Re: Mass was Re: Questions (Space)

On Tue, 11 Sep 2007 09:40:39 -0700, David Harmon wrote:

On Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:43:04 -0500 in rec.arts.sf.composition, Ric Locke
<warlocke@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote,
Quibble: it's much easier to redefine "acceleration" as "add kinetic
energy", or (for short) "add energy".

Is an object in orbit undergoing constant acceleration?

Yes. So are you. It's called "gravity".

Nothing can change the magnitude /or/ direction of its velocity vector
without acceleration; that's the difference between Special and General
Relativity.

Is it constantly having kinetic energy added to it?

Yep. Of course it's always giving up kinetic energy at the same time, so
the total KE (which is a scalar, with no direction to it) remains
constant.

I think acceleration means change in velocity, not change in KE.

You think wrong.

Regards,
Ric

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