The Magic Trick in Space Travel | Oberth Effect

Here we explore the Oberth Effect... a way for rockets to gain much more kinetic energy using a fixed amount of propellant. We find that objects in motion gain larger amounts of kinetic energy for a fixed impulse. No conservation laws are violated by this when considering the entire system (fuel + rocket) Enjoy :3
Music!
Fesliyan Studios - Tranquility
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[@MihaiNicaMath]

Nice video! The key thing that helped me understand the Oberth Effect is that rocket engines are "momentum-based" i.e. they impart a fixed amount of impulse as you said in the video. This is the reason that (at least for me) when you look at the KE its a bit counterintutive.

[@madaydude_physics]

Thanks Mihai, glad you enjoyed, indeed the Oberth effect can seem counterintuitive at first until realizing the implications that the fixed impulse applies to both the rocket and the fuel, leading to a fixed change in the mechanical energy for the entire system, regardless of the velocity beforehand, as we prove. Cool stuff!

[@davideperego8287]

I played around for some times with orbital mechanics, and I also have spent some time in games like KSP and some similar, so It was intuitive for me that a burn at the periapsis was more efficient for gaining velocity, but I have never seen a mathematical proof of that and I always took it for granted, so I really liked this explanation that finally made me fully understand this

[@madaydude_physics]

Excellent, glad to hear this locked that understanding in :3

[@captaincool2027]

Before watching this video, I was wondering why there is a higher energy difference for velocity changes when you are moving at different speeds. But thanks to this video I now understand that if you look at the whole system there is no difference.

[@madaydude_physics]

Excellent!