Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT

WCDT 2111-2115 (Jan 30 - Feb 3, 2012) - QC in SPAAAAAAACE!!! Week 2!

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Skewbrow:

--- Quote from: Akima on 31 Jan 2012, 14:10 ---
--- Quote from: Carl-E on 31 Jan 2012, 09:31 ---Free fall is a way of experiencing zero G's.
--- End quote ---
I give up... :wink:

--- End quote ---
I didn't get this. I may be just dense, but do you feel that something essential has been left out? Like the fact that acceleration is always relative to some frame of reference? In fact we have...


--- Quote from: Einstein ---Principle of equivalence: All effects of a uniform gravitational field are identical to the effects of a uniform acceleration of the coordinate system.

--- End quote ---

... that basically says that an observer confined to a small region (like the interior of a spaceship without windows) has no way of telling the difference between being in a gravitational field or being inside an accelerating rocket. Or (in the absence of such effects) lack of gravity is indistinguishable from free fall unless you can peek out of a window and make long range observations.

A. Smith:

--- Quote from: gangler on 31 Jan 2012, 20:50 ---It never occurred to me until I read this update to consider the implications of zero gravity. Martin is completely weightless. Weight as a variable has been completely removed from the equation. His momentum is now due to his mass. This establishes mass and weight to be two separate variable when calculating momentum. Information that's relevant when designing any form of projectile. By nature of having set foot outside of our planets gravitational field we're now able to launch things with more precision. It probably also effected the development of things like aircrafts.

Not like I wasn't aware of the individual facts. I've just never connected them to eachother like that. I don't think I ever really realized how these things relate to eachother before.

--- End quote ---
Actually, not really. Weight is always irrelevant (and mass always the determining factor) when calculating momentum (and everything else, really), and we've known that since Isaac Newton back in the 17th century. Weight is entirely derivative of mass, as it is a function of mass and gravitational pull, and thus is involved directly in no physical equations - it's always the mass that matters.

Actually going into orbit didn't help us understand any new fundamental facts about physics that helped us make better aircraft or calculate better launch trajectories - although the billions/trillions spent in R&D to get there probably did.

Also, getting into orbit is not getting outside of earth's gravitational field. Even the moon isn't - otherwise it would just float away. Granted, on the moon, you're going to be more affected by the moon's own gravitational field, but Earth's is still there - and the moon is 1000 time further away from Earth then the ISS.

Method of Madness:
Today's title makes me very happy :D

Is it cold in here?:
A staff of 128! There must be more than one shuttle for resupply.

Were there fewer people on the station when Hannelore was a kid? She acts a lot like someone who grew up in isolation, not like someone who grew up in a village.

Carl-E:
I don't get Marigold's MC Hammer reference, but I only know one song by MC Hammer...

Also, 128 researchers, security and support staff who get wrapped up in their uties are not likely to be equipped to raise a child...

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