How to weigh a baby safely in space?

mindmaniac

Senior member
Dec 30, 2003
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If someone were to have a baby in a zero gravity environment what would be the best method for weighing it without harming the baby. It wouldn't be practical to do a water dispacement in space unless you don't mind all the water going everywhere and the risk the infant.
 

RadiclDreamer

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
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Originally posted by: mindmaniac
If someone were to have a baby in a zero gravity environment what would be the best method for weighing it without harming the baby. It wouldn't be practical to do a water dispacement in space unless you don't mind all the water going everywhere and the risk the infant.

Water displacement would show mass not weight. Weight is relative to the gravity you are currently in
 

mindmaniac

Senior member
Dec 30, 2003
915
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Originally posted by: ATLien247
Do you mean how much the baby would way if he/she were on Earth?

Sorry, I'm going for mass then in grams. When babies are born they are weighed. They also get weighed again for their heel prick test within 7 days. If the baby were in space how would they get that mass?
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,353
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You can't weigh a baby in space. In space there is no weight. Thus, the weight would be 0N.

Do you mean to ask how you can determine the mass?

Getting a pretty accurate estimate would be very easy and safe. There are many methods that could be used. Perhaps the simplest to understand would be newtons second law.

push the baby with a known force for a known duration. Measure the acceleration.
The Mass of the baby = the Force divided by the acceleration

Example: If you used a 10 newton force and accelerated the baby at a rate of 5 meter per second per second, then F=MA, M=F/A ... Mass=10/5. Mass=2kg.
 

LordMorpheus

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2002
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Originally posted by: mindmaniac
If someone were to have a baby in a zero gravity environment what would be the best method for weighing it without harming the baby. It wouldn't be practical to do a water dispacement in space unless you don't mind all the water going everywhere and the risk the infant.

water displacement wouldn't give you a weight in zero-g, either. You could find a volume, but you'd have to drown the baby in the process.

just apply a known force and measure acceleration. Then you have mass, and with that you could calculate how much the baby would weigh on earth at sea level.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
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Originally posted by: mindmaniac
If someone were to have a baby in a zero gravity environment what would be the best method for weighing it without harming the baby. It wouldn't be practical to do a water dispacement in space unless you don't mind all the water going everywhere and the risk the infant.

In a zero gravity environment a baby would weigh...zero. :confused:
 

puffff

Platinum Member
Jun 25, 2004
2,374
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Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: mindmaniac
If someone were to have a baby in a zero gravity environment what would be the best method for weighing it without harming the baby. It wouldn't be practical to do a water dispacement in space unless you don't mind all the water going everywhere and the risk the infant.

In a zero gravity environment a baby would weigh...zero. :confused:

Would the weight change after the baby soils his diaper?
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,586
986
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Originally posted by: puffff
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: mindmaniac
If someone were to have a baby in a zero gravity environment what would be the best method for weighing it without harming the baby. It wouldn't be practical to do a water dispacement in space unless you don't mind all the water going everywhere and the risk the infant.

In a zero gravity environment a baby would weigh...zero. :confused:

Would the weight change after the baby soils his diaper?

In space, noone can hear you poop.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
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91
In Soviet Russia, space baby weighs you!

(Sorry, it just popped into my head and I couldn't stop myself from posting.)

ZV
 

randay

Lifer
May 30, 2006
11,018
216
106
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
In Soviet Russia, space baby weighs you!

(Sorry, it just popped into my head and I couldn't stop myself from posting.)

ZV

In soviet space, weight babies you!