Things I learned in physics class
POSTED BY: BadgersHat
UPDATED: Friday, August 12, 2005 15:00
VIEWED: 25158
PAGE 1 of 11
So, let's discuss, how does modern day physics relate to Firefly?
Here's absolutely EVERYTHING I remember from high school physics:
1) F=MA (Force = Mass x Acceleration--basically the faster an object is moving, and the heavier and denser it is, the louder the crunch when it hits something)
2) You can't push a rope.
That's it, there's nothing else in my head.
So, how can we apply these two fundamental principles of physics to the Fireflyverse?
I await your input with baited breath.
--Jefé The Hat
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--You probably don't recognize me without my cape...
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...Not sure about that. But it does bring up one point about space travel that I think can go along side your question.
In space gravity is severly limited. Tends to act like heavy objects on a water bed. The gravitational influences only go so far.
There is no "air" in space.
There are solar winds. Though the effects of those are fairly limited.
Everybody agree so far?
Then why all the grief in real science and sci-fi about the ammount of fuel you would need to use to travel between stars? Aim... floor it... and turn off the engines and coast. You may well need to do some minor course corrections, and if you need to turn you'll need to burn, but other than that: what's the big deal?
When I die I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandpa. Not screaming and yelling like everyone else in the car he was driving.
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Quote:
Originally posted by ReaverMadness:
[BThen why all the grief in real science and sci-fi about the ammount of fuel you would need to use to travel between stars? Aim... floor it... and turn off the engines and coast. You may well need to do some minor course corrections, and if you need to turn you'll need to burn, but other than that: what's the big deal?
Well, to get to relativistic speeds would take a lot of fuel. Unless you get to that speed level you would be talking about a LONG trip. And then there's the stopping when you get there, which would take just as much.
If your story involves ftl speeds then your working with mostly made up physics, and the vehicle can be as fuel efficient or as inefficient as the drama requires.
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....and everything else is magic.
I have a confession. I didn't take physics. It conflicted with something, I don't remember what. It's more of a hobby. Wish I had taken it. When I have trouble understanding an equation or theory, I ask my dad. He's also a hobbyist. Two amateurs with no formal training sit around and talk about physics. I can only imagine how wrong we are! I'm monitoring this thread in hopes of learning something. So be smart!
thatweirdgirl with a crush on Michio Kaku
www.thatweirdgirl.com
---
"...turn right at the corner then skip two blocks...no, SKIP, the hopping-like thing kids do...Why? Why not?"
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Quote:
Originally posted by ReaverMadness:
Then why all the grief in real science and sci-fi about the ammount of fuel you would need to use to travel between stars? Aim... floor it... and turn off the engines and coast. You may well need to do some minor course corrections, and if you need to turn you'll need to burn, but other than that: what's the big deal?
In addition to what Dug said (Space is BIG. Really, really big. Unless you're going VERY, VERY fast, it's going to take a hell of a long time to get to the nearest star.)
If your plan is to get to super-fast in the first few seconds of the journey and then coast the rest of the way, there's two big problems - 1) You can only accelerate a certain amount before it's just too much for the human body to take, which limits your initial startup speed. 2) Once you start coasting, you're going to be in zero-gee for the entire trip unless you have some way around it.
One of the best realistic SF solutions to both those problems is to have a ship accelerating at a constant 1G for half the trip, and then decellerate at 1G for the other half, giving the entire spaceship an Earthlike gravity, with Down being the direction the engines are pointed, (although they have a brief period of zero G and readjustment as up becomes down for the rest of the trip). This requires a lot of fuel, however.
Star Pilot Grainger
"Remember, the enemy's gate is down."
LJ: http://www.livejournal.com/users/newnumber6 (real)
http://www.livejournal.com/users/alternaljournal (fictional, travelling through another world)
Unreachable Star: http://www.unreachablestar.net - Comics & SF News/Reviews/Opinions
This week: My spoiler-free Serenity review
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Quote:
Originally posted by BadgersHat:
1) F=MA (Force = Mass x Acceleration--basically the faster an object is moving, and the heavier and denser it is, the louder the crunch when it hits something)
Um, er...
Ok, the formula is correct when considering Newtonian Mechanics. But your interpretation is wrong.
This just means that when an object is accelerating at a greater rate, it'll have a greater force. It says nothing about density or the loudness of the crunch. The thing about the crunch, it is relative to the other object.
You're probably mixing this up with relativistic mass.
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/SR/mass.html
Quote:
Originally posted by BadgersHat:
2) You can't push a rope.
Well, you could freeze the rope with liquide nitrogen first, then push it
Quote:
Originally posted by BadgersHat:
So, how can we apply these two fundamental principles of physics to the Fireflyverse?
There seems to even be some contradiction in FF with regards to (1).
For example, the gun that the alliance uses does a lot to humans, but won't do a thing to a door.
Or maybe it's just been too long since I watched it and I'm forgeting something.
----
"Canada being mad at you is like Mr. Rogers throwing a brick through your window." -Jon Stewart, The Daily Show
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Quote:
Originally posted by thatweirdgirl:
thatweirdgirl with a crush on Michio Kaku
Maybe not after this. He's a mad man (I'm not kidding).
http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/blog/
July 13, 2005
"""
Kaku's article is entitled Testing String Theory, and is a thoroughly intellectually dishonest piece of writing,
"""
----
"Canada being mad at you is like Mr. Rogers throwing a brick through your window." -Jon Stewart, The Daily Show
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I think maybe you're missing the subtle layers of humor in my last statement, dude...
--Jefé The Hat
***************************
--Don't bother trying to predict, figure out, second guess, criticize, or suggest anything that comes from the mind of Joss Whedon, for you shall usually be wrong, and shall find out the Truth and Purpose in due time.
(This is the Truth of Whedoning)
"I like smackin 'em"--Jayne
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Quote:
Originally posted by SigmaNunki:
Maybe not after this. He's a mad man (I'm not kidding).
No, I don't want to see it. Ack. Maybe he was high when he wrote that. Well crap.
So, anyone suggest a SANE physicist?
www.thatweirdgirl.com
---
"...turn right at the corner then skip two blocks...no, SKIP, the hopping-like thing kids do...Why? Why not?"
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I understand the need to build speed... but not the need to "push" the entire way. The Voyager and other probes don't worry about the constant consumption of fuel. once the desired speed is reached you let off the gas. Then you try to use gravity wells as a means of slowing down when getting close to your location. For that matter you could also use them to speed up to save more fuel or to change directions.
Come on folks: this isn't rocket sci... nevermind.
When I die I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandpa. Not screaming and yelling like everyone else in the car he was driving.
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