The main practical problem associated with building an interstellar ramjet is
A) making the ship large enough to scoop up enough hydrogen fuel given that the density of hydrogen in space is so low
B) producing enough thrust to accelerate the spacecraft to a high enough speed
C) separating the matter and antimatter fuels from each other
D) receiving enough photon energy to propel the craft

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The main practical problem with building an interstellar ramjet is making the ship large enough to scoop up enough hydrogen fuel given that the density of hydrogen in space is extremely low. This requires a large scoop or funnel-shaped device to collect enough fuel for the journey. Without enough fuel, the ramjet won't be able to accelerate to sufficient speeds to reach other star systems in a reasonable amount of time. The other options, such as producing enough thrust and separating matter and antimatter fuels, are also challenges, but they are not as critical as the fuel problem.

The Main Practical Problem Associated with Building an Interstellar Ramjet