Rocketry Instinct?

[tom1499]

I recently realised that the part description of the standard RCS Block mentions the (apparently recent) discovery of a third law of physics. This means that, unless kerbals RCS was developed before any rockets, kerbals built rockets, almost out of instinct. No third law means no calculating velocities and such, so can we presume our dear green friends do such things out of instinct. It would not seem out of place with their ideal characteristics for rocketry and being a pilot in general.

Discuss.

[OtherDalfite]

Well, we presume the laws of physics without thinking about it. (IE: when we refer to lazy people). They won't move unless a force acts upon them, whether it be their own will or some outside force. Probably the toughest law to grasp by pure common sense would be the first law, that an object in motion will stay in motion as we who move things are under the force of gravity, as well as surrounded by an atmosphere to slow things down.

If you came up to a child and told them that, they'd probably call you crazy and say the object would just fall down, because they haven't gotten the information about zero-friction and all that scientific knoweledge. But I don't see why Kerbals couldn't use that as an instinct, as I'm only comparing what you said to our human minds, Kerbals' could be completely rearranged.

[tom1499]

Well, we presume the laws of physics without thinking about it. (IE: when we refer to lazy people). They won't move unless a force acts upon them, whether it be their own will or some outside force. Probably the toughest law to grasp by pure common sense would be the first law, that an object in motion will stay in motion as we who move things are under the force of gravity, as well as surrounded by an atmosphere to slow things down.

If you came up to a child and told them that, they'd probably call you crazy and say the object would just fall down, because they haven't gotten the information about zero-friction and all that scientific knoweledge. But I don't see why Kerbals couldn't use that as an instinct, as I'm only comparing what you said to our human minds, Kerbals' could be completely rearranged.

True, and it fits with the 'Kerbal' style of things, in that they build rockets without any way of calculating potential energy, DeltaV, trajectories and such. However, maybe they have sort of a 'sixth sense' in rocketry and orbital mechanics.(Or is it a fifth sense, as I don’t see any ears on them )

[OtherDalfite]

True, and it fits with the 'Kerbal' style of things, in that they build rockets without any way of calculating potential energy, DeltaV, trajectories and such. However, maybe they have sort of a 'sixth sense' in rocketry and orbital mechanics.(Or is it a fifth sense, as I don’t see any ears on them )

Well, even then, we exhibit those in our minds as well. Basically rough estimates. We calculate the amount of force needed to throw a baseball 20 feet, as well as how to efficiently cut corners to save time. We also calculate trajectories as to the baseball situation (ie: arc, roll, possible catching). Since we play the Kerbals, I guess you could say our minds are one in the same.

[Guest]

Well, even then, we exhibit those in our minds as well. Basically rough estimates. We calculate the amount of force needed to throw a baseball 20 feet, as well as how to efficiently cut corners to save time. We also calculate trajectories as to the baseball situation (ie: arc, roll, possible catching). Since we play the Kerbals, I guess you could say our minds are one in the same.

I agree. There have been plenty of times I've designed a booster for a payload and thought, "OK, that ought to do it. Time for a test flight." Results land in one of three categories; "That's a lot of leftover fuel", "Good enough!", or "Oops..."

The joys of an unlimited budget!

[tom1499]

Maybe the entire basis of kerbal sucess is an infinite amount if trial and error.

[Guest]

Maybe the entire basis of kerbal sucess is an infinite amount if trial and error.

Kerbals are tenacious little buggers. And pyromaniacs.

[CalculusWarrior]

I used to shove more and more engines onto a ship in hopes that it would fly, but then I learned about delta-v and installed the Kerbal Engineer. Now, while my rockets still explode, I rarely run out of fuel. I'm definitely making progress!

[dr_jt]

Pachycephalosaurus

Edited June 6, 2013 by dr_jt