Blood spheres in space · CAP 2015 #19

Physics · mechanics

Problem

Students are watching a science fiction movie where the blood spilled during a battle on the a spaceship with its engines turned off forms spheres floating in air. The students think it is unphysical. a) The students are right, because the blood should not form spheres. b) The students are wrong, because in free fall the liquid should form into spheres due to atmospheric pressure. c) The students are wrong, because in free fall the liquid should form the spheres due to the surface tension. d) The students are right, because the gravitational forces should immediately pull the blood toward the walls or other objects on the ship.

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