That's why experiments on the ISS are said to be "microgravity" and not "zero-g", because the experiments (and astronauts) are subject to tiny accelerations, due to thrusters and reaction wheels, plus atmospheric drag, and of course, gravitational attraction to the not inconsiderable mass of the station itself.
I remember being told in college that school textbooks are usually 50 years behind current scientific understanding, while college textbooks (and courses!) are about 20 years out of date.
Very interesting. I'm 20 minutes away from teaching my first class of the semester (it's a tutorial) and bearing in mind that I am an electrical engineer I will, no doubt, be guiding my flock through the electricity stuff. I can tell that article is written by a physicist (and "Man! Are those textbooks suspect?"!).
That's why experiments on the ISS are said to be "microgravity" and not "zero-g", because the experiments (and astronauts) are subject to tiny accelerations, due to thrusters and reaction wheels, plus atmospheric drag, and of course, gravitational attraction to the not inconsiderable mass of the station itself.
ReplyDeleteI remember being told in college that school textbooks are usually 50 years behind current scientific understanding, while college textbooks (and courses!) are about 20 years out of date.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amasci.com/miscon/miscon.html
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I'm 20 minutes away from teaching my first class of the semester (it's a tutorial) and bearing in mind that I am an electrical engineer I will, no doubt, be guiding my flock through the electricity stuff. I can tell that article is written by a physicist (and "Man! Are those textbooks suspect?"!).
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
ReplyDeleteTa.
ReplyDeleteI needed it...