A spaceship with a thruster - one body, one force
Physics Education
2008-06-11 v1
Abstract
A spaceship with one thruster producing a constant magnitude force is analyzed for various initial conditions. This elementary problem, with one object acted upon by one force, has value as a challenge to one's physical intuition and in demonstrating the benefits and limitations of dimensional analysis. In addition, the problem can serve to introduce a student to special functions, provide a mechanical model for Fresnel integrals and the associated Cornu spiral, or be used as an example in a numerical methods course. The problem has some interesting and perhaps unexpected features.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.physics/0406150,
title = {A spaceship with a thruster - one body, one force},
author = {Scott C. Dudley and Mario A. Serna},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0406150},
year = {2008}
}
Comments
8 pages, 12 figures. Submitted to the American Journal of Physics. After it is published, it will be found at http://scitation.aip.org/ajp