This is a popular science book surrounding astronauts’ life on the space station. The book not only highlights the weightlessness experience of astronauts and the extraordinary phenomena they witness, but also illustrates the physics behind these events, which opens a new window for readers to explore the outer space. This book is especially fun for those who are curious about the life details of astronauts on the space station. The book is based on real events, and features images and cartoons that vividly depict unusual scenes between the outer space and the earth. Physical principles become easier to understand with these visual aids. During the reading, readers can immerse themselves in the enjoyable adventure of space travel and the strange feeling of weightlessness while having their doubts of every oddity solved. The book elaborates on the interesting contrast between the space and the earth, and provides readers with a stunning new perspective with easily comprehensible language and examples.
Author(s): Chengmin Zhang
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 99
City: Singapore
Preface: Free Fall and Weightlessness in Space Travel
Contents
1 Introduction: Why Do We Fly into the Space?
2 Free Fall and Weightlessness in Gravity
2.1 The Story of Isaac Newton and the Apple Falling
2.2 Why Does a Cannonball Fall Down to Earth but the Moon Does Not?
2.3 Why Do Scientists Launch Spacecrafts from the Equator?
2.4 Weight and Weightlessness
2.5 The Wonderful World of Microgravity
3 Measure the Body Weight on Space Station
3.1 Measure the Weight on the Ground
3.2 Measure the “Weight” or Mass of Astronaut on Space Station
3.3 Why Do We Confuse Weight and Mass?
3.4 Mass and Weight from North Pole to Equator
3.5 How is Earth’s Mass Measured?
3.6 Short Summary on Mass and Weight
4 The Space Swing Never Stops
4.1 Constructing a Simple Pendulum
4.2 A Pendulum Anchored in the Cosmos
4.3 The Mystery of Swinging
4.4 Keeping Time with a Pendulum
4.5 Simple Pendulum Motion in Gymnastics
4.6 A Pendulum in Weightlessness State
5 The Gyroscope on Space Station
5.1 Stability of a Spinning Gyroscope
5.2 Gyroscope in Weightlessness
5.3 Gyroscopes in Our Daily Life
5.4 Gyroscopes in Universe: Earth and Pulsar
6 Wonders of Water in Weightlessness
6.1 Shape of Water Drop in Weightlessness
6.2 Thin Film of Water on a Space Station
6.3 Super Water Globe Ball and Cocktail on a Space Station
6.4 Amazing Surface Tension
6.5 Disappearance of Buoyancy Force in Weightlessness
7 Viewing the Universe and Earth on a Space Station
7.1 Why are Stars not Twinkling Seen from the Space Station?
7.2 Space Station: 16 Times Sunrise or Sunset in One day
7.3 Why is Earth Shown as a Blue Planet?
7.4 Moon is Much Brighter Seen from the Space Station
7.5 Can the Naked Eye See the Great Wall from the Space Station?
7.6 Space Telescope from Hubble to James Webb
8 Wonderful Space Life: Part One
8.1 Playing with Fire on the Space Station: Round Flame
8.2 Will People Shed Tears on the Space Station?
8.3 Will the Astronauts Become Taller in Space?
8.4 Spacewalking Outside of a Spacecraft
9 Wonderful Space Life: Part Two
9.1 Sleeping in Weightlessness
9.2 Drinking and Eating on a Space Station
9.3 Brushing Teeth and Taking Shower on a Space Station
9.4 Space Toilet and Water Cycling System
10 Extended Knowledge and Products Based on Space Exploration
10.1 Effects of Weightlessness on Women and Men
10.2 Animals Respond to Weightlessness
10.3 Risk of Cosmic Rays and Solar Wind Storm on Astronauts
10.4 Plant Growth on Space Station
10.5 Broad Knowledge Inside the Spacesuit
11 Postscript: Flying into Space is a Human Dream
