Re: [Spaceships] simply fuel math...
 

If you want
The formula in the second case is -20 * ln( 1 - 0.05* nTanks ).

Re: [Spaceships] simply fuel math...
 

As long as we're at it, I became idly curious about the RAW multipliers for tanks to e-tanks. So here's a table using Anthony's formula, with a column to convert that to a multiplier. Pick your own nTank ranges for 1.2, 1.5, or other rounded values that you like.

Re: [Spaceships] simply fuel math...
 

Just out of idle curiosity...

Would the formula for Realistic Delta-V from TRANSHUMAN SPACE apply here?

Presumably, each of the elements has a given weight (5% of the total mass) and consequently, the fuel mass would be equal to 5% per tank, and if using smaller SM tanks, each SM-1 tank relative to the overall SM of the ship, would add 1/3 of 5% or 1.67% per tank at the smaller size.

The only thing missing is the ISP for the fuel, but - I suspect that can be reverse engineered from the Delta-V values given with the original rules.

Just thinking aloud (so to speak).

Re: [Spaceships] simply fuel math...
 

I believe the realistic dV formula was the rocket equation presented above, and hidden behind the table in Spaceships, except Spaceships abstracts the choice of fuels to a somewhat generic representation and a limited set of mass ratios so it doesn't have to deal with individual Isp (shut up iPad, Isp is capitalized correctly).

Re: [Spaceships] simply fuel math...
 

Always good to know about the abstraction aspect. I find it mildly interesting that the Delta-V formulas do not give a value of 1 for 1 tank. But, if I work it out (which I'm doing to do now... <after a pause>

Unless I messed up?

Formula for Delta-V is .003 x Isp x Ln(Loaded Mass/Dry Mass)

Solving for ISP when you know Delta-V

Isp = Delta-V/.003/Ln(Loaded Mass/Dry Mass).

I got an Isp of 974.79 for Rocket Fuels that grant .15 MPS per single tank.

I used a SM:9 hull of 3,000 tons, with one fuel tank worth 5% of the mass for the hull. I probably could have gotten the same results using Ln(1/.95) as I did for using a mass of 3000 and a dry mass of .95*3000.

Seems kind of high to me that the Isp is that high.

I'm tired and maybe I didn't do the math right. Double check?

Re: [Spaceships] simply fuel math...
 

Formula for delta-V is ISp * ln( loaded/dry ). However, if ISp and delta-V are not in the same units, you need a conversion factor. ISp has historically been described in pound-seconds per pound (where the first pound is a lb force, the second pound is a lb mass), or just Seconds.

The conversion from Seconds to mps is ~0.0061 mps/Second, I don't know where you're getting 0.003 from.

Re: [Spaceships] simply fuel math...
 

From page 189 of TRANSHUMAN SPACE that reads under the heading of "Realistic Delta-V"

"For more realism, use this formula: Delta-V (in mps) = 0.003 ´ ISP ´ ln [Loaded Mass (in tons)/Dry Mass (in tons)]. The symbol “ln” means “natural logarithm”; a natural logarithm key, marked “ln,” can be found on most calculators."

My guess is that the .003 is a conversion factor required for translating the normal units Isp is given as, into mps values.

THS lists Oxygen/Kerosene as having an ISP of 514 - which is better than the other chemical rocket Isp values. I guess that's why I wondered at the calculated 974.79 value.

Granted, I only used ONE fuel tank for the calculations, but then again, one fuel tank's worth of Delta-V was given in GURPS SPACESHIPS, which seemed to me that I was talking Apples to Apples here. THS uses Delta-V in mps units, just like GURPS SPACESHIPS does.

Re: [Spaceships] simply fuel math...
 

Huh. That looks like errata territory.
Or there could be multiple competing errors. LOx/Kerosene has an Isp of 304. This may be an artifact of GURPS Vehicles attempting to simplify math by giving fuel consumption based on some theoretical average use rather than operating at 100% of design power.

Re: [Spaceships] simply fuel math...
 

...Which amounts to g-seconds, but who's bothering with actually communicating well? Apparently not historical American-units rocket scientists.

Re: [Spaceships] simply fuel math...
 

Just above that box on p. 189 of Transhuman Space, we have:

That "half" is why it's 0.003 and not 0.006.