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

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

There is a miniscule amount of tidal forces felt during a gravity assist. Ultimately, the spacecraft and it's cargo are in freefall. The gravity assist would be barely noticeable. Remember that gravity isn't a "force" it's a bending of space changing the direction of a "straight " path. The spacecraft is traveling in a straight line with no other forces acting on it. The space that straight line is passing through is bent around the mass providing the gravity assist.