# Katie Upton's breasts jiggle differently in microgravity. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 19, 2014, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739 "2014-02-19T22:48:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/1 "2014-02-19T22:48:03Z")
See subject. [Videos and photos [In browser].](http://swimsuit.si.com/swimsuit/models/kate-upton/zero-g-photos) Only my observation, of course, but the jig and jag of a spine moved in 1 g seems to shake her breasts more, and (seriously)\* I am trying to figure out where here and there I notice it and what is causing it. What’s the maximum force a human being can generate from body torsion alone–compared with, naturally, that expended on breast mass on a hop over 1/4 sec at 32 ft./sec\*2 . (The movement of the breasts on a twist on Earth would differ less, I’m thinking, during the ballistic portion.) The Strauss on the SI making-of clip merges grandeur of _2001_ and cynicism of _Clockwork Orange_. Weird scene all around. I think Kubrick would be happy. On earth, Upton does the _[Cat Daddy](http://youtu.be/MCUnWIs88CQ)_ and the _[Dougie](http://youtu.be/lkjDKLeoxjA)._ [Youtubes] \*As serious as you can be in GQ on this perennial sophomore physics topic. And no, I don’t believe this is something mundane and pointless. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/2 "2014-02-19T23:04:46Z")
Model her jiggling breasts like a mass on a spring undergoing damped oscillation. Since on earth, movements against the direction of gravity will not go far unless the velocity is high, her breasts will only move upwards a small amount and then down again if they are oscillating in 1 G. I’m assuming the material of her breasts, and the damping coefficients won’t change properties from 1G to zero. This is not true, but it simplifies the model. In reality there’s a bunch of effects complicating this. For one thing, fluid is in her upper torso, which is why her breasts appear bigger. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Pham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@Carl\_Pham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Pham)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/3 "2014-02-20T00:02:19Z")
The frequency of vibration is directly proportional to the size of the restoring force (the force that tends to bring things back to equilibrium). The restoring force in general has two components: the elastic response of her body and the force of gravity. Depending on the orientation of the motion relative to gravity, the force may vary significantly over the period of one oscillation, e.g. going up away from equilibrium gravity may add to the restoring force, while going down away from equilibrium it may reduce it. Either way, in free fall gravity is subtracted from the restoring force, and you can therefore expect the frequency of oscillation, as well as the amplitude in both directions (up and down) to shift. I would expect longer oscillation periods, more equal excursions up and down, and somewhat shorter average amplitude. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/4 "2014-02-20T00:54:17Z")
Can I get a grant to research this? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/5 "2014-02-20T01:09:42Z")
The frequency of oscillation of a mass-spring system doesn’t actually change with or without gravity: Since the spring force is linear, all that changes is the position of the equilibrium point. So the primary effect is going to be just that her breasts are perkier. Now, since breasts are not ideal springs, the elasticity is actually going to be different at this new equilibrium point, and so the frequency might change a bit. I would expect this to be a relatively small effect, though. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/6 "2014-02-20T02:04:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Now, since breasts are not ideal springs … Some are not too far from ideal. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/7 "2014-02-20T02:43:21Z")
When I dated her, they jiggled the same way. ---
**Author:** ![kurtisokc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kurtisokc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurtisokc)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/8 "2014-02-20T02:49:17Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Can I get a grant to research this? I concur. Clearly more research is needed. I hereby offer my services. ---
**Author:** ![iMouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e9c0ed/32.png) [@iMouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iMouse)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/9 "2014-02-20T02:58:27Z")
Now, finally, a thread I can sink my teeth into. Gently, of course. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/10 "2014-02-20T03:38:25Z")
> [@kurtisokc](#): > > I concur. Clearly more research is needed. I hereby offer my services. And, it goes without saying, hands-on research. I too offer my services! ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/11 "2014-02-20T04:02:17Z")
This YouTube video makes an excellent baseline case for Earth’s gravitational effects on the subject: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pZ7qmAFltg) ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/12 "2014-02-20T10:05:11Z")
> [@Habeed](#): > > In reality there’s a bunch of effects complicating this. For one thing, fluid is in her upper torso, which is why her breasts appear bigger. Does that really happen so quickly? I’ve heard that it happens on the space station, and that the astronauts have to deal with constant sinus congestion because of the same effect. But does it really happen in the 20-30 second intervals of free fall they were doing her modeling shots in? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/13 "2014-02-20T11:10:38Z")
All these videos… I’m dizzy. ---
**Author:** ![runningdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@runningdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runningdude)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/14 "2014-02-20T13:46:28Z")
> [@Habeed](#): > > … > In reality there’s a bunch of effects complicating this. For one thing, fluid is in her upper torso, which is why her _breasts appear bigger_. I am pretty sure _that_ is only because she has been Photoshopped to the point of being a cartoon version of herself… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/15 "2014-02-20T13:47:01Z")
I have no, uh, dog in this fight, other than to predict that the ratio of posts to thread views could reach a record for the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/16 "2014-02-20T14:36:35Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Can I get a grant to research this? Hey, I want to know why we never had questions like this on any of my physics tests! ---
**Author:** ![iMouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e9c0ed/32.png) [@iMouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iMouse)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/17 "2014-02-20T14:58:41Z")
A titty bore, caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/18 "2014-02-20T15:07:47Z")
It should also be mentioned, of course, that in any gravitational field, the jiggle is also going to be affected by the garments she’s wearing. Even in the brief freefall video, she wears several different garments, with different support properties. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/19 "2014-02-20T15:10:36Z")
Space boobs. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739/20 "2014-02-20T21:33:08Z")
NASA recruitment is going to, er, skyrocket! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katie-uptons-breasts-jiggle-differently-in-microgravity-why/681739.md?page=2)