Acceleration Question

[ovka]

I know that making 1-G of acceleration equal to 10 m/s^2 makes the math alot easier, and the 0.2% difference is irrelevant for all practical purposes and usages of starship accelerations. That's the metagame perspective of starship acceleration.

My question is about the in-game perspective of starship acceleration. If a character were to read a technical manual, would the technical specs standardize on 10 m/s^2 as 1-G of acceleration, or would they defer to a standard earth gravity value of 9.80665? Would different races or interstellar governments use different values? Perhaps 10 is the Imperial standard, but the Zzorks of planet Zzorkenstein¹ use a value of 14 because their world has a higher gravity. Or perhaps the Zzork value of 14 is equal to the Imperial value of 10 due to unit of measure conversions.

¹ Do not ask me for stats for the Zzorks or the location of planet Zzorkenstein. I made them up for the sake of this example.

Thoughts?

Cheers,

Baron Ovka

 

[whulorigan]

I know that making 1-G of acceleration equal to 10 m/s^2 makes the math alot easier, and the 0.2% difference is irrelevant for all practical purposes and usages of starship accelerations. That's the metagame perspective of starship acceleration.

My question is about the in-game perspective of starship acceleration. If a character were to read a technical manual, would the technical specs standardize on 10 m/s^2 as 1-G of acceleration, or would they defer to a standard earth gravity value of 9.80665?

I have always considered that in the Imperium (at least IMTU), 1g is redefined to be exactly 10m/s². Since the Imperium seems to be using a metric system based on powers of 10, and 9.8 is very close to 10.0 anyway (and there is no particular special tie to Earth in the setting), it makes sense to me that the far future equivalent of IUPAC would make this definition. You just have to remember to adjust all of the g-values if you ever happen to be in the Terra system.

It also means you can make the very quick equivalency that 1 metric ton of "thrust" ^* = 10000 Newtons.

* - (as measured relative to a 1g field)​

 

[Spartan159]

¹ Do not ask me for stats for the Zzorks or the location of planet Zzorkenstein. I made them up for the sake of this example.

Freedom for the obviously oppressed Zzorks of Zzorkenstein! :rofl:

 

[77topaz]

¹ Do not ask me for stats for the Zzorks or the location of planet Zzorkenstein. I made them up for the sake of this example.

Freedom for the obviously oppressed Zzorks of Zzorkenstein! :rofl:

Fun fact: I once used the name "Zzorb" for a location on a map.

Also: I think the next sector I detail may include a world named "Zzorkenstein".

 

[ovka]

I have always considered that in the Imperium (at least IMTU), 1g is redefined to be exactly 10m/s2. Since the Imperium seems to be using a metric system based on powers of 10, and 9.8 is very close to 10.0 anyway (and there is no particular special tie to Earth in the setting), it makes sense to me that the far future equivalent of IUPAC would make this definition. You just have to remember to adjust all of the g-values if you ever happen to be in the Terra system.

That's what I was thinking as well.

Freedom for the obviously oppressed Zzorks of Zzorkenstein! :rofl:

LOL!

Cheers,

Baron Ovka

 

[Spartan159]

Baron Ovka, you've done it now. You've gone and discovered a new sophont species. Just wait til census gets done with you

 

[Travellerspud]

Zzorkean Anthropoid's Front Unite!

 

[77topaz]

I was working on sector data for Rim Reach Sector when I saw this thread, so, pending further notice, 0429 Rim Reach is named Zzorkenstein.

 

[ShapeShifter]

According to my Encyclopedia Calvin-et-Hobbsiana (412th Revised Edition) the Zzork homeworld was fried by the deathray scorcher of Spaceman Spiff. Thus, there is no need to provide the sophont stats for their (late) race.

As you were.

 

[77topaz]

According to my Encyclopedia Calvin-et-Hobbsiana (412th Revised Edition) the Zzork homeworld was fried by the deathray scorcher of Spaceman Spiff. Thus, there is no need to provide the sophont stats for their (late) race.

As you were.

Somehow, I doubt it. That kind of weapon is notorious for malfunctioning.

 

[ovka]

I was working on sector data for Rim Reach Sector when I saw this thread, so, pending further notice, 0429 Rim Reach is named Zzorkenstein.

LOL! I'm honored.

I have always considered that in the Imperium (at least IMTU), 1g is redefined to be exactly 10m/s2. Since the Imperium seems to be using a metric system based on powers of 10, and 9.8 is very close to 10.0 anyway (and there is no particular special tie to Earth in the setting), it makes sense to me that the far future equivalent of IUPAC would make this definition. You just have to remember to adjust all of the g-values if you ever happen to be in the Terra system.

When I was thinking about this while I was walking my dog this morning, and imagined the following scene.

"Imperial vessel ToFast, please heave-to and prepare to be borded."

Drat! It's customs. "What's the problem officer?"

"You were accelerating at 3.06 G in a 3G zone. You darn Impies think you just run the place."

"No, sir. We were only accelerating at 3G."

"Son, you're in Solomani space now. You better check your conversion ratios." :devil:

Well, at least I amused myself.

Cheers,

Baron Ovka

 

[whartung]

"Son, you're in Solomani space now. You better check your conversion ratios." :devil:

Well, at least I amused myself.

Oh, no, that was some quality work.