What does KT really mean??

[rdouglass]

Hey guys, we're NOT talking about weight here, but rather MASS. Weight only is a measure of FORCE. In other words, in different gravities, the same mass weights differently. In fact, if you could measure it precisely, you weigh less on top of a mountain than you do at sea level. The gravity changes as you move further from the "center" of the planet (or body). I know some of you are going to get me 'cause this doesn't keep its accuracy once you get below the surface - the gravity changes based on a complex mathematical formula.

Reguardless, the displacement of water on a ship has to do with WEIGHT and not mass. In space, they don't "displace" a vaccum. Rather the mass is an absolute. And based on Newtonian physics (that's the one I use), the force needed to move an object has to do with MASS and other forces and nothing to do with WEIGHT. Someone else said it more elegantly than me earlier, but that is the bottom line.

Peersonally, I think the size of the ships in kT's has to do with how strong the actual hull is and not it's size. Theoretically, you could attach infinite components to a structure in space (there is no WEIGHT). However moving the object would / could require tremendous sheer strength by the structure to hold them all together while accelerating (which is what engines do).

[This message has been edited by rdouglass (edited 19 January 2001).]

[Kimball]

quote:

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Originally posted by rdouglass:
The gravity changes as you move further from the "center" of the planet (or body). I know some of you are going to get me 'cause this doesn't keep its accuracy once you get below the surface - the gravity changes based on a complex mathematical formula.

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The formula to which you refer is

F=G*M1*M2/R^2

G = Universal Graviation Constant (6.67E-11 m^3/(s^2*kg, or 3.32E-11 lbf*ft^2/lbm^2)
M1 = mass of object 1 (kg or lbm)
M2 = mass of object 2 (kg or lbm)
R = distance between the center of mass of each(m or ft)

I beleive this formula holds true even below the surface of the earth since is measures the distance between the centers of mass. In the english engineering system of units, mass is measured in lbm in lieu of slugs. Therefore 1 lbm is numerically equal to 1 lbf. There are 32.174 lbm in one slug. There is also a funny conVersion factor, gc = 32.174 (ft-lbm)/(lbf-s^2).

This is why 1 lbm is equal to 1 lbf. F=ma, from Newton's second law of motion. In the English Engineering system, we introduce that funny little gc into the equation, F=ma/gc (a=the acceleration of gravity, 32.174 ft/s^2 on earth at sea level)

so

1 lbf = (1 lbm)*(32.174 ft/s^2)/(32.174 ft-lbm/lbf-s^2)

1 = 1

We engineers is weird.

[Steve A]

quote:

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Originally posted by Kimball:
[b] The formula to which you refer is

F=G*M1*M2/R^2

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If anyone really cares, this formula is not applicable to all cases.

This formula assumes that the masses are point sources and is usually good enought to use in the real world. With spherical bodies, such as planets, it is an exact solution and force changes in proportion to 1/r^2, as long as the the masses do not intersect. Once M1 goes below the surface of M2, the force changes proportional to r (i.e. it decreases).

The result is that for someone standing on the surface of a sphere, gravitational force is maximized. The force decreases as you move away (1/r^2), and the force decreases as you go deeper ( r). At the center of the earth, you would experience 0 gravitational force.

There are also higher order effects since real planets are not perfectly spherical nor completely solid. These cause tides and precession of satellite orbits.

That geeky enough for you?

Steve

[Kimball]

Quite true. But this is a topic more suited for a freshman physics class, not a game board.

"Right, then, we'll call it a draw."
-Black Knight

[tictoc]

So, is there an agreement that 'Kt' means 'Kilo Tons' then?

tic

[Kimball]

I take Kilo Tons to mean 1000 tons (US). Then again, it's just a unit of measure for the game.

[Lindan]

Over in the CM forum 'KT' is universally accepted as the abbreviation for 'King Tiger'.
Problem solved.



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