When objects are tossed around by space travelers inside a spacecraft or in the microgravity environment of space, they appear to move more slowly compared to what we observe on Earth. This perception of slow movement is due to the absence of significant air resistance and the nature of the space environment.
In space, there is no atmosphere or air resistance to slow down objects. On Earth, air resistance plays a crucial role in determining the speed and motion of objects. When an object is thrown in Earth's atmosphere, air molecules collide with it, causing drag that gradually slows down the object's motion. In space, without this drag, objects can maintain their initial velocity for extended periods unless acted upon by other forces.
Additionally, the microgravity environment of space affects the motion of objects. In low Earth orbit, where most manned spacecraft reside, including the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts experience a state of microgravity. Microgravity occurs when the gravitational force acting on an object is significantly reduced, resulting in a sensation of weightlessness.
In microgravity, objects behave differently than they do on Earth due to the absence of a dominant downward gravitational force. When an object is thrown in a microgravity environment, it continues to move in a straight line at a constant velocity unless acted upon by external forces, such as collisions with other objects or the walls of the spacecraft. Since there is no friction or air resistance to slow it down, the object will continue to move until an external force alters its trajectory or brings it to a stop.
The combination of the absence of air resistance and the microgravity environment makes objects tossed around by space travelers appear to move more slowly, as they maintain their velocity and lack the forces that would decelerate them on Earth.