Guns in Space

TL;DR

Astronauts orbiting the Earth experience the same gravitational pull as us, but they are constantly falling towards Earth at the same rate that Earth curves away from them.

Transcript

Hey, Vsauce. Michael here. And what do you say we get outta here...to space and into an orbit. That way we could just float around and be free from the influence of gravity. Except not really. Astronauts orbiting around the Earth experience pretty much the same gravitational pull that you and I are feeling right now. The major difference is that th... Read More

Key Insights

• 💨 Orbiting is simply falling at a fast enough speed that the curvature of the Earth falls away.
• 😤 The speed needed to orbit Earth is around 17,000 mph or 8 km per second.
• 🛰️ Objects in orbit around the Moon can complete an orbit at a much lower speed than on Earth.
• 💦 Fusion reactions in the Sun are much more powerful than chemical bonds in water, and adding mass to the Sun would cause it to burn brighter and faster.
• 💨 Shooting material into the Sun in a way that spreads it out would prevent fusion reactions from occurring.
• 💆 Adding mass to the Sun would decrease its lifespan, as more mass means a hotter burn and a shorter life.
• 👾 Shooting a bullet in inter-galactic space would result in it being forever alone, as the universe is expanding too quickly for it to reach receding galaxies.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do astronauts experience gravity while orbiting the Earth?

Astronauts orbiting the Earth experience gravity because they are constantly falling towards Earth while moving horizontally at a fast speed, which keeps them in orbit.

Q: Is it possible for a cannonball fired from the Moon to complete an orbit?

Yes, due to the Moon's smaller size, a cannonball would not need to be fired as fast as on Earth to complete an orbit. In fact, a cannonball fired from the Moon could hit the person who fired it if they waited long enough.

Q: Would adding water to the Sun put it out?

No, adding water to the Sun would not put it out. The Sun is powered by fusion reactions, which are much more powerful than the chemical bond between Hydrogen and Oxygen in water. Adding mass to the Sun would cause it to burn brighter and faster.

Q: How would shooting material into the Sun put it out?

Shooting material into the Sun in a way that causes it to get spread out and scattered would prevent the critical density needed for fusion reactions to occur. Without fusion, the Sun would not be able to sustain itself and would go out.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Astronauts orbiting the Earth experience the same gravitational pull as us but are constantly falling towards Earth while moving horizontally fast enough that they stay in orbit.

• On the Moon, objects can complete an orbit at a much lower speed than on Earth due to its smaller size.

• Adding water to the Sun would not put it out as fusion reactions in the Sun are much more powerful and adding mass would cause it to burn brighter and faster.