11. How do things spin around in space? (A K2S Question)

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As on Earth, in order to get something to spin around you have to give it an off-center push. On Earth things that spin eventually slow down and stop unless you keep pushing them. This is because of friction between the object and other objects or friction between the object and air. In space where there are no other objects nearby and where there is no air, things can spin forever without the need to keep pushing on them.


Answer provided by Luke Keller, Ph.D.


Image:K2S logosmall.jpg Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer