Richardthughes
Posts: 11177 Joined: Jan. 2006
|
Badly edited other bits:
Quote | Nerull
Posts: 122 Joined: June 2007 (Permalink) Posted: May 15 2008,10:12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, not really. 1G is sufficient, and that hardly would make us a splat on the bulkhead, and we'd get to Alpha Centauri in 2-3 years or so, ship time. I'm not sure how long it would take to Earth, but at least that system would probably be a reasonable time frame.
Actually, it wouldn't take that much longer to get anywhere else, either, though if you go too far there won't be an earth left to go back to.
Isn't relativity great?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lou FCD
Then my bad.
I thought I'd read that moderate G acceleration and deceleration would take much, much longer (on the order of 100 years (ship-time) each way to Alpha Centauri).
Edited to specify. Edited again to further specify.
Edited by Lou FCD on May 15 2008,11:31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richardthughes
Posts: 4692 Joined: Jan. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 15 2008,10:27
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Where's Heddle? Working on his space telescope? I think it gets incrementally harder to accelerate as you approach C so in terms of energy storage and mass of the vehicle (which effects acceleration) you get into trouble quite quickly..
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richardthughes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nerull
A human could, in theory, travel to other galaxies if he had a constant acceleration 1g drive. Of course, the galaxy may not be where it was when he started by the time he gets there. At a constant 1g time dilation would become a major effect very quickly. No generation ships required, though since its a one way trip in most cases, bringing a breeding population for your new colony is not a bad idea.
Of course, if you go too far, everything will have changed. The planet you wanted to colonize and its star will have died long ago. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lou FCD
Posts: 2400 Joined: Jan. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 15 2008,10:32
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actually, it wouldn't take that much longer to get anywhere else, either, though if you go too far there won't be an earth left to go back to.
Isn't relativity great?
Then my bad.
I thought I'd read that moderate G acceleration and deceleration would take much, much longer (on the order of 100 years each way to Alpha Centauri).
Edited to specify.
“You get time dilation, Lou. the faster you go, the slower time goes for you relative to the universe. So it depends 'which clock' you use.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation
I was aware of that, and just finished editing my comment to reflect that, coincidentally enough.
I was thinking 100 years ship time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nerull
Posts: 122 Joined: June 2007 (Permalink) Posted: May 15 2008,10:34
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote (Richardthughes @ May 15 2008,11:27) Where's Heddle? Working on his space telescope? I think it gets incrementally harder to accelerate as you approach C so in terms of energy storage and mass of the vehicle (which effects acceleration) you get into trouble quite quickly..
It does, but you can still get well into the range of serious time dilation in a reasonable time frame.
At least I'm pretty sure that's the case. I don't claim to be an expert on the matter.
--------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lou FCD
Posts: 2400 Joined: Jan. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 15 2008,10:41
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We begin to stray from UD here, but I would like to see an expert (a little help, heddle?) chime in here, if for no other reason than curiosity.
Also, there's a web calucator here, though it's just some website and I have no idea if it's accurate.
-------------- Expelled Exposed
To be bored to tears by a crazy guy, call Lou @ 555-CHCB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richardthughes
Posts: 4692 Joined: Jan. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 15 2008,10:42
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You need fuel to accelerate which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it which requires more fuel to accelerate it which requires more mass to store it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
oldmanintheskydidntdoit
Posts: 1969 Joined: July 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 15 2008,10:44
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I believe that's the big deal about the new "ion thrusters" or whatever they are called, for sats. Very very small amount of acceleration but it's constant over a very long time and so builds up and eventually is faster then the old style "chuck some exploding chemicals out the back" option :)
I Am Not A Space Scientist However :-)
-------------- "I've made the mistake in the past of making grandiose claims that I could not back up and I'm beginning to see the error of my ways." Daniel Smith
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
-------------- "Richardthughes, you magnificent bastard, I stand in awe of you..." : Arden Chatfield
"You magnificent bastard! " : Louis
"ATBC poster child", "I have to agree with Rich.." : DaveTard
"I bow to your superior skills" : deadman_932
"...it was Richardthughes making me lie in bed.." : Kristine
|