2007-04-05 17:25:42 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
so would it be possible to eventually get to almost the speed of light using a nuclear reactor or something like that?
2007-04-05 17:36:33 · update #1
Yes, but... As long as you can run the engine and apply acceleration, your speed will increase. But with respect to a "fixed" observer, the increase will get less and less. If one has to rely on a reaction engine to achieve acceleration, it can be shown that even a thermonuclear reactor (which we have no idea how to build) could not drive a spacecraft anywhere near the speed of light. (Has to do with something called "specific impulse.")
2007-04-05 17:49:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It wouldnt always increase in speed for it could also go at a constant speed. But even if it is accelerating as u say I doubt that it will stay that way for long because sooner or later the ship will run short of energy & if u want it to keep on accelerating for a long time u would need a massive amount of energy.
2007-04-06 04:36:43 · answer #2 · answered by MAGNETO 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, but you run out of fuel before you get going too fast. The shuttles use up more than half their fuel before they even get off the planet. You'd have to be carrying the fuel with you, and it adds to the weight you're trying to propel. And you'd need an infinite amount of fuel to reach light speed. Not a very large amount, but literally an INFINITE amount of fuel.
2007-04-06 00:38:28 · answer #3 · answered by eri 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Newton's Second Law - Acceleration
The change of velocity (acceleration) of a body is directly proportional to the force applied and in the direction of the force and inversely proportional to the mass of the body.
This applies to speed up or slow down or change direction.
Apply more force, you accelerate. The Astronauts exceeded 35,000 miles per hour as they traveled to the Moon.
2007-04-06 00:30:08 · answer #4 · answered by Stratman 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Everything in space travels at a similar speed... The space ship needs to keep it's engines burning, so that it can propel it in the direction you want it to go. Otherwise, it would be in constant free fall (orbit/lack of gravity), and it would just stay the same distance away from anything.
2007-04-06 00:34:05 · answer #5 · answered by jaaaaaaaa 2 · 1⤊ 4⤋
No, it won't. Objects retain their mass, even in space. Gravity affects an object's weight, but not its mass. So, the engines are pushing against the mass of the spaceship. The engines have a limited amount of thrust. Whenever an equilibrium is reached between the thrust of the engines and the mass of the object, acceleration will cease and the speed will remain constant.
2007-04-06 00:38:02 · answer #6 · answered by cool_breeze_2444 6 · 2⤊ 5⤋
well, if you had an infinite amount of fuel, yes.
2007-04-06 06:30:41 · answer #7 · answered by neutron 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
not really! an object going thru space travels at 25,000 mph. dont matter what it is or how fast it started out!
2007-04-06 00:31:58 · answer #8 · answered by lizzy2001 2 · 1⤊ 7⤋