In space, astronauts don’t have gravity to keep them in place. That makes doing even simple tasks difficult. Gene Cernan was the

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3 months ago

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In space, astronauts don’t have gravity to keep them in place. That makes doing even simple tasks difficult. Gene Cernan was the

first astronaut who worked on a task outside a spaceship. He said of the experience, “Every time I’d push or turn a valve, it would turn my entire body at zero gravity. I had nothing to hold on to.” As he worked, Gene Cernan’s heart rate and temperature went so high that his fellow astronauts worried that he wouldn’t survive.
Think about routine tasks that astronauts might need to do inside and outside a spaceship. Choose several tasks, and describe the features the ship and spacesuits should have to account for zero gravity as the astronaut completes the task. Use Newton’s laws of motion in your analysis.

Physics

2 answers:

ValentinkaMS [3.4K] · Answer 1 · 2026-03-19T10:02:28+03:00

Response:

Newton's laws include:

-Newton's First Law: A body will stay at rest or in motion along a straight path unless acted upon by a force.

-Newton's Second Law: The effect of force on motion is proportional and parallel to it.

-Newton's Third Law: For every action, there is a reaction that is equal and opposite.

Some tasks that could be problematic include:

Exercising is difficult since, without gravity, weights cannot be lifted, making body-weight exercises ineffective; thus, they rely on treadmills secured with ropes.

Conducting work outside the spaceship is quite hazardous because any initiated movement continues in that direction due to the first law; hence, a force is necessary to alter movement in space. Certain space suits are equipped with small propulsors in their hands for better navigation in the void.

Manipulating valves or screws can be complicated, as, according to the third law, turning a valve exerts an equal force back on the person; without the weight that anchors them as on Earth, astronauts will start to spin when attempting to turn it. Spacecraft are often equipped with handles to assist astronauts in maintaining their position.

Keith_Richards [3.2K] · Answer 2 · 2026-03-19T09:59:48+03:00

Newton's First Law: A body remains in its current state of motion or at rest unless a force acts upon it.

Newton's Second Law: Motion changes are proportional to the applied force and oriented in the same direction.

Newton's Third Law: Every action has a corresponding and opposite reaction.

Tasks that would be challenging to perform in orbit include:

-operating a valve

-navigating on foot

-attempting to take a shower

-remaining still