocity, everything will be fine.
2007-07-27 14:14:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well, you're rubbing against the atmosphere right now. Are you being destroyed?
Seriously however, objects moving about in space tend to have very high velocity relative to the Earth. When they enter the Earth's atmosphere, all that speed causes friction which incinerates all but the largest or most dense objects before they reach the surface.
The reverse is also true. A rocket attempting to accelerate to orbital velocity from the surface will burn up if it stays in the atmosphere too long. That's why most rockets use a booster stage. The purpose of the booster is to lift the subsequent stages more or less straight up, meaning it takes the shortest path possible through the atmosphere thereby minimizing friction. The atmosphere is only significantly dense for 100 km or so above the surface.
Once clear of the thicker regions or air, the second stage applies its thrust horizontally to give the payload the speed it needs to maintain orbit.
And for vehicles returning to the Earth, these tend to be designed with a blunt shape. This bluntness creates a shockwave of air in front of the vehicle that simultaneously brakes the vehicle and pushes the heat of friction away from its skin.
2007-07-27 14:35:43 · answer #2 · answered by stork5100 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Every object in the atmosphere will do that, which is why space craft get so hot and need special heat shielding when they enter the atmosphere. But in space there is no air and so nothing to rub against.
2007-07-27 16:57:43 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are rubbing against the atmosphere right now. It's called the troposphere.
And no, the object will not always be destroyed. There are materials that can withstand the heat and pressure of moving through the layers of the atmosphere. Like meteoroids that enter the atmosphere and become meteors don't always disintegrate or we woudn't have meteorites.
2007-07-27 14:15:28 · answer #4 · answered by existenz48162 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It would not be correct to say that "every object" is destroyed by friction with the atmosphere on re-entry. It is possible to construct space vehicles of various types that can enter the atmosphere without burning up.
This makes a variety of orbital, lunar, and deep space flights feasible, and all of those have been done.
2007-07-27 16:40:33 · answer #5 · answered by aviophage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Several Americans did visit the Moon between 1969 and 1972. When they returned to Earth, they did reenter the atmosphere, but their spacecraft were built to resist the intense heat and so they landed safely.
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2007-07-27 14:38:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Earth's atmosphere is only about 360 km thick.
The moon is at its closest 363,000 km away, so it never comes into contact with our atmosphere.
But you are right, space objects that enter Earth's atmosphere will burn up from friction.
2007-07-27 14:20:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
hey someone from South Africa went to space and he is fine and can't believe every thing that a book says because it's not at all true half the time.
2007-07-27 20:33:46 · answer #8 · answered by frootloopjill 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋