ERIC Number: EJ1226124
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Sep
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-921X
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Available Date: N/A
Effects of Exoplanetary Gravity on Human Locomotion Ability
Poljak, Nikola; Klindzic, Dora; Kruljac, Mateo
Physics Teacher, v57 n6 p378-381 Sep 2019
At some point in the future, if mankind hopes to settle planets outside our solar system, it will be crucial to determine the range of planetary conditions under which human beings could survive and function. In this article, we apply physical considerations to determine the limitations that gravity imposes on several systems governing the human body. Initially, we examine the ultimate limits at which the human skeleton breaks and muscles become unable to lift the body from the ground. We also produce a new model for the energetic expenditure of walking, by modeling the leg as an inverted pendulum. Both approaches conclude that, with rigorous training, humans could perform normal locomotion at gravity no higher than 4g[subscript Earth].
Descriptors: Physics, Science Instruction, Teaching Methods, Human Body, Scientific Concepts, Models, Physical Activities, Metabolism
American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://aapt.scitation.org/journal/pte
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A