Effect of a gravity assist on person, or whatever, in spaceship (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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OK, this is dumb, but it's gone through my head a couple times. I've seen a few science fiction movies and shows where the people in the spaceship use a gravity assist and lean into the turns like they're driving NASCAR or riding a roller coaster.

I think they wouldn't feel the acceleration (vector change) because gravity is doing the acceleration on every molecule and there would be nothing to lean against. I'm often wrong though. Someone smarter than I am have some insight?

EDIT: For what it's worth, I guess I shouldn't have used the Expanse clip as it upset some people. I just used it for an example of what I was asking. The question is this: Under little or no thrusters, would you feel a gravity assist? Even a radical one that changes your direction 90 degrees and greatly increases your velocity?

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[-] lars@programming.dev 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The Expanse is my favorite series and that scene is hands down the dumbest scene in the show. The showrunners actually posted an article before it aired apologizing for it. Well, for the inaccuracies of the gravity assist, not specifically the leaning.

Overall the show is very good about being scientifically accurate compared to other sci-fi. At least when it's human technology. The alien tech doesn't play by the rules.

this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2023

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