Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains How Much You "Weigh" in Space

How much do you weigh in space? Well, as Neil deGrasse Tyson will tell you, weight is not what you think it is. On this StarTalk Explainer, Neil and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore what’s going on when you blast off.
Neil tells us why we should be thinking about how much mass something contains instead of how much something weighs. You’ll learn why your weight in water is basically zero.
Why are astronauts weightless in space? Neil explains how Sir Isaac Newton discovered orbits. Find out why most energy from a rocket launch is not used to get the rocket into space. All that, plus, we explore the science of Ad Astra, The Expanse, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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About the prints that flank Neil in this video:
"Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver inuit.com/.
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About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
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[@sinaddictgames8399]

'Get to infinity and then we'll talk' ... the lag on that call will be craaazy

[@MikinessAnalog]

3-40 minutes from Mars. Live calls from Mars are impossible because c.

[@MrVeryfrost]

Does that mean that Earth gravity affects entire universe ?

[@murtaza-6]

@@MrVeryfrost i think, but on a scale so small that it is not even considered

[@richarddefortune1329]

😅

[@gopikrishnan6805]

Neil is probably the only scientist out there that can take a joke thrown at his explanations and he'll make it even funnier!

[@Joseph-hb6sb]

only indian students will understand

[@fundemort]

Is Michael Vsauce included?

[@milibaby1]

@@fundemort Destin from Smarter Every Day is also amazing!

[@phantomwalker8251]

he is avoiding the real answer,he,s head of astrophysics,,would you jeapordise your income.?.he does not believe in ufo,s or aliens,,even though,we all have part alien dna..fact..

[@mattlancaster2553]

If 5 ml/s must be maintained to prevent orbiral decay. And the moon is orbiting earth at 0.635 ml/s. Why is the moon getting further away from earth, not closer?

[@manikandanm3277]

The level of enthusiasm Neil still keeps on showing in explaining stuff, for every new video is just unimaginable and awesome.

[@michielstornebrink]

You guys are amazing. I’m always having so much fun watching you explain the science. Thx!

[@shawntheone8827]

Juice

[@erdemmemisyazici3950]

Indeed. They are doing God's work.

[@grizzlehatchet1]

Why does Neil always say "we're out of time" or "we're running out of time for this segment".... SAYS WHO?!.... Fire that person!... I need these chats to be looooooooooonger 😂

[@GamerbyDesign]

Because he has things to do.

[@grizzlehatchet1]

@@GamerbyDesign lol no way.... Its 2020, year of the Lockdown.

[@GamerbyDesign]

@@grizzlehatchet1 No lockdowns here.

[@mrbyzantine0528]

He's got two types of videos: hour long podcasts and 15 to 20 minute topic discussions.

[@grizzlehatchet1]

@@mrbyzantine0528 im aware... Every single video is a different length yet theres always this mysterious rush to end the video.

[@eurasiaacaci.-110]

Astronauts in the I.S.S is basically “falling with style”

[@Puppy_Puppington]

Luna_una _0042 well yeah. Tis’ what orbiting is.

[@TheAvsouto]

Falling with ISStyle

[@Renallis]

The Expanse shoutout! :D

[@johnyepthomi892]

what’s the latest season. I need to catch up . Love the expanse. Also star trek discovery. awesome.

[@NeverStopDIY]

Yeah, watch the "Expanse." One of the best series ever.

[@TheDiabeticHiker]

This was one of my favorite explainer videos! 👍 Definitely had a brain wake-up or paradigm shift in my thinking when it comes to “weightless”. Also, the picture of Issac Newton’s cannonball I’ve seen on the internet, school, etc. finally clicked. This one is definitely worth 20mins of your time.

[@simateix6262]

"ma man, ma man!" Im dying lol

[@TheExoplanetsChannel]

Great video. For those who like sport, I suggest a *Super-earth exoplanet,* and for those who don't, just an Earth-like planet.

[@damonandrews9409]

Every time I watch one of these I learn so much that I come away with more questions than I went in with. KEEP IT UP!

[@jeffs6090]

Wait...(hehehe, weight)..., Neil hasn't seen The Expanse yet?? Literally one of the best scifi shows out there. It's one of the main reasons I got Amazon Prime Video. (And Hanna, Jack Ryan, The Boys) I need him to watch the whole thing and give us an hour long video review of it. I feel they got a lot science right throughout the whole series. Though of course they still took artistic leeway with things like the proto molecule and living inside of Ceres, etc. Beltalowda!! (Season 5 due to drop on Dec 16th with an episode each Wed until it's done in Feb.)

[@pan4909]

This is not space related but make sure to watch the grand tour, best show I've watched ever

[@XScorpio123X]

I agree with you. The books are even more incredible tho

[@mercanyinriechert6732]

The expanse is great. He does need to watch it.

[@MrT------5743]

I have Amazon Prime but live in a very rural area and internet isn't the best. But I found out if I make the kids goto bed early (and are not on the internet taking all the bandwidth) I can watch a show with little buffering. I thank this explainer video to prompt me to check out "The Expanse' and see if I can actually watch it!

[@jliljj]

That review would so dope!

[@mosquitoskeet2189]

Im so glad you mentioned the expanse! I was just about to say how accurate that show is! Awesome series!

[@Nifuruc]

Oh, our man Neil will absolutely LOVE The Expanse! I hope/bet he'll mention it in upcoming episodes ^^

[@TheUglyPirate]

Just hereing Neil say "that is totally dope" Is the epitome of this video it was awesome.

[@mateuszsarnowski2289]

This channel is the biggest KZbin discovery for me this year. I really enjoy it!

[@urieowrjdf]

Love these explainers and also wish them to be longer!

[@Kohi_of_Greed]

Heard this exact same topic explained from multiple people before but this is by far the best explanation i've heard in my life

[@Ptaaruonn]

I can't wait to hear Dr Neil nerd out with "The Expanse"

[@Synster73]

Absolutely love these bits of knowledge! Keep them coming 😎

[@apeiceofgarbage9848]

Thanks for the vid guys sending love from Sacramento, I like the new intro too by the way.

[@ingGS]

This was one of my favorites. Amazing episode!

[@effychase62]

Just another fascinating and insightful video from Star Talk!

[@nokta7373]

16:15 Doctor Tyson, you are gonna enjoy The Expanse. Best sci-fi show around.

[@commonsense99]

Brilliant! This is exactly why I listened to this podcast show. It teaches Lehman like myself science. Thank you so much!

[@abelrobles3331]

I love your show. Im learning so much. Keep up the great work.

[@dubselectorr345]

This needs to have 100x more views. As do all StarTalk videos.

[@jonathanaragones6888]

Nice one! The best of all.

[@venkmuriki9169]

Neil and Chuck YOU’RE THE BEST DUO

[@HellaUtube]

"Let go the gun!" It got me LOL so hard!

[@HUMFREX]

“It’s totally dope.” -Neil deGrasse Tyson, 2020

[@famouspencilholders8442]

Neil? If the world can be convinced to wear mask, why can't the people of the world be convinced to conserve water? And why can't you eggheads figure out a way to trick the world into believing we HAVE to this particular thing in order conserve water?

[@manpreetbhattee9732]

This has been so much fun. Thanks guys!

[@MisterIncog]

Here's one strange thing. I'm not a native english speaker, I'm Russian. We have a word for weight, obviously, and I know it's definition because I remember Physics classes. I still checked it out to confirm, I was correct. So here it is - weight is a force created by an object acting on a support that prevents the falling that happens in a field of forces of gravity. So you can't have weight without some kind of support (a platform or a string of some kind). Which is about the same as what Neil have talked about in this video. BUT then I googled the definition in English, and here's what I get from wikipedia and other resurses: "In science and engineering, the weight of an object is the force acting on the object due to gravity" Which is not at all what weight in Russian means and what Neil have talked about! It's the same as the force of gravity (which in Russian is called just like that - force of graity - and denoted as Fg and not W). And I'm complitely confused by that!

[@MisterIncog]

@@jennifercook6497 well Neil doesn’t use it as the force of gravity and he’s American o0

[@calhoundre]

I think he wants to tell you America’s education system purposely dumbs down science. (And perhaps everything else) what’s he’s inferring,however, I can’t say

[@mytech6779]

"the weight of an object is the force acting on the object due to gravity" this is both a correct statement and very similar to your Russian definition, this quote did not say "force of gravity", it said force due to gravity. In English, weight is just a word for the force caused by acceleration, most often associated with gravitational acceleration. There are other definitions for weight that include the sum force of all acceleration, not limited to gravitational acceleration. Engineers often use force or load for more precise meaning than weight. According to some modern relativistic physics theory weight it is not he force of the object acting on the support due to gravity, it is the force of the support acting on the object due to gravity. It is an abstract idea dealing with the flow of time and bending of space. The best way I can describe it is that objects "falling" are actually stationary in space-time but spacetime is moving toward the earth's center of mass and the support (dirt) accelerates the objects away from the center of mass (at approximately 9.8 m/s^2) counteracting this flow of space-time. Gravity being this flow of space-time.

[@Qewbicle]

@@mytech6779 The last paragraph made the most sense. Let me know if I got this wrong. So I'm tethered to a point of space as if it was kind of a solid, like jello. This column of jello is being stretched into the center of earth (spaghettified like), it's attempt to equalize means it's moving inwards. I'm along for the ride pinned to a point because of my mass. The soil is resisting this motion. From mine and the jello's (space) perspective, it's moving, from one point in space to another. Once it contacts me and I can't pass through it, I begin to accelerate at it's speed. Which is when I feel the force (weight) and the space column witnesses me as an accelerating object.

[@carultch]

​@@MisterIncog Weight could mean either the net constraint force needed to support you in a gravitational field (as your original post explained), or it could mean the gravitational force itself, depending on how the speaker/writer intends the meaning of the word. In English, those two meanings of the word weight are used interchangeably. We get away with this interchangeable use of the term, due to the fact that our most familiar example is an object at rest on the surface of a planet. In that example, the gravitational force will be equal and opposite to the constraint force, so that they add up to zero for equilibrium. If the force of gravity on you is 800 Newtons, the support force to keep you at rest is also 800 Newtons. When an object is accelerating, there will be a difference in magnitude between net constraint force and gravitational force, and in that example, it is important to specify exactly what "weight" means. In a Physics class, it is important to be more specific than the term "weight" when it really matters. So you would either use the term "gravitational force", or you would describe the kind of support force for the example in question. Such as "normal force", which is what we call the most common kind of constraint force, like the floor pushing upward on you, when you stand on it. You cannot directly measure the force of gravity. Instead you measure the constraint force. On the actual Earth, the fact that the Earth rotates offsets a small amount of its true gravitational force. We get away with just accepting gravity as slightly less than true gravity, to account for this fact. At the equator, true gravity is 9.81 N/kg, while the gravity we perceive by assuming our reference frame is stationary, is 9.78 N/kg. In a local reference frame at the equator, you can approximate your immediate environment as a flat world with a uniform gravitational field of 9.78 N/kg. Even though the truth is that the gravitational field is 9.81 N/kg, and you are accelerating downward at 0.03 m/s^2.

[@charleyprole2704]

I would absolutely love Neil to do a review on "the expanse" Sci fi series. It's really really scientifically accurate Edit: just seen he is gonna watch it 😂

[@PrasoonJha510]

Why this has to end??, keep going , love the knowledge you guys provide with such enthusiasm.

[@fastpacedcheese]

You guys have a wonderful in its content and delivery show right there, another 19:19 well spent ! Also Am too broke to be a patreon but can yall talk about the difference between direct and alternative current

[@rossta888]

".. thats pretty dope." .... " ITS TOTALLY DOPE! " hahahaha

[@aerynsunn7500]

Oh wow!! That was a great episode!

[@makemoneynow5061]

Amazing! Never thought I'd be finish watching this video!

[@bonginkosinkumane795]

Man, I should be working but these videos are absolutely brilliant. Thanks for this knowledge....it really gets the neurons firing. Quick question: If what causes "weightlesnes" in outer space is pretty much the centripetal force caused by the earth's rotation in a specific direction (thus counteracting the gravitational pull of earth) , would an object I.e a rocket, suddenly start falling back down to earth if it gradually started shooting in the opposite direction of earth's spin? If yes, then I'd assume a certain velocity would need to be reached for the rocket to start falling back to earth. What would that velocity be? Much love from South Africa

[@DrH-rc7yp]

I love how this man thinks. The knowledge he has blows my mind.

[@christianambrose4941]

As always, mind = blown. Please please please make a video on the science of the Expanse series! Also, 88... that explains the Back to the Future movie! Wow.

[@yoihenbath]

Thank you so much! Love from Manipur!!

[@master_moose]

Who would have thought that Spaceballs would be one of the more accurate space movies regarding acceleration?

[@NonDelusional74611]

He’s gone to PLAID

[@robertmcdonnold3038]

With the recent SpaceX launch, your talk was very timely. Thanks Bob

[@glenmalerotho1099]

Absolutely dope❤💯#Thanks so much for brain luncheon

[@fahimontu7065]

Always love to see you both 💕

[@rimonshamon8607]

amazing 5 miles per 1 one second travel , wish that can be done on earth just imagin how fast we get from one city to another :) great video startalk

[@mdatiqurrahman9951]

Incredible explanation 🤗😁

[@Baitfishin]

Neil you are my favorite scientist in history u inspire me to ask questions on how things I see daily work.

[@Baitfishin]

@@HopDavid thanks for trying to discourage curiosity

[@robertgillcash1696]

Finally, I understand how going fast sideways equates to being in orbit. Drop speed and the curve of the earth. Never has that part explained before. THANK YOU NEIL!

[@MohamedMahmoud-ov3yv]

Wooooow very very interesting!! I love you guys 🤗

[@salmankureishi]

We are blessed indeed to be able to learn from this guy for free 😊

[@scgeorge]

I am unlearning what I was previously taught or assumed as a child. I need to rewatch this, it’s mind blowing.

[@kayanims]

I like these conversations

[@zachbecker4528]

Keep doin what you doin, stay up 🔥🙏🤙🏼

[@hustlehard4251]

Badass new INTRO !

[@Ernesto_Gonzalez]

Star 🌟 Talk my best Show Ever. Great 👍 Job Guys I need more imput.

[@insane_troll]

If you fall through a hole drilled through the Earth, it actually takes less than 88 minutes because the Earth is denser towards the core. It would only be 88 minutes if the Earth was homogeneous. If you could continuously accelerate at 1g, then the transit time to Mars would be about 2 days, rather than weeks.

[@lennoxthomas7815]

So much valuable and provocative knowledge from Neil D. Tyson. You said your colleagues were one in a million. You stand alone among them as the "1" in a million because it's making it easy for the novice to understand and stay interested, that's the part you're able to make look easy.. That's a monster gift. Thank you Sir!!!

[@ukaszchojnacki9830]

Again after listening to you guys I can't sleep, as I'm creating theories about time, dimentions etc. And I love it :) I wonder if anything I imagine can be new to the world of science. Maybe everyone thought if I made it up then it can't be that difficult to others.

[@Bendigo1]

Many things have been discovered because somone thought about it. Never stop thinking.

[@nirvachoritchy2933]

Fascinating

[@AstroRoxy]

These are awesome ☺️

[@redcleon]

I didn't know about that swimming pool. Man that's cool

[@deepakkudari2348]

I like how Niel said news announcer 😂😂😂😂 5:37

[@danielquill]

Is that speed of Earth's rotation where one would be weightless at the equator also 5 miles per second as stated earlier for stable orbit?

[@DrumsTheWord]

The first thing I do whenever I watch any of your videos is click the Like button. Every...time.

[@christopherdahlstro]

Neil, long time fan! im pretty sure the NBL in Houston Texas holds the I.S.S. but I am also sure Hubble could easily fit as well.

[@brucewani2639]

That was so fking cool! So cool I liked the videos twice.

[@QQuantum]

Neil, I very much love LoVe your explainer videos !!!

[@kshravan2489]

Always the best....👍

[@PurnamadaPurnamidam]

Neil you are the educator that the world needs.

[@lyricsuniverse815]

This is so interesting!! I was actually wondering why astronauts in ISS float! Thanks man!

[@MaartenOosterbaan]

As they say...it's never the speed that kills you, it's the sudden lack thereof

[@BrokenSoul79x]

I'm highly interested to hear your opinions on the expanse, it is a MASTERPIECE of sci-fi. Imo one of the best done sci-fi shows ever.

[@Tsejjest]

Do whole episode of Star Talk about Expanse :)

[@syedarmaghanhassan4652]

Hey Niel bro! Quick question! What is the rate of change of distance and the rate of change if speed of a NEO-Sattellite ? 🤔

[@christianstojgtr]

its funny how chuck is constantly in tears, in EVERY video btw, due to his laughter... science is amazing

[@johntowner1893]

Does the idea of being weightless on Earth spinning at one revolution per 88 minutes, equate to the 9.6m/s acceleration of gravity that we experience? I’m not sure if that’s what was being conveyed at the end of the video, as it wasn’t stated in a way that correlates the two ideas specifically. Thanks for the great video!

[@TheVRSofa]

Your going to LOVE the expanse mr Tyson ;) enjoy!

[@Meatloaf_TV]

I knew the answer coming into the video but I watched because they are so entertaining regardless

[@flybeep1661]

1:12 I have a question, if you weigh less due to the buoyancy effect of air compared to a vacuum then what about air pressure pushing down on you? Wouldn't that by itself have an increasing effect on your weight much more than buoyancy effect would decrease your weight?

[@eugenegrudzien5040]

The buoyancy effect is due to the drop in air pressure with height. The pressure on your head and shoulders is slightly less than the pressure on your feet, so there is a net upward force on you from the air. That's why a balloon filled with helium floats while the same balloon filled with air sinks. The buoyant force on both balloons is the same, but the weight of one filled with air is slightly greater than the buoyancy and so it falls while the with helium weighs slightly less than the buoyancy and so that balloon rises..

[@mikee101]

I appreciate you Chuck

[@anasghaffar7837]

Wow! I'm an Undergraduate Physicist and I didn't know that thing about Orbits!

[@cabeca025]

Awesome content

[@katharinahochkamp5415]

So really, when we talk about the weight of something, we don't actually mean the weight, but the mass. This is also reflected in the units: we talk about kg, which is mass, whereas weight would be a force with unit kg*m/s^2. And scales make that conversion implicitly under the assumption that we are in earth's gravitational field.

[@Evghenios79]

Chuck enhances Neil, they make an excellent duo

[@olgoodwin]

Neil, guys, I love you. I am 30+ and I watching videos like this with eyes wide open as if I am kid.Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

[@bored9260]

M^3, the amount of mass occupied by space requires force of energy = mass and constant to the power of 2. I need the same amount of energy from stop to go, to accelerate in space. Or the 2+2=5 equation. The energy of mass conservation, the energy to accelerate, and the energy for momentum as a constance. In a gravity polarity of less then half the factor. Helium would work as long as the conservation of mass is met.

[@blammela]

I’ve become a star talk snob and cant even watch these episodes with out Chuck. He makes the banter in these

[@sunny_senpai]

Expanse was an amazing show

[@godspeed8002]

Hey Neil, maybe a dumb question but.. Is the 5 miles/s speed the same for any amount of orbit height? Like for example, does the speed necessary to retain orbit drop the further you are away from Earth? Or is it a constant that sets in as soon as you leave Atmosphere and you hit the Vacuum of Space? Cheers!

[@Kreeos]

Thank you Kerbal Space Program for teaching me enough about orbital mechanics to understand Dr. Tyson explaining this.

[@DudeitsLandon]

I think I like the internet talks more than in-person

[@RomioJudo]

8:17 I really like this kind of wordplay joke.

[@linedanzer4302]

*These guys make my heart smile and my belly laugh and mind think.*

[@aungthuhein007]

What happened to the intro? Loved the last one!

[@midnightchurningspriteshaq8533]

Awesome stuff

[@blakekemak2340]

So if you go into a vast empty area of space where nothings around to influence gravity, would you become your own influence and still weigh 0? Secondly, is the reason space feels weightless becacuse we are in a galaxy thats influenced by our orbit around the galactic center, like centripical force? So what happens if we are outside any galaxy nothing around or in any orbit? Edit: I got excited and started writing before completely finishing the vid.