Most of them you can. Change one and another one will change. I’ve tried to make it work that way. I have a half done page of a more of these with some of the formulas fixed to make them easier to use.
The gravity calculation is easy, as long as you settle for Earth-units. The formula is Mass/(Radius^2)=Gravity, with Mass in Earth masses, Radius in Earth radii, and Gravity in Earth gees. If you need meters/sec multiply the result by 9.8, or as accurate as you want to take it.
I like the calculator for long planetary voyages. The relativity threw me off though. How much time passes if the ship makes a round trip? If a ship goes from Earth to Tau Ceti (about 20 ly) and back, it should take more than 12 years even if it just seems like 12 years to the crew on the ship.
You double it for round trip. The trip to Tau Ceti takes 12 years. That’s the time that passes for the crew. An observer form Earth will think that it took longer, but the crew doesn’t “seem” to take 12 years, they actually do take 12 years. It takes 12 years, or it takes more than 20 years depending on where you are standing. Time is not constant.
A calculator to figure how long it takes to get to a planet and back based on a constant acceleration on the ship can be done, but I’d have to think about it. It is probably as simple as turning the relativistic trip calculator inside out.
would have been nice to go the other way with some of these like i know the 2 lengths of time but don’t know the velocity
Most of them you can. Change one and another one will change. I’ve tried to make it work that way. I have a half done page of a more of these with some of the formulas fixed to make them easier to use.
Keith
These are fabulous! Thanks!
These look good. But what I’m looking for is a calculator that you can input the planets gravity & radius and determine the planets mass.
The gravity calculation is easy, as long as you settle for Earth-units. The formula is Mass/(Radius^2)=Gravity, with Mass in Earth masses, Radius in Earth radii, and Gravity in Earth gees. If you need meters/sec multiply the result by 9.8, or as accurate as you want to take it.
I like the calculator for long planetary voyages. The relativity threw me off though. How much time passes if the ship makes a round trip? If a ship goes from Earth to Tau Ceti (about 20 ly) and back, it should take more than 12 years even if it just seems like 12 years to the crew on the ship.
You double it for round trip. The trip to Tau Ceti takes 12 years. That’s the time that passes for the crew. An observer form Earth will think that it took longer, but the crew doesn’t “seem” to take 12 years, they actually do take 12 years. It takes 12 years, or it takes more than 20 years depending on where you are standing. Time is not constant.
A calculator to figure how long it takes to get to a planet and back based on a constant acceleration on the ship can be done, but I’d have to think about it. It is probably as simple as turning the relativistic trip calculator inside out.
Keith, I meant how old is the other twin in the twin paradox? How much time passes for the observer on Earth when his brother on the ship returns.
Just wanted to say thanks. Took me 4 hrs to find these. Although being a math idiot I think I learned some stuff trying to find it.
G®îMÅü®Å <<<<<<Hates formulas :)