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Name: Kevin Cheng
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Date: 1999


Question:
My name is Kevin Cheng. I would like to know if there is friction in space.


Replies:
There's no air, so there's no friction from air, no resistance to moving around freely. However, other kinds of friction still exist, like when two things slide against each other, although if you are in orbit or otherwise feel no acceleration (no gravity) then these things have no weight and don't press against each other like sliding a box across a floor here on Earth. Mechanical devices such as motors and pumps still experience their usual internal friction. (There's no perpetual motion, even without gravity.)

jade hawk



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