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Exploding Water Balloons In Zero G
ArchAngel21x writes "Experimenters burst water balloons in the low-gravity environment produced aboard a NASA DC 9 aircraft. There are 3 videos available in QuickTime or MPEG." From the site: "The tests were conducted in part to develop the ability to rapidly deploy large liquid drops by rupturing an enclosing membrane. As can be seen from the experiment footage, the initial rupture process is nearly ideal, but the finite size of the balloon material eventually ejects a spray from the drop surface. Then, when the balloon material leaves the drop entirely, it causes a large deformation of the drop (blob) which oscillates throughout the remainder of the test. Calculations suggest that such oscillations will continue for hours before the drop eventually becomes spherical."
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Monday, 12 August, 2002 12:22 PM
Have you metaroderated recently?
I just wanted to clarify the parent's comment for those who don't necessarily know what the correct term is.
As someone who has done combustion experiments in the Glenn Research drop towers, I can authoritatively say that the term (that the parent likely means) is microgravity, not zero gravity. Zero gravity would imply that one is defying the rules of physics. Microgravity suggests merely that the effects of gravity are significantly diminished due to free fall: orbit, the vomit comet, or simply dropping a vessel in an evacuated tower.
Things having to do with such experiments are frequently labeled with neat mu-g stickers in NASAs facilities.
-Paul
Zero gravity cat
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What would you call the space shuttle or space station, then, if not a "low gravity" environment, where everything is falling towards the earth at the same speed?
The only difference is that they are moving so fast sideways that then always "miss", so they keep falling. It's call "orbit".
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