Question

THIS IS THE EXPERIMENT:

The students, working in pairs, will obtain ten sealed vials. DO NOT OPEN THE VIALS! Having the vials preloaded saves chemicals, time, and minimizes the possibility of exposure. These vials are labeled with their contents. Nine of the vials will contain knowns, while the last vial will be an unknown. This unknown will be one of the previous nine. Zero the analytical balance, then place the magnet on the balance and record its apparent mass; the magnet can be found next to the balance. The term apparent mass is used since there will be some interaction between the magnet and the balance altering the measurement. Record this value in the data sheet. Elevate the vial containing the sample approximately 0.5 cm above the magnet. Do not allow the vial to touch the balance or the magnet for this will alter the reading. Record the newly displayed mass in the data sheet. If the apparent mass has decreased in the presence of the sample, then the sample is attracting 4 the magnet, and the sample is paramagnetic. If the apparent mass has increased in the presence of the sample then the sample is being repelled by the magnet; consequentially the magnet is also being repelled, and the sample is diamagnetic. Perform two measurements then return to your lab bench and calculate the number of unpaired electrons for those two samples based on the oxidation numbers of the elements. Repeat until all samples have been measured.

THIS IS THE QUESTION:

This same experiment is performed on the international space station. What is the primary issue with performing this experiment in the absence of gravity? Design an experiment to compensate for this. As always, you do have duct tape

Answer 1

The international space station is in zero gravity mode. That means all the ingredients of the experiments will be weightless in the space station. As W=m*g where m is the mass and g is the accleration due to gravity therefore in space station g=0 due to zero gravity therefore weight for anything is W=mass*0=0.

As an example, water will float as bubble and the vials , balance and the magnet will not stay in a single position. In space human needs to adopt certain movements therefore with moving ingredients it is hard to conduct such an experiment (remember viral should not touch the balance ).

Actually the term in microgravity instead of zero gravity in space station which means minimal gravvitational foece exists in the space station. To conduct the experiment remember how the astronauts sleep in space their sleeping berths are attached to the walls.

So we can attach the balance in a wall via duct tape and place the magnet on it. Next holding the vial above the magnet whould be easier than all floating situation.

In an alternative way we can generate an artificial gravity zone via spinning things (generaing accleration) and conduct the experiment there.