QUESTION:
In science class, we are creating our own spaceships and we are pretending
that we are part of a team that will travel to Mars to conduct scientific
studies. Does spinning the spaceship using centrifugal force actually create
gravity in the ship or does it just prevent the astronauts from getting
space motion sickness? Is there was any other way to sustain normal gravity
besides rotating the ship?

ANSWER from Guy Beutelschies on June 2, 1997:
Spinning a spacecraft does indeed produce an effect that feels just like
gravity due to Centripetal force.  The equation is  a = (2 pi R) / tau.  a
is the acceleration (for Earth gravity it is 9.8 meters/second).  R is the
radius you are spinning around and tau is the time that it takes for one
revolution.  You can play with these variables to get the "equivalent
gravity" you want.

ANSWER from Pieter Kallemeyn on May 28, 1997:
Gravity is basically a type of acceleration, and there are two known ways to
reproduce the feeling of gravity.  The first, as you've mentioned, is to
rotate the ship, producing what's known as cetripetal acceleration.  The
second method is to accelerate your ship continuously (by keeping your
rocket engine on all the time), which will have the result of pushing your
body into your seat and making you feel heavy.  Both methods will accelerate
your body and simulate gravity.

- Pieter Kallemeyn