Ask A Scientist© Astronomy Archive

Author:      nicholas p passmore
Is there a formula for artificial gravity.

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      hawley
The only "artificial gravity" I am aware of is that due to the centripetal
acceleration of rotation = v^2 / r = w^2 * r  where r = radius, 
v = velocity, w = angular velocity.  So, if your space station had a radius
of, say, 100 m (pretty big), then it would have to rotate at 
     w = sqrt(g / r ) 
to give the same acceleration as gravity at the Earth's surface 
(g = 9.8 m/sec^2 ):   
     w = sqrt( 9.8 m/sec^2 / 100 m ) = 0.32 rad/sec = 0.05 rev/sec 
or 3 revolutions per minute.  
     ( 1 rad (radian) = 1 revolution (circle) / 2*PI rad/circle )
Incidentally, one of the scenarios for the Mission to Mars has the manned
spacecraft attached to an auxiliary mass with a tether, the whole system
rotating about the center of mass, giving the marstronauts some artificial
gravity on their long trip to Mars.