- #36
Grinkle
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I see. That's interesting - one can make the force vector inclinations with respect to the plane of the running surface match pretty well I would think (gravity vs elastic force). One is going to be 'slammed' a bit with each stride as the bands contract. On earth, one stores up potential energy running up a hill, or one decreases the amount of work the treadmill motor does running on an upwardly inclined belt surface. In space, the elastic will return the non-normal component of the power expended in each stride as it pulls the runner back towards the running surface. The more incline, I believe, the more the difference between the variable spring force and the constant gravity force will be noticed by the runner.256bits said:It would/should be possible to simulate running uphill / downhill on the space treadmill by the angle of lean of the anchor strap.
Edit: I was only pondering the uphill case. I don't think changing the angle in the 'backwards' direction to simulate downhill running would work very well.