Why gravity helps people work faster (was Why low-g and low-pressuabad...)

On 4/17/13 6:37 PM, hitssquad wrote:

> --- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
> , "brooksn" wrote:
> > > > In 1/3rd gravity, work and transportation are limited to 1/3rd
> normal speed.
> > Why would work and transportation be reduced by 1/3 in 1/3rd G?
>
> No: *to* 1/3rd. Here are the answers I gave four years ago regarding
> working in the 1/6th g of the moon:

Not to put too fine a point on it, but those answers are mostly nonsense.

A motor runs just as fast in 1/3G, 1/6G, or 0G as it does in 1G or 2G.
So do human muscles. The ONLY difference the gravity level makes is,
well, the gravity force, which is only one of many forces acting on any
machine. In modern industrial machines, it is generally the most
important one at that, and certainly doesn't NEED to be; in most cases
you can design around it quite nicely. For example, if reduced force
between train car wheels and the track is troublesome, then you use
roller coaster style tracks instead of train style tracks, and the
problem is solved.

Certainly there will be some new engineering challenges presented here
and there by reduced gravity, but to say that all work and
transportation is reduced to the gravity level is just silly.

Best,
- Joe