Physically correct?

[KillPinguin]

I was just wondering if the Theory of relativity is used in Kerbal space program.

With a velocity that exceeds 10% of c (the speed of light = 300.000km/s ) you would have to use the mass dilatation formula.

I think big rockets in KSP can reach this speed, and so they should get heavier, resulting in a lower acceleration.

I did not see anything of this using MechJeb to control the values.

So if anyone could answer me this, it would be great.

Thanks in advance,

a little Kerbal Physician.

[Specialist290]

I've never tested it myself, but from what others have said in the past about their own tests, KSP follows classical Newtonian physics rather than relativistic ones. There's no mass or time dilation.

[SuperBigD60]

it doesn't sound like the devs like Relativity as far as it concerns their game, if Scott Manley's interview is anything to go by.

So I suspect that Relativistic effects are not a thing in KSP

[LordOfTheOrbits]

Relativistic effects would be kinda useless, because it's impossible to even reach those speeds unless you are cheating.

[Kasuha]

I'm pretty sure KSP does not simulate any relativistic effects, it's all pure newtonian physics simulation.

[Dispatcher]

Since the game is limited to a solar system wherein reasonable travel times are had using chemical propulsion, it would seem like adding relativistic effects would entail a lot of extra work that Squad would want to avoid.

[Superfluous J]

Extra work with no benefit, or work on things we'll see and can use?

I'll take The Claw and stronger joints, thank you very much.

[Claw]

I'll take The Claw...

I'm already here!

[Xavven]

Hm, I think the relativistic effects would be too small to have a noticeable effect on gameplay.

[Anton P. Nym]

As others point out, there's no detectable difference between Newtonian and Relativistic physics at the speeds obtainable in KSP. Getting to 10%c requires 30 000 000 m/s delta-V; thassa one spicy mighty big rocket. (I didn't even get there using the Orion nuclear pulse engine mod, which is the best candidate... though admittedly I wasn't doing speed trials with it, but rather heavy lifting.)

-- Steve

[Supernovy]

Plus, at 10% the speed of light, γ = 1.0050, so you'd only experience half a percent of time dilation or length contraction.

[Lukaszenko]

As others have pointed out, the effects are insignificant without cheating. Even if they were taken into account, I'm sure any calculation errors present in the game would drown them out by many orders of magnitude.