a very small one.
2006-09-13 10:53:32 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Yes. The ion emitter would still kick out ions in the presence of air and the electric fields would still accelerate the ions rearward, so you will still get thrust. You may run into trouble if with the high voltages arcing through the air, but that would depend on the design of the engine. Otherwise, you might even get more thrust, since air molecules could get ionized and ejected out the back, thus increasing the expelled mass and increasing the thrust.
We don't use ion engines in the atmosphere because they aren't powerful enough for most terrestrial purposes, because fuel is plentiful (the advantage of ion engines is that they expel very little mass), and because it's so much easier, given the availability of oxygen, to use air-breathing engines.
2006-09-13 10:59:21 · answer #1 · answered by ChicagoDude 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Under current technologies, no. Ion engines have already been used on spacecraft but only in space, they still need to be launched out of the atmosphere by good ol' rocket power. The reason ion engines are used is because you get a lot more thrust for a lot less weight. There is a tradeoff though, it's gonna take a long time to get anywhere. Think of it as having a lot of horsepower but very little torque.
You can get away with that in space because gravity is low (contrary to what people may think, there is gravity in space from the sun and other planets). But in the atmosphere the ion engine won't be able to get you off the ground.
That is until ion engine technology improves.
2006-09-13 11:12:51 · answer #2 · answered by mmmodem123 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ion engine will produce the same thrust inside the earths atmosphere as in the space.
We need rockets to lift off and launch in to the space and ion engine is used to continuously accelerate to higher speed. Little thrust long time makes it to attain high speeds in the space.
2006-09-13 11:27:45 · answer #3 · answered by Dr M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try getting an ion engine that works out of the atmosphere first.
2006-09-13 10:54:48 · answer #4 · answered by Irish Eagle 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Short answer: kinda.
It would be able to fire, but the thrust is so small (thousandth's of a g) that it wouldn't move. It'd be like trying to launch a rocket powered by flashlights.
2006-09-14 18:52:55 · answer #5 · answered by Joseph Q 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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Yes, I Believe So.
(It Would Probably Be more Efficient)
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2006-09-13 10:55:11 · answer #6 · answered by Spaghetti MY 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋