Man went to the moon with only Newton's equations?

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In summary, Man went to the moon with only Newton's equations. However, without Maxwell's equations or solid state physics, navigation, guidance, and problem solving would not have been possible. Telemetry, radio communication, and computers were essential to the success of the Apollo missions.
  • #1
relativitydude
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Man went to the moon with only Newton's equations?

I am keenly interested in seeing these equations. Anyone recommend a book or resource that details this?
 
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  • #2
Man would never have made it to the Moon without Maxwell's equations either not to mention solid state physics and the biological sciences! Telemetry, radio communication and computers were essential to navigation, guidance and problem solving when the unexpected arose.
 
  • #3
I believe the original question has to do with the fact that in programming the course followed by the Apollos, Newton's gravity laws were sufficient and General Relativity was unneccesary. Any basic physics book would have Newton's theory of gravity as well as Newton's laws.
 
  • #4
True. Relativistic corrections were small enough to be ignored given the speeds involved and accuracy required.
 
  • #5
Well, Newton's equations of motion are:

[tex]\vec F = m \vec a[/tex]

And his equation of gravitation is

[tex]F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}[/tex]

These are the only two basic equations you need to solve for the trajectory of a rocket-propelled spacecraft in the solar system, where gravitational field strengths and velocities are reasonably small.

- Warren
 
  • #6
What was interesting is that they did come up with a means of 3-d stellar navigation while in the space craft. Anyone here know the details of how this worked? They were able to determine position and velocity.
 
  • #7
What was interesting is that they did come up with a means of 3-d stellar navigation while in the space craft.

In their most general sense, Newton's Laws are vectorial in nature. Just use 3-d vectors.
 
  • #8
I thinl that must be a secret!
The scientist may not be allowed to tell it to everyone. (I mean about the equipment and travellings).
If you have seen one, please tell it to me!
 
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  • #9
What was interesting is that they did come up with a means of 3-d stellar navigation while in the space craft.

In their most general sense, Newton's Laws are vectorial in nature. Just use 3-d vectors.

That's the easy part, how did they get a reading to determine their current position while in the spacecraft ? (This was doiable without tracking information from the Earth). What type of "sextant" do you use for outer space?
 
  • #10
relativitydude said:
Man went to the moon with only Newton's equations?

I am keenly interested in seeing these equations. Anyone recommend a book or resource that details this?

Well, of course to steer the shuttle also lots of electronics was needed, which were designed using many electronics "laws", such as Kirchhoff's law etc.
 

1. How did Newton's equations contribute to the success of the moon landing?

Newton's laws of motion provided the fundamental understanding of how objects move and interact with each other in space. This knowledge was essential for designing and launching the spacecraft as well as navigating it to the moon.

2. Was Newton's work the only scientific theory used in the moon landing?

No, Newton's equations were not the only scientific theory used. Other theories and principles, such as those related to rocket propulsion, were also crucial for the success of the moon landing.

3. Did the astronauts use Newton's equations while on the moon?

Yes, the astronauts used Newton's equations while on the moon to understand and navigate their movements in the low gravity environment. They also used it to calculate the trajectory of their spacecraft when returning to Earth.

4. How did Newton's equations impact future space exploration?

Newton's equations continue to play a significant role in space exploration. They are used to design spacecraft, plan missions, and predict the movements of objects in space. They have also paved the way for further advancements in space exploration.

5. What are some limitations of using Newton's equations in space exploration?

While Newton's equations are incredibly useful, they have some limitations. They do not fully account for the effects of relativity and must be used in conjunction with other theories, such as Einstein's theory of general relativity, for more accurate calculations in certain situations.

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