Editing 1356: Orbital Mechanics
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Potentially complete, does not duplicate content that can be learned elsewhere}} | |
− | + | Here Randall roughly plots how high school physics, undergraduate-level physics and a job at {{w|NASA}} somewhat increased his knowledge of {{w|orbital mechanics}}. But this learning (and some fading away of the learning, through non-use) was apparently nothing compared to the "direct" experience of playing with {{w|Kerbal Space Program}}, a rocket building and piloting {{w|open world|sandbox game}}. | |
− | + | Orbital mechanics can be somewhat counterintuitive. The art of changing orbits involves relative velocities, positions, and times in complex interactions. As soon as you try deviating from a perfectly regular orbit, or start having to deal with {{w|N-body problem}}s and {{w|orbital resonances}}, you have to coordinate your movements in possibly counterintuitive ways. It's no longer a matter of just pointing where you want to go (the events in the film {{w|Gravity (film)|Gravity}} notwithstanding) and hoping for the best. | |
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+ | The title text describes learning by osmosis while undertaking ostensibly unrelated work at NASA. It's a bit of understatement, as if you might not realize that people at NASA tend to talk about space a lot. | ||
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+ | See also: | ||
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+ | * [[1244: Six Words]] ("it works in Kerbal Space Program" it is not good argument for NASA) | ||
+ | * [[1106: ADD]] ("land a rocket on the moon in Kerbal Space Program" was a task finished) | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
+ | {{incomplete transcript}} | ||
:How Well I Understand Orbital Mechanics: | :How Well I Understand Orbital Mechanics: | ||
− | :[There is a graph with the | + | :[There is a graph with the X-axis labeled as 'time' increasing in the positive X. The Y-axis is unlabeled but it can be assumed that it could be labeled 'understanding'. The line stays flat until the first bump, which is annotated "Took High School Physics". The line decreases, then grows to a higher maximum with the annotation "Got Physics Degree". There is a small amount of decrease until a gradual bump in the graph labeled "Actual Job At NASA". It gradually decreases to pre-NASA levels, but then begins to increase exponentially. The annotation reads "Started Playing Kerbal Space Program".] |
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Charts]] |
[[Category:Space]] | [[Category:Space]] | ||
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Video games]] |