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EnolaKotrotsos

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Rotating spacestation. centrifugal force?

A popular way of describing a way to generate a sort of artificial gravity was a spacestation shaped like a wheel, which cuz of the centrifugal force when spinning will keep it's occupants pressed against the outer inner edge of the wheel.  Also in Zero (or micro) gravity like in space.

but.
imagine that before it starts spinning, everyone is just floating around. It starts spinning....what happens? I believe nothing , everything (The walls or better yet, what is supposed to be the floor) just spins by and no one is pressed against the side....
so, no artificial gravity

Or am i wrong (again...that is very possible. :) ) Does the air in the station play part in the centrifugal force bit?
thanks
Marco

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EnolaKotrotsos

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Did I say outer inner edge?, well , you know what I mean...:)
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I was just trying to say something smart.

You are right I think, nothing would happen. until the air friction started moving you, then you would feel the force.

Steve
Thank you all. OutSidetheBox really helped with understanding how it worked in practice..so did the others btw.. PaulCaswel, you gave a very funny answer and very true, would be fun for a Space Ball's 2 or something. :)

My childhood is wrecked, I alway's believed space stations would look like this...What lies!! :)