"The power/movement curve" Topic
8 Posts
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| gamer1 | 10 Nov 2009 8:39 p.m. PST |
Okay heres one for some folks alot smarter then me. How step is the power curve for continuing to accelerate toward the speed of light.
The way I understand it is the closer you get to the speed of light the more power you need to continue to accelerate to infinity, but is that a consistant curve or is it like gradule to a point then it starts getting alot steper. ie is it gradule to say half the speed of light and then takes a sharp turn upward? Anyway you guys get the idea of the question. Thanks,
Travis |
| jizbrand | 10 Nov 2009 10:22 p.m. PST |
It's an exponential curve. The faster you go, the more energy it takes to go faster. So that, to actually reach the speed of light, it would take more energy than in the entire universe. Add in the time dilation effect and, even if you could achieve the speed of light by simple, constant acceleration, the universe outside your vessel would have died. |
| Lampyridae | 10 Nov 2009 10:45 p.m. PST |
Not to mention the fuel required. If you have chemical engines, you need something like more than the mass of the entire universe just to get to half the speed of light. With pure antimatter and total thrust conversion, you could get to a good chunk of lightspeed (0.9c) with 50% of your mass as fuel. 90% if you actually want to slow down again. |
| tchristney | 11 Nov 2009 12:17 a.m. PST |
The reason you need more energy is that as you add more kinetic energy to the body its mass increases according to the equation m = m_0 / sqrt( 1 – (v/c)^2 ). So as v approaches c (the speed of light) the mass, m, becomes incredibly large, approaching infinity. picture Not the greatest image, but you hopefully get the idea. |
| gamer1 | 11 Nov 2009 7:38 a.m. PST |
Okay thanks guys, I knew there was some one smarter then me that would know this. So if I am seeing tchristney's graph right the curve is realativly gradual until you start getting to like 85-90 speed of light then it takes an extremly step upward spike to infinity:) Travis |
| cosmicbank | 11 Nov 2009 8:07 a.m. PST |
I think it depends on the 2D6 dice roll. |
| geekygamer | 12 Nov 2009 12:33 a.m. PST |
However, you must account for the speed at which you roll them since the faster they are moving the greater their mass will increase. |
| Sergeant Crunch | 13 Nov 2009 8:14 a.m. PST |
Of course, Handwavium alters this curve any amount desired. |
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paints a surplus combat car.
