Video Of The Week - Why Astronauts Never Shed Tears
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
Though it is common knowledge that lack of gravity makes life in space a tad different from that on earth, very few of us ever think about how different. There is of course the fact that astronauts are always suspended and floating around, but what about beyond that? Something as basic as shedding a tear or two of joy or sorrow?
Turns out that the scientists cannot do that at all! That's because while the tears can form normally, the zero gravity environment prevents them from falling. Instead, all that ends up happening is that multiple tears turn into blobs of water that sit right next to eye or if they get really big, move around the face but never, down to the ground!
Sounds unbelievable? Then watch Canadian astronaut and the current commander of the International Space Station Chris Hadfield, demonstrate it for you.
Resources:cbsnews.com
Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
399 Comments
flowergirl11about 9 yearsThere is no gravity so it doesn't fall
super_jeepabout 9 yearswell there is gravity the gravity on the international space station is as strong as it is here but they are orbiting so they just float around
- I Myself and Meabout 9 yearsimagine if the water ball got so big it covered your whole face.
- shortstuffabout 9 yearsi know this guy,its Chris Hadfield!!!
- laraianabout 9 yearsthat proof that you can't cry in space that was cool hope you like it an dhave fun people i had a lost of people that it was cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5ccollinsabout 9 yearsI think this experiment was really cool and now I know to bring a hanky
5aarmstrongabout 9 yearsI think it's really odd that's when the water toches your eye it forms a blob of water. I learned that space is a vary odd place and would like to learn more about it. My question is is the water already like that it's self in space or does it only do that when it toches your eye.
4gmillerabout 9 yearsWell according to the passage crying in space just sticks to you eye and it make a bubble but why? My thought is that gravity makes water floate in space and water will stick to the eye just like a wall with water droplets. But my question is that why does the water bubble get big?
4afranzabout 9 yearsWow that's really cool, I didn't know that in zero gravity tears can form normally. But i still have one question why do the tears join together and form one, why don't they just fall to the ground like normal.- super_jeepabout 9 yearscuz of gravity
5emcdanielabout 9 yearsKnow if I go in space I'll know to bring a towel or a hanky- Madisonabout 9 yearsSo Cool!!!
