Subject:
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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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Wed, 2 Nov 2005 13:38:33 GMT
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Viewed:
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2146 times
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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 years of
reading SF, I confused him even more by adding terms like thruster,
booster and rocket.
a conversation like:
Harry: "My ship has an ION engine"
Me: "You mean an ION drive"
Harry: "Why?"
Me: "mmmmm dunno. sounds better :)"
hhmm. Looks like some expert advice is needed, so I am putting the
question to .space
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?
-Rob A>
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Looking for a terminology clarification
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| (...) Ok, I certainly don't claim to be any expert but....... Thrusters are small thrust generating devices of any type that are used to change direction or to be used when no other mode of propulsion is available/appropriate (e.g. in a planets (...) (19 years ago, 2-Nov-05, to lugnet.space, FTX)
| | | Re: Looking for a terminology clarification
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| (...) 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 (...) (19 years ago, 3-Nov-05, to lugnet.space)
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