Flying R2D2 needs a physics lesson

Cory Doctorow 9:05 am Thu Jan 21, 2010

Over on the DotPhysics blog, Rhett Allain confronts the technical impossibility presented by the flying R2D2 as depicted in the prequel trilogy. This is what physics degrees are for:

If I assume that R2 is flying horizontally at a constant velocity, and the the "thrust" is at an angle theta from the vertical then:

I guess I should say I am using g as the local gravitational field for whatever planet he (R2) is on. Is R2 even a he? Maybe R2 is a she. I don't know. The point is that the vertical component of the thrust must equal the vertical component of the gravitational force. So what you say?

Flying R2-D2, you are doing it wrong

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