direct questions to Frank at JPL :)

alistair

On 2012-03-25, at 10:00 AM, Mike S wrote:

> On 3/25/2012 12:34 PM, Alistair Bell wrote:
>> Work done is torque applied for unit time.
> 
> No. Work requires movement. No matter how long and hard you push something, unless you move it, you haven't done any work. Work is force x distance. Time has nothing to do with it. Power is the rate work is done, work/time.
> 
>> Minimal torque situation...
> 
> You then go on to build an entire, lengthy, case based on that incorrect proposition. I suspect energy (basically, accumulated work) is more closely related to engine life than some force x time factor. And power is invariant through a transmission (excepting frictional losses).
> 
> Can you cite references to back up your claim that "the useable lifetime...is related primarily to the total work generated," especially if you use your definition of work as force X time?