Re: Best choice of FTL fuel?

nuny@xxxxxxx wrote:

On Jul 27, 3:25 pm, David Johnston <da...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:23:32 +0200, Peter Knutsen

<pe...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
And what about molecule size? I have the impression that hydrogen molecules are
somewhat of an escape artist, so helium should be worse. Or is that only when it
is stored in gas state?
Hydrogen is only an escape artist when it isn't combined with
something, and it combines with things with great alacrity, unlike
helium. But helium is obviously more massive and easier to hold on to
in itself.

Get it cold enough and it goes superfluid and crawls out of
containers.

Since the critical temperature is below even the cosmic background temperature -- i.e., really, really cold -- it's not likely there would ever be a practical necessity for this unless the superfluid state were actually desired.

--
Erik Max Francis && max@xxxxxxxxxxx && http://www.alcyone.com/max/
San Jose, CA, USA && 37 18 N 121 57 W && AIM, Y!M erikmaxfrancis
So little time, so little to do.
-- Oscar Levant
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Helium
    ... Helium in liquid state has many interesting properties,like defying ... In its gas state one would think its lifting power would be a ... Helium is a tricky gas. ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Best choice of FTL fuel?
    ... so helium should be worse. ... is stored in gas state? ... ever be a practical necessity for this unless the superfluid state were ...
    (rec.arts.sf.science)
  • Re: Best choice of FTL fuel?
    ... so helium should be worse. ... Or is that only when it is stored in gas state? ... Also in terms of gas giants? ...
    (rec.arts.sf.science)
  • Re: Best choice of FTL fuel?
    ... so helium should be worse. ... is stored in gas state? ... Mark L. Fergerson ...
    (rec.arts.sf.science)