Talk:Specific impulse

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but,

What is the font used in the images? Mozziedoo (talk) 02:51, 6 February 2014 (CST)

Are you talking about the formulas, because they are rendered automatically by the MediaWiki software. Unfortunately I can't really give you a better explanation, but you might want to check Help:Displaying a formula on the Wikipedia. — xZise [talk] 10:09, 6 February 2014 (CST)

Suggestion

I did some math, and I_sp before being divided by g_0 is equal to the exhaust speed (v_e) used in Tsiolkovsky rocket equation. The same is said in wikipedia. Is it still true in KSP? Can I edit this information into the article? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sirplentifus (talk • contribs) 14:17, 18 April 2014‎ (UTC)

“

Although the unit of the specific impulse is a velocity it is lower than the exhaust speed usually, because some of the fuel consumed isn't used for propelling directly, but runs the turbopumps to fuel the engine.

”

Though I'm not a rocket scientist, so this might not be correct. — xZise [talk] 11:26, 18 April 2014 (CDT)

I don't know much about that, but if you manipulate the first formula for I_sp in the article, you get that it is equal to the exhaust speed in Tsiolkovsky's equation. I_sp = (m*dv/dt)/(dm/dt) = (m*dv)/(dm)=dv*(m/dm) <=> dv = I_sp*(dm/m). Integrating you get: delta_v = I_sp*ln(m_final/m_initial). This is the Rocket Equation with I_sp instead of v_e, which would suggest that, at least in KSP, I_sp (without being multiplied by g_0) is equal to the exhaust speed...