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Video shot from the Space Shuttle during launch

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Re: Video shot from the Space Shuttle during launch

#4

Post by Casc »

tstegart wrote: post #3

I'm surprised they landed so close together. amazing. Also, can anyone tell me why they are slowing down as they fall towards earth (before the parachutes deploy)? Shouldn't they be speeding up by 9.8m/s as they fall?

I think you're forgetting to take air resistance and other factors into account? Google terminal velocity.

Edit: If you meant prior to re-entry of Earth's atmosphere, the force of gravity is changing the objects course, thereby affecting acceleration, speed, velocity, etc

Re: Video shot from the Space Shuttle during launch

#5

Post by daegloe »

tstegart wrote: post #3

I'm surprised they landed so close together. amazing. Also, can anyone tell me why they are slowing down as they fall towards earth (before the parachutes deploy)? Shouldn't they be speeding up by 9.8m/s as they fall?

IANAP, but isn't this due to air resistance/drag?

Re: Video shot from the Space Shuttle during launch

#6

Post by sk5t »

tstegart wrote: post #3

I'm surprised they landed so close together. amazing. Also, can anyone tell me why they are slowing down as they fall towards earth (before the parachutes deploy)? Shouldn't they be speeding up by 9.8m/s as they fall?

The terminal velocity of a giant tube tumbling through the atmosphere is a lot closer to 200mph than 3,200mph.

Re: Video shot from the Space Shuttle during launch

#7

Post by tstegart »

sk5t wrote: post #6
tstegart wrote: post #3

I'm surprised they landed so close together. amazing. Also, can anyone tell me why they are slowing down as they fall towards earth (before the parachutes deploy)? Shouldn't they be speeding up by 9.8m/s as they fall?

The terminal velocity of a giant tube tumbling through the atmosphere is a lot closer to 200mph than 3,200mph.

Ahh, got it. I expected more of a speedup as they dropped the last mile or so. I guess they didn't slowdown very fast right away because there wasn't much air up in the upper atmosphere.

Re: Video shot from the Space Shuttle during launch

#8

Post by tstegart »

Casc wrote: post #4
tstegart wrote: post #3

I'm surprised they landed so close together. amazing. Also, can anyone tell me why they are slowing down as they fall towards earth (before the parachutes deploy)? Shouldn't they be speeding up by 9.8m/s as they fall?

I think you're forgetting to take air resistance and other factors into account? Google terminal velocity. Edit: If you meant prior to re-entry of Earth's atmosphere, the force of gravity is changing the objects course, thereby affecting acceleration, speed, velocity, etc

I wasn't forgetting, just under estimating it. I expected the terminal velocity to be higher.
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