Skip to main content

How does artificial gravity on the Ascension work?


Within the generation ship Ascension, there appears to be normal Earth-like gravity. Yes, I know about the twist from the end of episode 1x02,



that they are not really in space.




Nonetheless, there must be some explanation from the point of view of the people on board the ship (some of which even seem to be scientifically minded).


My impression was that it's generated through constant acceleration along the direction of flight. This seems to match up with the visuals, in that decks are stacked along the length of the ship, so "down" as seen by the crew points to the aft of the ship in the direction of flight.


This would require a constant acceleration of 1G (or at least something sufficiently close to it), which brings some mathematical problems.


On the other hand, this answer swiftly assumes that the acceleration of the vessel might be a lot lower than 1G:



Of course, we could use a lower rate of acceleration. For making a 100 years journey to Alpha Centauri, the slowest rate you can have would be to continuously accelerate at 0.00175g



This might point to some alternative means of creating the artificial gravity aboard the ship that I did not consider.


Thus, is gravity indeed supposed to be generated by acceleration, or is there some other source?




To the downvoter: Note that I am not asking for an explanation of a fictitious future technology here. The series this refers to is, by its premise, based on today's technology (or rather, even upon that of the 1960s). Given that it is, in a way, a part of the very premise of the series that there are no "obvious plot-holes" in the setting, one can expect that this feature of the ship is supposed to make sense either based upon some existing concept, or hand-waved in-universe towards the protagonists at some point.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the etymology of Doctor Who?

I recently decided to watch Doctor Who, and started viewing the 2005 version. I have the first two episodes from the first season, and I can't help but wonder what is the etymology of the name "Doctor Who"? And why does the protagonist call himself "the Doctor" (or is it "the doctor")? Answer In the very first episode of Doctor Who (way back in 1963), the Doctor has a granddaughter going by the name "Susan Foreman", and the junkyard where the TARDIS is has the sign "I.M. Foreman". Barbara, who becomes one of the Doctor's companions, calls him "Doctor Foreman" (probably assuming that is his name given his relationship to Susan), and Ian (another early companion) does the same in the second episode, to which the Doctor says: Eh? Doctor who? What's he talking about? "Foreman" is most likely selected as a convenient surname for Susan to use because it happened to be on display near where the TARDIS landed....
Post a Comment
Read more

story identification - Animation: floating island, flying pests

At least 20 years ago I watched a short animated film which stuck in my mind. The whole thing was wordless, possibly European, and I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it... It featured a flying island which was inhabited by some creatures who (in my memory) reminded me of the Moomins. The island was frequently bothered by large winged animals who swooped around, although I don't think they did any actual damage. At the end one of the moomin creatures suddenly gets a weird feeling, feels forced to climb to the top of the island and then plunges down a shaft right through the centre - only to emerge at the bottom as one of the flyers. Answer Skywhales from 1983. The story begins with a man warning the tribe of approaching skywhales. The drummers then warn everybody of the hunt as everyone get prepared to set "sail". Except one man is found in his home sleeping as the noise wake him up. He then gets ready and is about to take his weapon as he hesitates then decides ...
Post a Comment
Read more