wedrifid comments on Compartmentalization as a passive phenomenon - Less Wrong

44 Post author: Kaj_Sotala 26 March 2010 01:51PM

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Comment author: JamesAndrix 26 March 2010 03:34:24PM 2 points [-]

I read the question as asking about THE Moon, not "a moon". The question as written has no certain answer. If a moon is rotating fast enough, a pen held a few feet above its surface will be at orbital velocity. Above this level it will float away. The astronaut might also float away, unless he were wearing heavy boots.

Comment author: wedrifid 27 March 2010 03:15:24AM 1 point [-]

If a moon is rotating fast enough, a pen held a few feet above its surface will be at orbital velocity.

Well, even more technically, 'may be at orbital velocity, depending on where on the moon the astronaut is standing'.

Comment author: JamesAndrix 27 March 2010 06:37:29AM 0 points [-]

Pesky mountains.

Comment author: wnoise 27 March 2010 06:38:56AM 1 point [-]

That and varying latitude.