MovieChat Forums > The Angry Red Planet (1959) Discussion > Science question

Science question

posted 11 years ago by sonofagun
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A question for all you science types: The girl says that they traveled using constant one G rockets (constant acceleration) and you have to give the film makers credit for this. This explains how they had normal "gravity" aboard the ship for the trip. Now the trip took about 47 days according to the chronometer on board the ship. Assuming the ship experienced constant one G acceleration for the first half of the trip to Mars (23.5 days; they would reverse the process to slow down at one G for the second half - another 23.5 days), calculate how far they would have traveled. See if your figures agree with what I have gotten.

Oh and please show how you arrived at your answer.

[–] BigAl42 11 years ago

Using Newtons second equation of motion, S=ut+1/2at squared, where s= distance, t= time (seconds), a= acceleration (m/sec squared).

ut can be ignored assuming initial velocity is zero
t = 23.5 days or 2,030,400 seconds
a = 9.81m/sec squared

So, distance = (9.81 x 2,030,400)squared divided by 2

Which is 198,367,823,700km or
123,979,889,800 miles of acceleration, followed by equal deceleration giving a total distance of 247,959,779,600 miles. Give or take a bit...

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[–] sonofagun 11 years ago

Great - thanks. I got about 1/10 the distance but your calculations seem correct (I better recheck mine) - in either case seems a bit (!) far for a voyage to Mars so looks like a major goof by the film makers - wonder how they let that one happen!

I know it ain't a straight shot to Mars but almost 250 billion miles????

Now I'm curious as to what would be the optimum distance and travel time as well as the least optimum. From what I recall, it would take several months at least depending greatly on propulsion systems and orbital relations.

Ahh, here we go: http://www.astronomycafe.net/qadir/q2811.html