Subject:
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Re: Looking for a terminology clarification
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.space
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Date:
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Thu, 3 Nov 2005 02:27:19 GMT
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Viewed:
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2408 times
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In lugnet.space, Rob Antonishen <rob.antonishen@gmail.com> wrote:
> "What is the difference between a drive and an engine"
Drive is the theory used to move through space. Engine is the technology used to
implement the theory. The engines changes as technology increases, but the
drives only change as theory/knowledge increases.
Few people keep up with which engine they are using, that's why cars are still
'driven' no matter what engine is inside.
> Can anyone clarify (or at least take sides :) on the differences
> between drives, engines, (systems?) thrusters, boosters, rockets,
> motors(?) and any other propulsion devices that may move things about
> space. Extra points for non-thrust creation "technologies" like Warp
> (drives?) the drive (engine?) of the Tardis, and the hyperspace
> generators (?). How about a solar sail?
drives - methods of propulsion
engines - systems to implement methods of propulsion
systems - things that break down at the worst possible moment
thrusters, boosters, rockets - all use newtonian physics to move a main object
due to reaction of expelling a (usually) smaller object at (usually) faster
speeds.
motors - a vintage term originally derived from electromechanical devices to
convert energy into motion. Kept in use by nostalgia for later devices that bear
little resemblance to the original, but still convert energy into motion.
Warp - the act of 'bending' or changing the space around you. More correctly,
changing the boundry between the space you are in and the space you are not. The
space you are in becomes like an ice flow that separates from one main point,
drifts, and reconnents to another main point.
Tardis - British version of the warp drive ;>)
hyperspace generators - a device for creating extra-dimensional areas within
known space
solar sail - these use the force of the output from stars to provide motion to
an object. The exact same physics as used in wind sails. To see the effect of
the solar wind, you can look at comets as they pass near our sun. Their tails
always point away from the sun, not where they came from, due to this wind
pushing them.
Hope that helps,
Clark
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Looking for a terminology clarification
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| My 10 year old and I were building some small swooshing ships the other week, and he asked a question I didn't have a good answer for: "What is the difference between a drive and an engine" And while trying to come up with an answer based on my (...) (18 years ago, 2-Nov-05, to lugnet.space)
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