2006-08-21 08:00:10 · 5 answers · asked by richard a 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
The energy required to achieve escape velocity is needed only once. Once in orbit, there is no friction to require additional power.
2006-08-21 08:42:43 · answer #1 · answered by Samurai Hoghead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay, first of, if you're talking powered, as in battery powered, its because on the surface of the space craft, there are solar panels, which recharge the battery over time, not to mention an alternator as well.
If you're talking about fuel, its because space craft, upon reaching outer space, turn off their main engines, and as there are no interfering forces, such as gravity, resistance, pressure, the craft will just glide in that direction unless otherwise propelled, at that speed that it was travelling at.
Why we can't make our cars do the same, firstly, we don't have solar powered cars, yet. Our batteries, as long as with the alternator, will be in good condition. Why cars won't start after say, stopping with the headlights on, is because, the battery is working but not the alternator, the alternator is the one that charges the battery. So the battery is continously drained, without recharge, and hence, it dies.
Secondly, our vehicle runs on fuel, similar to that of a space craft, whats no similar is that, they can glide through space, we have to fight gravity (the weight of the vehicle itself), ground resistance (Tyre traction), and air resistance, and thus, it gets very hard for our vehicles to stay powered
2006-08-23 09:48:58 · answer #2 · answered by Jeremy Lee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Space travel has the benefits of no gravity, no friction with the road, no wind resistance. In a true vacuum, if you push something once it'll just keep going and with no interference it will never slow down or stop.
Solar power is a more effective power source in space as well - no atmosphere to filter out sunlight.
2006-08-21 15:13:00 · answer #3 · answered by lepninja 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
U use a battery and gas which adventurously have 2 be bought again but something in space lets say a satellite it has solerpanles which make energy for it 2 do whatever it does
2006-08-21 17:02:21 · answer #4 · answered by shanebrunet 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my car is powered fine thank you. no fuel is used in space duh
2006-08-21 15:25:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋