> Gravity is now 50% stronger than normal. Running is nearly impossible and many people can’t walk. Nothing can fly, including all airplanes.
That seems quite surprising. This says that no airplane can lift more than half its own empty weight? For baloons and zeppelins I guess that sounds reasonable, but cargo planes or jets should be able to lift more, right?
Also, at that point air density should be effected, which should give more lift.
You are correct. Nearly all aircraft are structurally capable of withstanding 2g maneuvers[1]. This doesn't automatically imply sustained flight, as the induced drag from the high angle of attack may eventually overwhelm a marginal powerplant, but pretty much any aerobatic, commercial, or military craft should be perfectly capable of flight.
The density increase will increase lift, yes, but also drag which is the main enemy. Wings are more efficient at lower angles of attack, so that will improve. The other types of drag will mostly cancel out.
>9PM: Our golf ball weighs about as much as a blue whale. It is now super-mammalian.
>10PM: It weighs more than the Space Shuttle maximum payload.
>11PM: It weighs more than the Space Station
>12AM: It weighs more than the Space Shuttle with payload.
I don't know what's more interesting, that the space shuttle can boost a blue whale into orbit or that we could boost the mass equivalent of the ISS station into orbit with one launch
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[ 3.8 ms ] story [ 32.0 ms ] threadSpeak for yourself bro. flexes noodley web developer arm
These kinds of questions are fun. Very much in the spirit of XKCD’s “what if?” series.
That seems quite surprising. This says that no airplane can lift more than half its own empty weight? For baloons and zeppelins I guess that sounds reasonable, but cargo planes or jets should be able to lift more, right?
Also, at that point air density should be effected, which should give more lift.
The density increase will increase lift, yes, but also drag which is the main enemy. Wings are more efficient at lower angles of attack, so that will improve. The other types of drag will mostly cancel out.
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Load_factor_(aeronautics)#Desi...
>10PM: It weighs more than the Space Shuttle maximum payload.
>11PM: It weighs more than the Space Station
>12AM: It weighs more than the Space Shuttle with payload.
I don't know what's more interesting, that the space shuttle can boost a blue whale into orbit or that we could boost the mass equivalent of the ISS station into orbit with one launch