Re: A maximum possible acceleration?

[LUDWIK KOWALSKI <KOWALSKIL@alpha.montclair.edu>]

> Date: Sat, 29 Nov 1997 09:50:56 -0600
> From: brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
> Subject: Re: A maximum possible acceleration ?
>
> There is an answer as to a limiting value of x'' which you will find
> disappointing:
> for people exploring the possibility of storing energy in flywheels,
> it is convenient to refer to a figure of merit which is applicable
> to a particular material; this figure capsulates the maximal rotational 
> rate before a given wheel mass explosively comes apart, a specific 
> energy-density, so to speak. This is a 'strength of materials' issue,
> and motivates the choice of wrapped carbon-fiber rather than steel.

It is an illustration for the maximum possible angular velocity (which
is associated with centripetal acceleration v^2/R. The time it takes to
accelerate the wheel to the limit (or tangential acceleration) are not
involved. Your example, Brian, shows that c is not the only limitation.
But it is an ultimate limitation. I was asking about the ultimate limit
for the linear acceleration, x''.

> > Is there a formal limit for the second derivative of position with 
> > respect of time somewhere ? (in general relativity?  in QCD? ...).

                                         Ludwik Kowalski