3 ms·
Suppose a 10 m/s gust of solar-wind accelerates a space-balloon from 0 m/s to 10 m/s. And suppose I want to further accelerate the balloon from 10 m/s to 20 m/s
by Double_Cast 10y ago
Suppose a 10 m/s gust of solar-wind accelerates a space-balloon from 0 m/s to 10 m/s. And suppose I want to further accelerate the balloon from 10 m/s to 20 m/s.
A second gust at 10 m/s is NOT enough to further accelerate the balloon to 20 m/s. Because the wind and the balloon are now travelling at the same speed. It follows intuitively that the second gust should contain more kinetic energy than the first gust.