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
Previously:
- R2D2 with 8 game-consoles in him – Boing Boing
- HOWTO knit an R2D2 beanie – Boing Boing
- Boing Boing: R2D2 mailboxes from the US Postal Service
- Beer barrel R2D2 sculpture – Boing Boing
- Droidel, the R2D2 dreidel – Boing Boing
- Steampunk R2-D2 tee (steampunk! steampunk! steampunk!) – Boing Boing
- Boing Boing: R2D2: Secret leader of the rebellion
- Make an R2-D2 pinhole camera out of an oatmeal box – Boing Boing
- Science-fiction science: How long could you survive inside a …
- Star Wars: The Science of Consistency – Boing Boing