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To: DuncanWaring

You do not conserve energy in your case. KE = 1/2 mv². The higher the velocity, the higher the cost per incremental change in velocity. Since, P = F * v, your rocket would become much more powerful the faster it goes if it had a constant force. Does it make sense to you that an object that hasn’t changed its mass becomes more powerful the faster it goes when it is only powered by a constant power source?


53 posted on 09/10/2007 7:31:58 PM PDT by burzum (None shall see me, though my battlecry may give me away -Minsc)
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To: burzum
Does it make sense to you that an object that hasn’t changed its mass becomes more powerful the faster it goes when it is only powered by a constant power source?

It makes splendid sense.

One horsepower is 550 ft-lbs per second.

If your vehicle thruster produces one pound of thrust and the vehicle is not moving, it produces 0 horsepower. If it's moving at a rate of one foot per second, it has 1/550 horsepower. At 550 fps it's producing one horsepower, at 5500 fps it's producing ten horsepower.

Your understanding of the difference between "power" and "thrust" is a little weak.

71 posted on 09/11/2007 11:20:23 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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