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is it possible to walk on the moon?
whenever i see footage of astronauts on the moon they jump around, is this just a choice or is it the only way for them to get around
25 Answers
- Dancing ImuLv 63 years ago
It is, but with difficulty. Think of how bulky current space suits are. Also, when we made it to the Moon, our astronauts discovered that doing the "Moon hop" or skipping was the most efficient way to get around.
But yes, it is possible to walk on the Moon. You just wouldn't need to. :-) Even with the newer, slimmer suits that have been developed (but not yet deployed), I imagine that in low gravity the hop would still be the most efficient form of motion. Maybe when we put people on Mars (12.18 feet/s²), which is closer to Earth gravity (32.09 feet/s²) than lunar gravity (5.32 ft/s², or about 1/6 that of Earth), we will discover that walking is better. :-)
Good luck!
- RaymondLv 73 years ago
Mythbusters tried the experiment on a "vomit comet" (an airplane that follows a flight path that reduces apparent gravity inside the plane).
Normally, the vomit comet flies a path that gives exactly 0 g (weightlessness) so that people can get the feeling of floating in space (that is how they give future astronauts the "taste" of weightlessness). Since 0 g is interpreted by the brain as "falling desperately to your death", many first-timers vomit out of panic, hence the name of the plane. Most people can get used to the feeling after a few tries, and they no longer vomit.
The mythbusters asked for 0.17 g (simulating Moon's gravity); the summary of the episode does not state what exact figure they got, other than "microgravity".
In microgravity, human leg muscles are too strong for normal walking (not enough friction along the ground AND muscles too strong for the lesser weight), so that Adam Savage found it a LOT easier to adopt the "astronaut skip".
Episode 104 "NASA Moon Landing", first aired 27 August 2008.
- Anonymous3 years ago
Why walk on the trampoline when you can move quicker if you jump? The moon is 1/6 the Earth's gravity so it's better to hop.
- Anonymous3 years ago
Of course, you silly goose.
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- ?Lv 73 years ago
The astronauts discovered that it was the most efficient way to move around in the low-gravity environment of the moon's surface.
- Ronald 7Lv 73 years ago
Of course you can if you can get there with all the right equipment
It has already been done by the Apollo Astronauts
The Moon of course has 1/6th the Gravity of Earth
Their heavy spacesuit and boots gave them some extra weight to counter this
It was still a bit difficult to walk as it was like walking in deep water as they explained
As Neil was setting up, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin expernimented in self propulasion
He found that the best way to cover ground was a half lope, half bunny hop kind of gait
It became the standard and future Lunarnauts practiced in water
- Iggy RockoLv 73 years ago
The moon has 1/6 the gravity of earth so astronauts' strides are longer and higher.
- ?Lv 73 years ago
Think about trying to walk under the ocean. Not only does the buoyancy of the water reduce your apparent weight, but also sand is difficult to get traction on.
Walking on the moon is similar. There's less gravity and the ground is powdery. Jumping is easier than taking a lot of small steps.
- ?Lv 73 years ago
It’s possible but why? You weigh 1/6 less so by jumping, you cover more distance. You only have a limited amount of air in that suit so if you need to get from point a to point b, you’re not going to take your time.
- JeffLv 63 years ago
Space suites are weighted to compensate for the lower gravity. The jumping is kind of like throwing an object on earth, but the reduced gravity makes them fall slower.