Orbit Factor in World Builder's Handbook

[kkozoriz]

Does anyone know how the Orbit Factors in World Builder's Handbook were calculated? I'm working on a generation system that uses variable orbit sizes, not just the traditional ones in Traveller. I've played with the numbers in a spreadsheet but let's face it, high school math was a long, long time ago.

 

[aramis]

They are a function of energy per unit² area, using the inverse square law.
Double the distance, 1/4th the energy.

 

[kkozoriz]

They are a function of energy per unit² area, using the inverse square law.
Double the distance, 1/4th the energy.

Thanks for the reply. I tried that but it's not that simple.

orbit # Dist(AU) Factor
0 0.2 836.345
1 0.4 591.385
2 0.7 447.045
3 1.0 374.025

If it was simple inverse square then the orbit factor for orbit #3 would be 1/25 that of orbit 0 or 33.44. There's more to it. I just can't see it.

 

[rancke]

Thanks for the reply. I tried that but it's not that simple.

orbit # Dist(AU) Factor
0 0.2 836.345
1 0.4 591.385
2 0.7 447.045
3 1.0 374.025

If it was simple inverse square then the orbit factor for orbit #3 would be 1/25 that of orbit 0 or 33.44. There's more to it. I just can't see it.

ISTR that Jon Zeigler figured out that the numbers in that table were wrong, but I can't remember how. Half the correct amount? Twice? Or was it another table?

Sorry to be so vague.



Hans