3 ms·
Yup, the scaling works the wrong way for small objects. A vacuum–zeppelin makes a lot more sense than a beach ball.
by db48x 2y ago
Yup, the scaling works the wrong way for small objects. A vacuum–zeppelin makes a lot more sense than a beach ball.
- IgorPartola 2y agoExactly. That’s why a cubic meter of air is probably not the right range to look at. Something several magnitudes larger might do better.
- Terr_ 2y agoLikely, but even a cubic meter is already a large step up from the scales in the book, ex: > Each aerostat in the dog pod grid was a mirror-surfaced, aerodynamic teardrop just wide enough, at its widest part, to have contained a pingpong ball. It doesn't say they aren't relying on some kind of down-thrust, but at that point I'd wager it's much easier to skip the whole marginal buoyancy part entirely. Use those conductive diamonds for an ionic thruster or something.