Physics Investigation

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simulationinvestigation.pdf

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This is a project, it must be turned in a clear report cover with sliding bar (they

cost about a dollar). Notice, do not use this file, start from scratch following the

directions given here.

Physics I

Investigation of the science of Hollywood movies Simulated gravity

1. Title page (APA format)

2. Background information: As we look toward the possibility of living in space for

long periods of time (whether traveling or just staying in orbit around the Earth)

we find that humans don't function as well in weightless situations – muscle

atrophy occurs, it becomes harder for the heart to pump blood, the legs become

thinner and the face puffy.

FOLLOW DIRECTIONS STRICKTLY

On a new page: Please first explain what weightlessness is, then research the effects of it

on the human body (you have hints above) and give some examples. You are expected

to write at least 2-3 paragraphs background information, about a page APA format,

double spaced, this is the minimum. Please TYPE your project/investigation and at the

end submit all work as a presentation report in a nice folder (do not create posters or

power points or brochures, no heavy binders). Feel free to include pictures, tables or

diagrams. You can also upload it on blackboard in doc or pdf format ONLY.

3. Simulated gravity: The simulation of gravity aboard a space station, space

colony, or manned spacecraft by steady rotation, at an appropriate angular speed

seems to be the solution to the problem. Such a technique may be essential for

long-duration missions to avoid adverse physiological and possibly psychological

reactions to weightlessness. At the same time human beings can tolerate up to

10g for a few seconds and around 3g (the peak rate of acceleration of the Space

Shuttle) for longer periods, but such accelerations and decelerations would

be out of the question for a journey, lasting years. The optimum rate of

acceleration for manned flight to the stars would be 1g, since this would allow the

crew to live under normal Earth gravity conditions while still enabling the

spacecraft to gain speed at a rate practicable for interstellar travel. Most humans

can tolerate a rotation rate of 2 rpm without suffering from motion sickness.

On a new page: Research the concept of simulated gravity, provide information and

examples, has it been done in the past, which movies embraced this concept, collect the

appropriate formula associated with it (that you will need for the next step). This is also

about a page APA format. Feel free to include pictures, examples, tables, graphs,

diagrams.

4. Worksheet: In the movie Babylon 5, Season 2 episode 22 “The Fall of Night”

Sheridan leapt from a rail car near the station's axis to escape a bomb placed by a

Centauri assassin. If you can find some place the episode, watch it, but this is

NOT a requirement.

If the station’s period of rotation is 53 seconds, find the angular and tangential velocities

at different distances from the axis (shown in the table). What will the simulated gravity

be (keep in mind that in this case the centripetal acceleration plays the role of simulated

gravity) You can use the table below or create your own.

R=100m R-150m R=200m R=250m R=300m R=350m R=400m

Use the formula you collected in the previous step to calculate the frequency as rpm

using the period of 53 s (be careful, you will have to convert). Is it less than 2 rpm?

(please answer the question and discuss human tolerance). Now calculate the angular

velocity ω and the linear velocity V, in SI units. Use the formula for centripetal

acceleration to calculate g. SHOW ALL CALCULATIONS, FOR EVERY DISSTAANCE, EVERY

CONVERSION. The calculations should be about a page.

5. Graph and conclusion

New page: Draw the graph of g on graph paper or with a software program (simulated

gravity) as a function of the radius, be very careful to choose the right units, the right

scale, and leave enough space around. Label your axes. Give caption. You are also

allowed to use excel or any other program that can create graphs, but you need to

include paper copy in your report. Estimate at what radius is the simulated gravity