It has been suggusted thaty rotating cylinders about 16 km and 8 km in diameter should be placed in space for future space colonies. The rotation would simulate gravity for the inhabitants of these colonies. Explain the concept behind this proposal.
2007-09-09 15:44:03 · 2 answers · asked by Oscar A 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
If you rotate a cylinder, the inside wall will 'feel' as if it had gravity. It isn't 'real' gravity, but centripital force.
OTOH, it pretty much 'acts' like gravity for most things so it's fairly useful.
Doug
2007-09-09 15:48:17 · answer #1 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds to me as though the one cylinder (8 km) will go inside the larger. The smaller one will, at least seem, not to be rotating while the larger one generates centrifugal force.
but really, it's just a guess and not even an educated one.
2007-09-09 22:57:37 · answer #2 · answered by Steve R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋