Wednesday, August 17, 2011
What happens when an astronote lights a match in a spaceship with oxygen but no gravity?
I'll be a little more specific than "The match will light" answer. Not only will the match light, but due to the lack of gravity in space, the match will also burn in a spherical shape as apposed to what you see when you light a match for a candle. The flame gets it's shape here on earth due to gravity and the fact that heat rises. This is what gives a flame of a match its distinct wider base, and narrow tip here on earth. In space, since there really is no "up" or "down" and the absence of gratvity, the heat from the flame of the lit match would be allowed to escape in all directions, thus creating the sphere shaped flame. The only problem with trying to light a match in the space shuttle or ISS(International Space Station), probably isn't allowed because, if there was to be a fire to break out in the shuttle or ISS, it would be difficult to contain, and could possibley lead to the lose of billions of dollars. I don't think NASA or any other country who goes to space would want to take that kind of risk.
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