Science

baldguy

(36,649 posts) Wed Feb 8, 2012, 11:54 AM Feb 2012

Water droplets orbiting a needle in space.

Expedition 30 astronaut Don Pettit uses knitting needles and water droplets to demonstrate physics in space through 'Science off the Sphere.' This is part of the first video in a series for a partnership between NASA and the American Physical Society to share unique videos from the International Space Station with students, educators and science fans from around the world.

7 replies

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Highlight:

Water droplets orbiting a needle in space. (Original Post) baldguy Feb 2012 OP

Gotta get me yesphan Feb 2012 #1

Seattle Space Needle, eat your heart out. Kablooie Feb 2012 #2

Glad I listened to a bit of the audio; was going to say shenanigans since gravity is *very* weak. DRoseDARs Feb 2012 #3

That's cool as hell. nt OnyxCollie Feb 2012 #4

Well that messed with my head a bit - but mostly because I understood what was going on. HopeHoops Feb 2012 #5

Now I want to try it with some kind of charged beads in a vacuum... hunter Feb 2012 #6

Hmmm... xocet Feb 2012 #7

yesphan

(1,588 posts)

1. Gotta get me

Reply to baldguy (Original post)

Wed Feb 8, 2012, 12:40 PM

Feb 2012

a space vehicle, some water and some nittin needles so I can try this.

Kablooie

(18,634 posts)

2. Seattle Space Needle, eat your heart out.

Reply to baldguy (Original post)

Wed Feb 8, 2012, 01:08 PM

Feb 2012

DRoseDARs

(6,810 posts)

3. Glad I listened to a bit of the audio; was going to say shenanigans since gravity is *very* weak.

Reply to baldguy (Original post)

Wed Feb 8, 2012, 10:26 PM

Feb 2012

This wasn't gravity, but rather opposing electrical charges at work. Having such little mass in either, you would NOT be getting water to orbit a needle as a result of gravity.