How to play Spin Station
- Choose a station and read its radius, rim speed, spin rate, period, or target on the card.
- Use a = v² ÷ r = ω²·r, with ω = 2π ÷ T, or solve it for ω, T, or r.
- Type your answer and press Spin. An acceleration answer marks the dial; a spin rate, period, or radius sets up the station.
- Watch the arrows: the velocity is along the rim, and the acceleration points to the hub. Read the dial once the spin starts.
Why does the astronaut feel weight?
An object moving in a circle keeps changing direction, so it is accelerating even at constant speed. This centripetal acceleration points to the centre of the circle and has size a = v² ÷ r = ω²·r. On a spinning space station, the astronaut's feet would carry them straight on, but the floor of the rim keeps pushing them toward the hub. That push, a = ω²·r per kilogram, feels just like weight. The faster the spin or the bigger the ring, the stronger it is. Earth's gravity is about 9.8 m/s², and the Moon's is about 1.62 m/s².
A focused learning model
The station turns at one steady rate and the astronaut stands still on the rim, so they move in uniform circular motion. The astronaut's height is ignored. There is no gravity from other bodies. One turn is found exactly. The view is fixed for each mission, and the playback speed is shown on the canvas.