"Jules Verne's "From the Earth to the Moon" and "A Trip Around It"" - читать интересную книгу автора

Regarding the first question, "Is it possible to transmit a
projectile up to the moon?"

Answer.-- Yes; provided it possess an initial velocity of
1,200 yards per second; calculations prove that to be sufficient.
In proportion as we recede from the earth the action of gravitation
diminishes in the inverse ratio of the square of the distance;
that is to say, at three times a given distance the action is
nine times less. Consequently, the weight of a shot will decrease,
and will become reduced to zero at the instant that the attraction
of the moon exactly counterpoises that of the earth; that is to say
at 47/52 of its passage. At that instant the projectile will
have no weight whatever; and, if it passes that point, it will
fall into the moon by the sole effect of the lunar attraction.
The theoretical possibility of the experiment is therefore
absolutely demonstrated; its success must depend upon the power
of the engine employed.

As to the second question, "What is the exact distance which
separates the earth from its satellite?"

Answer.-- The moon does not describe a circle round the
earth, but rather an ellipse, of which our earth occupies one
of the foci; the consequence, therefore, is, that at certain
times it approaches nearer to, and at others it recedes farther
from, the earth; in astronomical language, it is at one time in
apogee, at another in perigee. Now the difference between
its greatest and its least distance is too considerable to be
left out of consideration. In point of fact, in its apogee the
moon is 247,552 miles, and in its perigee, 218,657 miles only
distant; a fact which makes a difference of 28,895 miles, or
more than one-ninth of the entire distance. The perigee
distance, therefore, is that which ought to serve as the basis
of all calculations.

To the third question.

Answer.-- If the shot should preserve continuously its initial
velocity of 12,000 yards per second, it would require little
more than nine hours to reach its destination; but, inasmuch as
that initial velocity will be continually decreasing, it will
occupy 300,000 seconds, that is 83hrs. 20m. in reaching the
point where the attraction of the earth and moon will be in
equilibrio. From this point it will fall into the moon in
50,000 seconds, or 13hrs. 53m. 20sec. It will be desirable,
therefore, to discharge it 97hrs. 13m. 20sec. before the arrival
of the moon at the point aimed at.

Regarding question four, "At what precise moment will the moon