Naked Science Forum
General Science => General Science => Topic started by: neilep on 25/01/2012 18:02:17
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Dearest peeps Of Acadamic Awe,
As a space sheep I of course make regular trips into space all the time just for fun of it.
During the trips I have had thus far I've never really had to make sure something in my ship was level........but say I needed to !...say I needed to put up a shelf and do some DIY !
One of these is not going to help is it ?
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A Very Unhelpful Spirit Level Just Moments Ago
So, How Do I Make Sure The Shelf I Put Up In MY Space Ship Is Level ?
whajafink ?
hugs and shmishes
mwah mwah mwah
Neil
In Space No One Can Hear Ewe Put Shelves Up
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Just turn yourself until the shelf is level, then use some superglue to make sure you stay that way..........
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So, clever people, what will Neil's spirit level do in space?
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If you have a centrifugal capsule, then your level should work just fine.
Otherwise... Just buy some of this in bulk....
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mrgallagherstudentsites.com%2F1940s%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F03%2FVelcro.jpg&hash=2e4047258a0f8dece74fd1f5143c0536)
And it won't matter which side is up, and which side is down.
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Just remember to buy a big can of spray contact adhesive to stick the one side to the wall/floor/roof.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk7LcugO3zg#t=1m45s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk7LcugO3zg#t=1m45s)
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... what will Neil's spirit level do in space?
IMO air bubble would adopt as near a spherical shape as was possible in the glass tube ...
[ Invalid Attachment ] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniscus)
If the spirit level was taken outside the spacecraft into the vacuum of space,
the air bubble (@1atm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_%28unit%29)) could cause the glass vial to explode.
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Just turn yourself until the shelf is level, then use some superglue to make sure you stay that way..........
Thanks Sean....Superglue makes for a once only attempt though !..and with my partying I may not get it right first time !...hmm..worth a try I sheepose ! [;)]
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If you have a centrifugal capsule, then your level should work just fine.
Otherwise... Just buy some of this in bulk....
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mrgallagherstudentsites.com%2F1940s%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F03%2FVelcro.jpg&hash=2e4047258a0f8dece74fd1f5143c0536)
And it won't matter which side is up, and which side is down.
Thanks Clifford...I did consider a centrifugal capsule but that's was option not available on my model at that time..I decided to opt for the leather trim instead. The velcro is a great idea though I do have issues with it sticking to myself . As a pedantic sheep I still insist on an absolute level shelf...it's an OCD thing you see !! [;)]
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Just remember to buy a big can of spray contact adhesive to stick the one side to the wall/floor/roof.
Cheers Sean...I expect I'll need one of those straw things to attach to the spray nozzle else I'll have glue all over the place !...hmm..the thing is.....the urge to use the straw in a cocktail first is strong !! [;D]
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[ Invalid Attachment ]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk7LcugO3zg#t=1m45s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk7LcugO3zg#t=1m45s)
Hmmm......I'll have to ditch my espresso maker !..Thanks RD
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The problem is that Up & Down are pretty arbitrary in the Space Ship (without artificial gravity).
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You can, of course, use your basic tape measure and square to make your shelf parallel to another surface. But... It is equally fine to velcro stuff to the bottom of your shelf as to the top of your shelf.
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You seem to be suggesting that a shelf needs to be put up level. You may have inadvertently answered my long standing question as to the reason things always seem to fall off the shelving I have erected in my home!
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.trendhunterstatic.com%2Fthumbs%2Fdonkey-kong-shelves.jpeg&hash=3a9c6e7b2eff4ae5133e836bc30703f5)
As for what might happen to your spirit level in space, I think the bubble would maintain its integrity, but would become as near to spherical as the vial allows, as RD said. It would become a bubble without purpose, a lost bubble, unable to decide where to settle. Ahhhhh! Poor little bubble.
A bubble went off into space one day
To see if it’s shape would remain that way
But to it’s delight the bubble found
It went from tear drop to perfectly round.
“Oh look at me” the bubble cried
As it twisted and turned to show every side
“I’m exactly the same from every angle
And light from the sun makes me twinkle and spangle”
The bubble was elated and full of glee
As it danced around in the space ship you see
But it went outside to test this new force
Whereupon it exploded, of course.
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I see Don, and Homer. Where is Mario?
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The problem is that Up & Down are pretty arbitrary in the Space Ship (without artificial gravity).
[ Invalid Attachment ]
You can, of course, use your basic tape measure and square to make your shelf parallel to another surface. But... It is equally fine to velcro stuff to the bottom of your shelf as to the top of your shelf.
Excellent idea Clifford.....I was also thinking about getting a grid painted on the walls but the builders can't make it till next Tuesday as they're currently installing a new shower head in the space station.
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You seem to be suggesting that a shelf needs to be put up level. You may have inadvertently answered my long standing question as to the reason things always seem to fall off the shelving I have erected in my home!
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.trendhunterstatic.com%2Fthumbs%2Fdonkey-kong-shelves.jpeg&hash=3a9c6e7b2eff4ae5133e836bc30703f5)
As for what might happen to your spirit level in space, I think the bubble would maintain its integrity, but would become as near to spherical as the vial allows, as RD said. It would become a bubble without purpose, a lost bubble, unable to decide where to settle. Ahhhhh! Poor little bubble.
A bubble went off into space one day
To see if it’s shape would remain that way
But to it’s delight the bubble found
It went from tear drop to perfectly round.
“Oh look at me” the bubble cried
As it twisted and turned to show every side
“I’m exactly the same from every angle
And light from the sun makes me twinkle and spangle”
The bubble was elated and full of glee
As it danced around in the space ship you see
But it went outside to test this new force
Whereupon it exploded, of course.
I don't see anything wrong with your shelving [;)]....well...perhaps a leaning to a burgundy colour over red would be apt !
Excellent poemage there from the bubble meister !!
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There are actually micro-g conditions in orbit, but I'm not sure that a spirit level is sensitive enough, the surface tension of the bubble to the wall of the glass might be a bit sticky. A floaty plumb bob on a piece of string in a sealed, full bottle of water might work better, but the direction that it points in is going to be very counterintuitive; like it doesn't always hang down towards the Earth!
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Put a ball on the shelf - if it rolls, the shelf isn't level. If it stays still, it's fine. If it doesn't stay on the shelf, either the shelf is the wrong way up or the shelf is faulty (or being installed in a faulty environment where shelves lack a vital co-component of their function).
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OK, here's the science bit.
In orbit, there's tidal forces, in 3D, and they're all relative to the centre of mass of the vehicle/station.
If you're below or above the centre of mass, towards the Earth or away, then there's a force that pulls you away from the centre of mass (due to rotational forces and differences in gravity).
If you're to the left or right of the centre of mass, relative to the orbital plane, then there's a force that pushes you back towards the plane due to them being in their own orbital plane.
There's also some air drag, which will tend to push everything to the front.
So... what does level mean?
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To make matters more complicated, at least with the Apollo spacecraft, they were put into a slow roll to achieve better solar heat distribution across the entire spacecraft.
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1. Hang and measure one side of shelf from floor.
2. Raise or lower opposite side of shelf until its distance from the floor is equal to the first side.
3. ?
4. Jim Profit.
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Of course, shelves aren't exactly a lot of use in zero-g anyway, due to stuff, you know... floating off!
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... what will Neil's spirit level do in space?
IMO air bubble would adopt as near a spherical shape as was possible in the glass tube ...
[ Invalid Attachment ] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniscus)
If the spirit level was taken outside the spacecraft into the vacuum of space,
the air bubble (@1atm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_%28unit%29)) could cause the glass vial to explode.
I doubt that the glass is so thin it wouldn't stand 1 atmosphere of pressure.
It would be absurdly fragile if it were. For example, just about any sharp knock would break it.
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Really when you think about it, the main reason you use a level in your earth house is so it doesn't look crooked when you view it from across the room. You might be a little concerned about things sliding off, but it would have to be really slanted. So in your space ship, all you need to do is make sure the shelf is perpendicular to things like doors, corners, etc. to look normal.
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I think some elastic netting on the wall would do the trick - and it doesn't protrude so much into living spaces as a shelf...
A sheep might have trouble inserting things behind the netting - but then a sheep would have trouble putting things on a shelf, too.