Serway & Jewett — Universal Gravitation: Problem 30

A sleeping area for a long space voyage consists of two cabins each connected by a cable to a central hub as shown in Figure P13.30. The cabins are set spinning around the hub axis, which is connected to the rest of the spacecraft to generate artificial gravity in the cabins. A space traveler lies in a bed parallel to the outer wall as shown in Figure P13.30. (a) With $r = 10.0\text{ m}$, what would the angular speed of the $60.0\text{-kg}$ traveler need to be if he is to experience half his normal Earth weight? (b) If the astronaut stands up perpendicular to the bed, without holding on to anything with his hands, will his head be moving at a faster, a slower, or the same tangential speed as his feet? Why? (c) Why is the action in part (b) dangerous?