Would a Yo-Yo work on the moon?

[jimithing2077]

Well, the question is the the title:

Would a Yo-Yo work on the moon?



Me and my friend were debating this. I felt that the force of gravity on the moon would just make the Yo-Yo die out when you threw it down to make it start spinning. I tried showing that the centripetal force wouldnt be great enough to bring it back up and so on but couldn't really derive at it.

Just wondering what you all think and if anyone has a REAL answer w/ proof!

Have fun debating!

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: jimithing2077
I tried showing that the centripetal force wouldnt be great enough to bring it back up and so on but couldn't really derive at it.

You misused the term "centripetal force".

 

[bootymac]

Probably not

 

[FrustratedUser]

I think so. It's all about winding up that string. When the Yo-yo grips it, it will wind up again.

 

[FoBoT]

only if a "moon man" used it, or it was modified for the moon (change the mass or size or something like that)

 

[Kalvin00]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
I think so. It's all about winding up that string. When the Yo-yo grips it, it will wind up again.

Yep...

 

[Kenazo]

I would say yes for sure, b/c although the downard pull of the moon on the yo-yo to get it spinning is lower, the downard pull opposing it returning up is equally lower.

 

[jst0ney]

it will work the same just slowly

 

[jimithing2077]

Yeah, I think you are all right about it having a lesser force acting down on it so for it to come back up it would be equally as easy...so it would just ultimately be the same

 

[Evadman]

A Yo-Yo is all about Kenetic energy and friction. Assuming you could snap your wrist the same on the moon, then it would function the same. However, it would require a defter approach to the momentum the Yo-Yo carries as the string snaps tight.

In Earth's gravity well, the elasticity of the string is largely negated. On the moon, the strings elasticity would pull the Yo-Yo back up, which would wind the Yo-Yo. You would have ot adjust and coushion the elasticity as the Yo-Yo played out. I think it could be easily done if not for the suits.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

No, I need oxygen.

 

[FoBoT]

evadman has a good point, you are going to need a really BIG loop on the end so it will fit on the big gloves

 

[vshah]

you gotta remember, in addition to all the items mentioned above, that (obviously) the weight of the yo yo would be lower on the moon....



and the pope is catholic

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Kenazo
I would say yes for sure, b/c although the downard pull of the moon on the yo-yo to get it spinning is lower, the downard pull opposing it returning up is equally lower.

How do you use a Yo-yo?
I throw it down with a snap with my wrist.

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Kenazo
I would say yes for sure, b/c although the downard pull of the moon on the yo-yo to get it spinning is lower, the downard pull opposing it returning up is equally lower.

How do you use a Yo-yo?
I throw it down with a snap with my wrist.

I'll admit it, I can't yo-yo.

 

[91TTZ]

It would work. Yo-Yo's work off momentum. If you look at good Yo-yo'ers, you'll see that they can make them work in any direction, including upside down. Gravity isn't needed.

 

[royaldank]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
It would work. Yo-Yo's work off momentum. If you look at good Yo-yo'ers, you'll see that they can make them work in any direction, including upside down. Gravity isn't needed.

Has anyone ever seen shuttle footage of them playing with a yoyo? I don't think I have. Seems like something they'd show on TV back in the days of early space travel.

I am fairly certain a yoyo would work on the moon or in space.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: royaldank

Has anyone ever seen shuttle footage of them playing with a yoyo? I don't think I have. Seems like something they'd show on TV back in the days of early space travel.

I am fairly certain a yoyo would work on the moon or in space.

I just looked it up. They brought a yo-yo onto the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985, and again on Atlantis in 1992. So there are videos out there.

 

[jimithing2077]

GOOD WORK SIR!:thumbsup:

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: jimithing2077
Well, the question is the the title:

Would a Yo-Yo work on the moon?



Me and my friend were debating this. I felt that the force of gravity on the moon would just make the Yo-Yo die out when you threw it down to make it start spinning. I tried showing that the centripetal force wouldnt be great enough to bring it back up and so on but couldn't really derive at it.

Just wondering what you all think and if anyone has a REAL answer w/ proof!

Have fun debating!

If the moon's gravity kills it, why does it work on the earth?

The are only two differences between the moon and earth that you need to account for here.
1 - no (well, very light) atmosphere on the moon. Means less wind resistance, means it would work better

2 - less gravity. changes some things, but the general idea is still there.

therefore. a yo-yo works on the moon.

yes, it would be a fairly involved mechanics problem to actually work out, but not that difficult. However, it should be intuitively obvious that it would work.