# Artificial Gravity [closed]

Consider a structure that is in the shape as shown below rotating about an axis through its middle perpendicular to the long axis in order to provide artificial gravity.

What would an astronaut experience as he walks across the long axis from one end to the other. Explain the underlying physical principles of this dynamic system.

I am still confused as to how to answer this problem and what underlying principles I should be discussing about. Is it about the centrifugal force and something along those lines?

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## closed as off-topic by John Rennie, Dimensio1n0, akhmeteli, Emilio Pisanty, Chris WhiteNov 8 '13 at 20:42

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That would be homework right? – Andersi2 Nov 8 '13 at 12:58

Assuming the structure rotates with constant angular velocity $\omega$, two things will happen:-
1. The person will feel decreasing radial acceleration, which is given by $\omega^2r$. This is because $r$, his distance from the center, is decreasing.
2. The person will feel another acceleration in the tangential direction due to an imaginary force called Coriolis Force. This acceleration is given by $2\vec \omega \times \vec v$. This force is experienced by a body moving in a rotating frame of reference.
As the person has a radial velocity $v$ radially inward, he will feel this force, and in effect will be pushed to any one of the side walls.
As to the total "artificial gravity" felt by the person, the net acceleration he will feel will be $a = \sqrt{(\omega^2r)^2+(2\omega v)^2}$.