Question

In some video games, spacecraft employ ion drives. Write a report discussing how an ion drive operates and whether it can efficiently propel a spacecraft. You will be marked on how well you explain scientific principles and the accuracy of your statements. Your report should be understandable by nonscientists.

Answer 1

This is only the theoretical view as for nonsientists listeners. Now we know from the the third principle of Newton's law every action has equal and opposite reaction. For going forward we need something that is  pushing us forward , by us giving it a opposite force. Now in chemical rocket we use chemecical reaction to generate a thrust to backward which pushes rocket to forward. Similar in the case of ion drive we use first any molecules in gas phase like Xenon gas then make it ionized by application of electric field and the the ions are accelerated by again the application of electric field (or Coulomb's force ) or electric and magnetic field (or Lorentz force). After the ions are accelerated in backward direction they push the space craft in opposite direction and space craft will move in forward direction. Here one thing is that after accelerating the ions and electrons they are mixed to make neutral atoms. By this way we propelled our space ship. But here one major setback is the thrust generated by the ions drive is low whether it has higher specific impulse than chemical rocket. So it is unable to take the spacecraft from atmosphere as there is air resistance and can only be used in space. Also ion drive not works in atmosphere as there are ions out side. As in games show they usually have a nuclear reactor in spaceship, it is used for generating electricity for ionising and accelerating ions. If space ship in near a star it can use solar panels.