zero gravity

[Chuck Ellsworth]

I was watching the shuttle crew attaching the new 27,000 pound arm to the space station to- day on TV.

The question that crossed my mind was if you had your finger between the 27,000 pound arm and the space station attach point would the damage to your finger by the kinetic energy of the moving 27,000 pound arm have the same force in zero gravity as on earth? :D :D :D

........................
:D The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.:D

[Wino]

Ever get your fingers pinched between 2 boats or the boat and the dock? Its exactly the same thing.

Cheers
Wino

[englishal]

Yep, mass is the same in space, ie. the arm still has a mass of 27,000 kg....just its weightless.....

Cheers
EA

[BigJETS]

1 slug=14.59kg
m= 27,000lbs ÷ 32.2lb/slug= 838slug
KE=.5mv² lets say v is 1.47ft/s (1mph)
KE=.5(838)(1.47)²= 905 ft/lbs=work
now lets say your finger provides .25 inches or .021ft of thickness.
work=fs so... f=w÷s= (905ft/lbs)÷(.021ft)=43,095lbs

The same damage would occur on earth if you simply rested any 1,338 slug object on top of your finger. 43,095lbs÷32.2lb/slug=1,338slug
or on Jupiter (75.8 lb/slug)
43,095÷75.8=568slug

The difference in space is that the force vector can be in any direction whereas in gravity the force will be acted upon by gravity which will accelerate (+ or -) the mass in the direction of pull which could reduce or increase the force and give it other property.

Anyway you smash it.