Modelling > Engineering Dept.

wheels in space

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kengeorge:
I'm hoping that somebody here has the brain's I don't have to answer my question,or at least point me in the right direction.
So here is the question, I want to know what is the minimum diameter of a rotating ring to impart either half or full earth gravity whilst in orbit, as I'm trying to design something like the circular space station in 2001 and need to know if Its too big, small or just right.

ken

Kerick:
Depends on the angular velocity, ie, RPMs and radius.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotating_wheel_space_station

This gives a description of a 250 ft diameter ring at 3 rpms giving 1/3rd G.

Here is a calculator

http://www.calctool.org/CALC/phys/newtonian/centrifugal

100m radius at 3 rpm gives just over 1 G. Hope this helps.

Frank3k:
There's also SpinCalc which will tell you if the spin rate is outside of what most people will tolerate (with references!)

kengeorge:
Thank you kerick & Frank3k for your help.
My idea is to have a rotating ring space station to provide low artifical gravity so astronauts heading to & from the moon can acclimatise to their enviroments.
Now I can get on & design it.   

mrvr6:
would it be possible to have a big ring and adjust the rpms to give different g? i dont see why not.
how would you counterbalance the ring? have weights on a track of sorts on the outer perimeter?

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