#we're continuing Constant Orbit obviously

[gayprogrammer]

Orbital Mechanics:

What is Weightlessness

In this post I'm hoping to explain how gravity works- and just as importantly: how it doesn't.

Take for instance the idea that there is no gravity in space. It comes from the experience of weightlessness while in orbit: being able to freely float about without being pulled to the ground. However, everything floating about in space is still very much under the effect of gravity! The only difference is in how we're viewing it.

If you keep going up, there's no point where gravity will simply stop and you'll be in zero-g. Consider a space elevator: a tower reaching up past the top of the atmosphere and into space. If you were to ascend it you'd be standing on top of an incredibly high platform. But besides its height and the lack of air at the top, this wouldn't be any different from standing on the top floor of a tall building on the ground. You'd be pulled down by gravity all the same.

So what is zero-g then? How can you experience weightlessness?

Falling

If you've ever ridden a roller coaster (or a particularly quick elevator) you'll be familiar with the feeling of a sudden drop. The rise in your stomach as you begin to fall and gravity ceases to work against you. This is the feeling of being in zero-g.

It's worth noting here that 'zero-g' really only refers to weightlessness; while the force of gravity does decrease very slightly over large distances (check out the math of gravity for an explanation!), there is no point at which you can truly be under zero effect from it. Weightlessness just happens to be when there is no longer any ground or other surface under you to push back against gravity pulling you down.

In this case, how do objects in space experience constant weightlessness?

Falling, Without Hitting the Ground

If you were to launch an object directly up, it would inevitably come crashing back down. (See, line B in the above image) This is obviously not what we want. Fortunately for us, we do not exist on a flat surface! So, let's introduce a second direction of motion. If we are to launch an object horizontally- to the side, the surface of the Earth would gradually curve away under it, meaning that with enough speed it could be possible to overshoot the ground entirely. (Line A in the above image)

There are still two issues with this idea, however. Despite any horizontal motion, the force of gravity is still constantly pulling our launched object down toward the ground. In addition, the drag produced by moving through the atmosphere will slow it down over time, stopping that horizontal motion.

To overcome this, we simply have to combine these and place our object on a trajectory with enough vertical motion to take it out of and above the atmosphere, as well as enough horizontal motion to have it match the curvature of the Earth and miss the ground. This way we can finally achieve a state of constant falling, and enter into orbit. (Line C in the above image)

How Objects Stay In Space

There are two parts of an object's orbit we want to consider right now: the force of gravity pulling it down, and the velocity carrying it forward. Without either of these, an orbit would not be possible.

If the force of gravity did not continuously pull our orbiting object down towards the ground it would simply fly off in a straight line, never to be seen again. However, without its horizontal motion keeping it moving around the Earth, gravity would take over and it would fall directly to the ground. It's both of these forces working together that maintains an orbiting object's trajectory.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this did a good job of covering the basics of how gravity works! I am admittedly not the most experienced at writing explanations of topics, even ones I'm passionate about, but if this helped anyone understand how space works, then I've managed to succeed here!

// Index // The Math of Gravity // What is a Vector // Next Post

[rainbowangel110]

prompt for explanation of what ur tags means

(done in an ask so it’s not all like in tags and I can save it)

Post in question for context!

And also the tags that prompted the ask

Alrighty!!

So Sky Children of the Light is a very fun game where you just run around the 6 realms (Isle of Dawn, Daylight Prairie, Hidden Forest, Valley of Triumph, Golden Wastelands, Vault of Knowledge) reliving spirits memories, getting Winged Light, making friends with other players, and so on! The main feature is the Seasons of the game which give you quests to do around the realms. There's really only one main objective.

Bring Light to the Fallen in Eden.

Now Eden is the 7th realm of Sky, but it's not a main one. No spirits. Very deadly. It's basically the end of the game. What was in the OG post is actually the second area of Eden, OP didn't put Pomni in Point of No Return which I would argue is the actual Eye of Eden, but I digress.

The character you play as is called a Sky Child, and there's a couple lines in the game (very few lines overall in game but yeah) that indicate that you are the last remains of the kingdom. Your purpose is to ascend the spirits back to the stars.

So, Winged Light. Your character, first thing the game after lighting the first murals in Isles, will get a cape. And cuz we're made of light, we need light to gain energy to fly. This is where Winged Light comes in. You collect this, and the more you collect, the more energy you have in you to fly. There's around 116 WL in the realms, and ascending spirits give you more light called Wing Buffs, these are permanent light, which I'll explain. Realm spirits have 49, Seasonals have 59. The WL will give you stars, the more WL the more stars. The max is 12 stars as of typing. The more stars the more experienced you are (it's a good way to indicate how far along a player is along with their cosmetics)

You need at least 20 WL total in order to enter Eden. This is a massive challenge in the game, with high winds so we can't fly, rocks that will knock you out and your WL. Then the second area which we see in the OG post. This is tougher than the first area. Dark Crystals that'll drain your light, one star at a time. The rocks are more abundant here, you have to hide otherwise you're very screwed. And not to mention the FUCKING KRILLS-

Oh, Krills? They're in game name is Dark Dragon but the community decided otherwise. Basically one direct hit from these guys and you are dead. WL knocked out and all your flame extinguished (that's what our inner light is called)

Anyways, once you get past the last Krill (absolute bastard) and down the WL hall. This long hallway full of WL, the game's way of telling you, "You'll need this." You will hit a point where the game asks you if you want to go further. This is The Point of No Return.

This is where you die.

Now, there's two parts to PNR. The first part, there's a load of Fallen Statues. Your job is to give all your winged light to them. All of it. One WL equals one statue. There's obviously challenges in the form of wind, dark water that'll drain your light, and periodic rock rains. There's a couple sconces you can light in order to heal yourself and continue forward, and some cover from the rock rain.

But the second area. Oh boy. Very few statues, even fewer sconces, and no cover what so ever. Constant rock rain, you cannot heal unless you have a Instant Recharge Potion on you. But once you die, you get to ascend to Orbit. This is basically the final final area. All the statues you saves return to give you Ascended Candles, which can buy you Wing Buffs.

Oh right I need to explain those! They're basically free WL you earn walking to the edge of Orbit. Every spirit you buy a Wing Buff from will give you one WL, and when you're reborn, you have extra Wings on you. This helps immensely. You can still lose it, and you definitely won't find it on the map but it's still a good thing to have.

Alright, now we're past the first part, onto the second, aka Seasons!

Seasons are basically storylines in the game. Right now is the Season of Revival, in which we revive an old village with the help of a spirit. It actually opened a new portal for us, and I found out it's actually an introductory quest for new players (as the game recently launched on Steam so it makes sense) and you can swap Homespace for it instead. Homespace being where you spawn when you log in, and has all the portals and closets right there. Also the occasional Spells Boat and Returning Spirit. These guys are spirits from old Seasons who come back and give everyone a chance to buy their cosmetics (as once a season is over you can't) and a chance to get their Wing Buff (as you can't even when playing the season)

One of the quests was to bring spirits back to the village, and in order to do that.... you had to go to Eden.

There's been a lot of Seasons, I started just before Season of Abyss which happened last year (a story about a group of sailors who were collecting crystals the Kingdom used to generate power, shit ensues, underwater Krills, a massive Leviathan, really fun Season)

There's typically 4 seasons per year, this year being Remembrance, Passage, Moments, and Revival. I've played through just Remembrance to 100%, wasn't there for Passage (it was apparently buggy af) , Moments I was there but didn't do the quests, and I've played through a bit of this season but not a lot if I can be honest

And that's all!