Final answer:
The rotation rate necessary for a spaceship to simulate gravity is independent of the spaceship's mass and is determined by the radius of the cylinder and the artificial gravity level desired.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate at which a cylindrical spaceship must rotate to simulate gravity is independent of the spaceship's mass. Instead, it is determined by the radius of the cylinder and the desired artificial gravity level. According to the concept of centripetal force, which acts towards the center of the rotation, creating a 'downward' force akin to gravity, the formula for the rotational speed (angular velocity, ω) needed is ω = √(g/r), where ω is the angular velocity, g is the acceleration due to gravity on Earth (9.81 m/s²), and r is the radius of the spaceship. Therefore, the rate is proportional to the square root of the rotational radius and the desired 'gravity' level, not the mass.