- #1
msat
- 8
- 1
Hello,
I've been trying to wrap my head around this topic and came across such a thread here: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/propulsive-efficiency.643646/ but still don't get it. Why is it that that accelerating one unit of mass by two units less efficient than accelerating two units of mass by one unit? Are the energy requirements non-linear as compressibility effects of a gas come into play? Or is it less efficient to extract work from a compressed gas? Otherwise, from my understanding of Newton's laws of force and motion state there should be no difference. What am I missing?
Thanks,
Mark
I've been trying to wrap my head around this topic and came across such a thread here: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/propulsive-efficiency.643646/ but still don't get it. Why is it that that accelerating one unit of mass by two units less efficient than accelerating two units of mass by one unit? Are the energy requirements non-linear as compressibility effects of a gas come into play? Or is it less efficient to extract work from a compressed gas? Otherwise, from my understanding of Newton's laws of force and motion state there should be no difference. What am I missing?
Thanks,
Mark