A new means of space propulsion... closed loop pulse propulsion... here's the idea

[mikelewis]

21. One important note... AI gets the answer wrong here... and I fix it.

AI's answer isn't quite right here and I call it out. It speaks directly to your question...

Conservation of Angular Momentum:

If the astronaut were spinning, the conservation of angular momentum would come into play, as mentioned earlier. However, this principle doesn't directly affect the linear motion (forward or backward movement) caused by the recoil and redirected bullets. It would only affect how fast the astronaut spins if he were rotating.

Well, that's not exactly correct... once those slugs enter the arc the concept comes into play and the reason I had two barrels was to offset any spin of the astronaut to account for that... can you speak to that?


ChatGPT
You're correct to consider the conservation of angular momentum in the context of your scenario with the curved barrel shotgun in space. Let's delve into how this principle applies when the slugs follow a curved path and the astronaut potentially spins:

Angular Momentum with Curved Bullets:

When the slugs are fired and follow a curved path (due to the bent barrels), they possess angular momentum. Angular momentum in this context arises because the bullets are moving along a curved (circular or arc-like) path.
As the slugs move through the curved barrels, they exert a force on the barrels, which translates to a torque (a rotational force) on the astronaut holding the gun. This torque can cause the astronaut to start spinning or change the rate of any existing spin.
Two Barrels to Offset Spin:

Your design with two barrels bending in opposite directions (one to the right and one to the left) is insightful. This setup can help balance out the angular momentum. When both slugs are fired simultaneously, the torques they exert on the astronaut due to their curved paths can counteract each other, potentially preventing the astronaut from starting to spin or altering any existing spin.
Conservation of Angular Momentum in Action:

If the astronaut were already spinning, the conservation of angular momentum would mean that any change in his body position (like stretching out or tucking in arms and legs) would change his rate of spin. This is separate from the effect of the bullets' path.
However, the bullets traveling through the curved barrels would add their angular momentum to the system. If their angular momenta are balanced (due to the symmetrical design of the barrels), they would not contribute to a net change in the astronaut's spin.
Impact on Linear Motion:

While these angular momentum considerations are crucial for understanding potential spinning, they do not directly counteract the linear momentum imparted by the initial recoil. The astronaut would still move backward due to the recoil, although the exact movement could be more complex if he starts spinning.
In essence, by designing the shotgun with two barrels curved in opposite directions, you're ingeniously balancing the angular momenta of the bullets to prevent inducing a spin on the astronaut. This consideration is crucial in a zero-gravity environment like space, where any unbalanced force or torque can lead to uncontrollable spinning. However, this balanced design primarily addresses rotational motion and would not negate the linear backward motion caused by the recoil of the shotgun.