- #1
kashiark
- 210
- 0
In space if a spacecraft in the absence of a gravitational field stopped using whatever propulsion system it was using, would the craft instantly stop accelerating and stay at whatever velocity is was at?
kashiark said:In space if a spacecraft in the absence of a gravitational field stopped using whatever propulsion system it was using, would the craft instantly stop accelerating and stay at whatever velocity is was at?
ddd1600 said:how is Gilligan the space sailor supposed to accelerate if there is hardly anything "out there" to "push against"?
ddd1600 said:See it like this, firing up the liquid oxygen fueled turbo boosters in space is like punching thin air, that is, thin air doesn't PUSH BACK.
ddd1600 said:See it like this, firing up the liquid oxygen fueled turbo boosters in space is like punching thin air, that is, thin air doesn't PUSH BACK. Am I missing something here or is this simply an extremely inefficient process which one would prefer to avoid altogether by ensuring constant inertia in deep space?
Acceleration in space is the rate of change of velocity over time. In other words, it is how fast the velocity of a spacecraft is changing. It can be measured in meters per second squared (m/s²) or in terms of the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s² on Earth).
Acceleration in space is achieved by using a propulsion system, such as a rocket engine or ion thruster, to generate thrust. This thrust creates a force that propels the spacecraft forward and causes its velocity to increase over time.
There are several factors that can affect the acceleration of a spacecraft in space, including the amount of thrust produced by the propulsion system, the mass of the spacecraft, and any external forces acting on the spacecraft (such as gravity or solar radiation).
No, a spacecraft cannot accelerate indefinitely in space. This is because as the spacecraft's velocity increases, so does its mass (due to the effects of relativity). Eventually, the spacecraft will reach a point where the amount of thrust produced by its propulsion system is not enough to overcome its increasing mass, resulting in a constant velocity.
Acceleration in space can be measured and calculated using instruments on board the spacecraft, such as accelerometers. These instruments measure the spacecraft's acceleration and provide data that can be used to calculate its velocity and position. Calculations can also be done using Newton's Second Law of Motion (F=ma) and the spacecraft's mass and thrust values.