Re: superhero space navigation

On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:20:35 -0500, Tim Little
<tim@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>On 2008-04-07, Leonard Erickson <shadow@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> Don't suppose there are any formulas for distance as a function of
>> surge, are there? 
>>
>> A = S*T 
>> V= 0.5*S*T^2
>> D= k*s*T^3  ???
>
>With k = 1/6, yes.
>
>Hmm, does this imply that once the super gets to 10g acceleration, it
>may take them quite some time just to decrease acceleration to 0?  And
>then have to slowly ramp up deceleration, and then back to 0 at the
>destination?
>
>That could make maneuvering and rendezvous quite a lot more difficult.

I expect that constant accel is doable just as constant velocity is
(othewise in atmosphere flying is a pain).

But having a restriction on how fast accel can be ramped up "feels
right". Avoids "problems" like being able to get out of trouble by
"instantly" taking off at 100 or more gees.

>> Of course I'd probably run into *nasty* relativistic effects on
>> flights beyond Mars or so if I go that route.
>
>I would expect so, and the energy requirement does seem a little
>extreme.  (Assuming any conservation laws hold at all, which is
>probably not the case)

Well, reactionless drives (which the flight power obviously qualifies
as) do cause some problems with conservation of momentum and energy.