Presentation Information
[O12-P61]Generating the Gravity of a Super-Earth with an Improved Gravity Variable Apparatus
*Hyouga Hidaka1, *Towa Igarashi1, *Souma Shimohama1, *Masahide Yoshida1 (1. Imamiya Technology Senior High School of Osaka Prefecture: The evening course)
Keywords:
gravity variable apparatus,Super-Earth
To advance space research and development, experimental equipment capable of replicating the space environment on Earth is essential. Our joint science club team has been conducting experiments using a microgravity generator capable of producing 1/1000 G in approximately 0.5 seconds. We have also developed and refined a gravity variable apparatus utilizing an Atwood pulley system. By combining these two apparatuses, we can generate any level of gravity ranging from microgravity (0 G) to Earth’s gravity (1 G). This time, we modified the gravity variable apparatus to simulate the gravity of planets with masses exceeding that of Earth—so-called “Super-Earths”—such as Kepler-10c (estimated at 1.3G–1.4G) and Kepler-20b (estimated at 1.2G–1.3G).
We changed the experimental space for the gravity variable apparatus from a descent capsule to an ascent capsule. The gravitational force G generated inside the ascent capsule is given by G = g + a, where g is the gravitational acceleration on Earth and a is the acceleration of the capsule. Therefore, it is possible to generate gravitational forces exceeding Earth’s gravity inside the ascent capsule. By holding the ascending capsule in hand and releasing it, we were able to suppress the vibrations that occur upon release. As a result, we were able to create gravitational environments exceeding 1G, specifically 1.19G, 1.20G, 1.34G, and 1.44G. The variation in each gravitational value was 0.03G or less.
Suppressing the vibration of the ascent capsule has been achieved by manually releasing the capsule. However, this results in variations in the duration of the experiment. Additionally, variations occur in the capsule’s vibration. To resolve these issues, we are exploring improvements to the capsule-holding device.
We changed the experimental space for the gravity variable apparatus from a descent capsule to an ascent capsule. The gravitational force G generated inside the ascent capsule is given by G = g + a, where g is the gravitational acceleration on Earth and a is the acceleration of the capsule. Therefore, it is possible to generate gravitational forces exceeding Earth’s gravity inside the ascent capsule. By holding the ascending capsule in hand and releasing it, we were able to suppress the vibrations that occur upon release. As a result, we were able to create gravitational environments exceeding 1G, specifically 1.19G, 1.20G, 1.34G, and 1.44G. The variation in each gravitational value was 0.03G or less.
Suppressing the vibration of the ascent capsule has been achieved by manually releasing the capsule. However, this results in variations in the duration of the experiment. Additionally, variations occur in the capsule’s vibration. To resolve these issues, we are exploring improvements to the capsule-holding device.