What does specific impulse mean?
Definitions for specific impulse
spe·cif·ic impulse
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word specific impulse.
Wiktionary
specific impulsenoun
The ratio of the thrust produced by a rocket or other jet engine to the rate of use of propellant.
Wikidata
Specific impulse
Specific impulse is a way to describe the efficiency of rocket and jet engines. It represents the force with respect to the amount of propellant used per unit time. If the "amount" of propellant is given in terms of mass, then specific impulse has units of velocity. If it is given in terms of weight, then specific impulse has units of time. The conversion constant between the two versions of specific impulse is g. The higher the specific impulse, the lower the propellant flow rate required for a given thrust, and in the case of a rocket the less propellant is needed for a given delta-v per the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation. The actual exhaust velocity is the average speed that the exhaust jet actually leaves the vehicle with. The effective exhaust velocity is the exhaust velocity that would be required to produce the same thrust in a vacuum. The two are identical for an ideal rocket working in a vacuum, but are radically different for an air-breathing jet engine that obtains extra thrust by accelerating air. Specific impulse and effective exhaust velocity are proportional. Specific impulse is a useful value to compare engines, much like miles per gallon or liters per 100 kilometers is used for cars. A propulsion method with a higher specific impulse is more propellant-efficient. Another number that measures the same thing, usually used for air breathing jet engines, is specific fuel consumption. Specific fuel consumption is inversely proportional to specific impulse and effective exhaust velocity.
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of specific impulse in Chaldean Numerology is: 8
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of specific impulse in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
Translations for specific impulse
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"specific impulse." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/specific+impulse>.
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