Microgravity - Research Article from Macmillan Science Library: Space Sciences

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 3 pages of information about Microgravity.

Microgravity - Research Article from Macmillan Science Library: Space Sciences

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 3 pages of information about Microgravity.
This section contains 647 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Microgravity Encyclopedia Article

While it may appear that these astronauts are floating, they are actually in a state known as While it may appear that these astronauts are floating, they are actually in a state known as "freefall."

Gravity is an omnipresent force in our lives. Without it, water from a drinking fountain would simply shoot up from the spout without arcing into the fountain again. Chocolate syrup on a sundae would stay put without dripping down a scoop of ice cream. In fact, gravity, the force of attraction that draws one object to another, is so powerful on Earth that scientists sometimes have to get away from its influence—if only for a short while—to better understand other forces at work in the universe. To do this, they must be in a microgravity environment.

Microgravity, where the effects of gravity are minimized (approximating one millionth that of Earth's normal gravity), is achieved during freefall. At first glance, astronauts working on the International Space Station may appear...

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This section contains 647 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Microgravity Encyclopedia Article
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Microgravity from Macmillan. Copyright © 2001-2006 by Macmillan Reference USA, an imprint of the Gale Group. All rights reserved.