3 ms·
Actually wouldn't it be the other way around with gravity? Higher gravity would make planes less practical while airships don't care because their lift comes f
by Pxtl 5y ago
Actually wouldn't it be the other way around with gravity? Higher gravity would make planes less practical while airships don't care because their lift comes from buoyancy that scales with gravity.
That said, thicker air would also mean more lift from wings, wouldn't it? And more drag for the massive cross-section of an airship.
- Sharlin 5y agoTwo thirds the gravity, so thicker air and less gravity is what I meant. Gravity doesn't affect buoyancy, but it does affect the weight of the payload. Lower gravity means you lift more stuff with the same buoyant mass, right? And yeah, thicker air would mean more drag, but also more thrust from the engines.
- Pxtl 5y agoWouldn't gravity affect buoyancy? Since buoyancy is caused by the heavier substance flowing under the lighter substance and pushing it upwards, wouldn't higher gravity mean higher buoyancy, and therefore the lifting power vs payload would be a wash?