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Question
If a person tied a long rope to a spacecraft, and untied it in outer space, would the rope seemingly hang from the sky?
Gene
Every body in the universe feels a gravitational pull from every other body. Mass and distance determine the force. So I imagine that one end of the rope would feel a different force than the other end, as would every section along the rope. In time the rope would move into a random shape and keep moving with time. If a large body was close enough, the rope would fall to that body or accelerate into orbit around it if other bodies were also pulling it. This can be complex, whether its a rope or a rock.
Paul
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| Comment | Thank-you for taking time to answer me. Gene | ||
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Aeronautical Engineering
Answers by Expert:
Paul Soderman
Expertise
Aeronautics, Fluid Mechanics, Aeroacoustics, Noise Control, Muffler Design, Wind Tunnel Research.... I know nothing about India - do not ask about schools, jobs, application requirements, career choices, etc. for India. Please, no text message verbiage; I prefer full words in full sentences. Thanks.
Experience
38 years as research engineer at NASA
Publications
AIAA, NASA
Education/Credentials
B.S. and M.S. Aeronautical Engineering - U. of Washington
Graduate work Standford U.
Awards and Honors
AIAA Associate Fellow (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)
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