If you are already traveling forward at top speed, what happens when you thrust perpendicular (i.e. up, down, left, or right)? If the velocity vector component in the original direction remains constant, applying thrust in a perpendicular direction would allow you to exceed your top speed.
Without being able to try this out in the game, my suspicion is that the velocity component in the original direction will decrease such that the magnitude of the velocity vector does not exceed top speed. Accordingly, velocity in the forward direction would reach 0 once velocity in the perpendicular direction maxes out (assuming the lateral top speed is the same).
For the FA off case, this means that thrusting perpendicular to the original vector will eventually cancel out the velocity component in that direction, which is not strictly newtonian.
I have the following mental model:
Imagine a hollow sphere. The position of a point within the sphere's volume represents your velocity vector (direction and magnitude). The center of the sphere represents a velocity of 0, and any point on the surface of the sphere represents top speed in the associated direction. If your speed is already on the surface of the sphere, thrusting perpendicular will move your speed along the surface of the sphere towards the thrust vector, but never allow your speed to exceed the maximum.
Do I have it right?
FYI, I don't have the beta since my system requirements aren't high enough. Once the game is finally released, I'll consider building a system in order to play. Either that, or wait for the console version.
Without being able to try this out in the game, my suspicion is that the velocity component in the original direction will decrease such that the magnitude of the velocity vector does not exceed top speed. Accordingly, velocity in the forward direction would reach 0 once velocity in the perpendicular direction maxes out (assuming the lateral top speed is the same).
For the FA off case, this means that thrusting perpendicular to the original vector will eventually cancel out the velocity component in that direction, which is not strictly newtonian.
I have the following mental model:
Imagine a hollow sphere. The position of a point within the sphere's volume represents your velocity vector (direction and magnitude). The center of the sphere represents a velocity of 0, and any point on the surface of the sphere represents top speed in the associated direction. If your speed is already on the surface of the sphere, thrusting perpendicular will move your speed along the surface of the sphere towards the thrust vector, but never allow your speed to exceed the maximum.
Do I have it right?
FYI, I don't have the beta since my system requirements aren't high enough. Once the game is finally released, I'll consider building a system in order to play. Either that, or wait for the console version.