Re: The Olympics

[Doug Craigen <dcc@ESCAPE.CA>]

> It seems to ME that a stranded, motionless astronaut should be able
> to do an 'about-face' maneuver in empty space, ending up motionless,
> but facing 180 degrees from the original direction. (without
> violating any basic principles!)

If you mean rotating the entire body by 180 degrees (or any amount) it
seems to ME that this is the rotational equivalent to displacing your
body by some amount in empty space.  Just as an astronaut can propel one
part of his/her body forward while propeling the rest backward, so s/he
can twist the head around and have the rest rotate oppositely.  I don't
see how to generate a net displacement or rotation.

\_/^\_/^\_/^\_/^\_/^\_/^\_/^\_/^\_/^\_/^\_/^\_/^\_/^\

Doug Craigen
          http://www.dctech.com/physics/about_dc.html