4 ms·
can someone explain: >They’re also the most efficient type of space propulsion, maxing out around 80% efficiency. The most powerful use about 100 kW of power
by logicallee 9y ago
can someone explain:
>They’re also the most efficient type of space propulsion, maxing out around 80% efficiency. The most powerful use about 100 kW of power and are capable of generating about 5N of force (about 1 pound).
How can 80% efficiency get you just 1 pound of force if you put in 100 kW of power? This seems many orders of magnitude off!
- taneq 9y agoDepends how fast you're going. 100kW input power at 80% efficiency = 80kW output power. P = F * V 80,000W = 5N * V m/s V = 16,000m/s
- logicallee 9y agoWhat is 16,000 m/s in this example? (For what we're discussing.) I don't recognize that constant...
- opwieurposiu 9y ago16,000 m/s is the speed of the argon as it exits the ion thruster.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]