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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Wed, 2 Nov 2005 15:45:17 GMT
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Viewed:
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2315 times
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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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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 gravitational field).
Engines are any device used to convert what a drive generates into usable
thrust. (See the definition of “Drives”)
“Motor” is usually a term only applied to rockets and denotes it as the primary
mode of locomotion. (e.g. rocket motor)
Boosters are any type of engine which accelerates a craft to high speeds in a
short a mount of time, usually with certain side effects (e.g. cannot be stopped
easily, only works once, must be charged up before use, etc.)
Rockets generate compressed hot gas by burning various chemicals (generating
thrust). There are two types solid fuel and liquid fuel. solid fuel rockets
simply contain compressed fuel that burns from one end up and cannot be stopped
once ignited. Liquid fueled rockets carries two or more fuels (e.g. liquid
oxygen and alcohol) which a pumped and through out the rocket and ignited at a
nozzle near the end allowing control over the reaction.
Drives are a very different beast from any of the above. They do not generate
thrust on there own they merely generate a necessary component for a crafts
engines (e.g. plasma, electricity, hot air, etc.). The craft’s engines then
convert what ever the drive generates into thrust. It can be thought of like the
pistons in a cars engine. The combustion in the piston generates kinetic energy
which the car’s engine transforms (up/down to rotation) and transfers to the
axel.
Hyperspace generators are devices that allow a craft to exist and move in an
alternate dimension where time moves faster than in our dimension.
drive of the Tardis I have no clear idea but probably distorts space and time in
our dimension to allow for travel between time frames and places.
Warp Drives never could figure these guys out. I think they are just really
big drive/engine combos that allow faster that light travel for extended
periods.
Solar Sails convert ambient energy (such as light and cosmic radiation) into
kinetic energy.
Bonus!: Slipstream Warp Drives are basically Warp Drive/Hyperspace Generator
combos that allow faster than light speeds in an alternate dimension where time
moves faster.
So in short: Drives power engines. How the drive interacts with the engine is up
to the discretion and imagination of the builder.
P.S. drives are sometimes considered to be integrated into the engine,
especially for small stuff like fighters.
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Looking for a terminology clarification
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| (...) Just thought I might clarify on the warp-drive part. I think that the purpose of the warp drive is to deform (warp) space-time in such a fashion that the craft is accelerated forwards. If the space-time is compressed in an area in front of the (...) (19 years ago, 2-Nov-05, to lugnet.space, FTX)
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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 (...) (19 years ago, 2-Nov-05, to lugnet.space)
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