Laws of Physics

Post by **Rob Wilson** » 2002-07-03 10:25pm

Which particular violation of the Laws of Physics in any context (not just sci-fi, but Pseudoscience like Creationism etc) really annoys you?

For instance the fact that apparently ST tractor beams don't follow Any Newtonian law (No force exerted along the beam affects the Projectors, the power in is 100% of the power used against the object yet we can see the beam, a narrow beam doesn't punch through the object it's pushing/pulling)

So what about you guys?

BlueExcalibur · Post by **BlueExcalibur** » 2002-07-03 10:30pm

Nothing I can think of off the top of my head.

EDIT: Warp drive.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-07-03 10:31pm

There's obviously the creationist pseudoscience, but I got really bored of that subject after hearing the same old shit over and over. "You can't add genetic material. Evolution violates the second law of thermodynamics bla bla bla."

My latest pseudoscientific interest comes in the form of quantum mystics, who claim that quantum mechanics proves the existence of "Chi." None of the purveyors of this claim have actually used any of the underlying principles; they've just thrown the word "electron" around a few times. They probably don't even know what a Feinmann Diagram is, or the difference between alpha and beta decay or even how to do the simplest Newtonian mechanical problem.

IDMR · Post by **IDMR** » 2002-07-03 10:33pm

Second law of thermodynamics.

'nuff said.

Post by **Rob Wilson** » 2002-07-03 10:35pm

Durandal wrote: My latest pseudoscientific interest comes in the form of quantum mystics, who claim that quantum mechanics proves the existence of "Chi." None of the purveyors of this claim have actually used any of the underlying principles; they've just thrown the word "electron" around a few times. They probably don't even know what a Feinmann Diagram is, or the difference between alpha and beta decay or even how to do the simplest Newtonian mechanical problem.

You're taking the piss, Surely. Mind you I'm surprised no-one has tried to use Quantum(tm) to explain away talking to the dead.

LMSx · Post by **LMSx** » 2002-07-03 10:40pm

I bet Berman just read that and is preparing an entire episode based on a malfunctioning Quantum Sewage Overflow Containment unit and Johnny Mosely.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 2002-07-04 01:42am

Durandal wrote:Feinmann

It's Feynman, named after Richard Feynman

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 2002-07-04 06:49pm

IDMR wrote:Second law of thermodynamics.

'nuff said.

Yeah. Damn those heat engines with their bloody 110% efficiency. Why shouldn't we have them!!?

victorhadin · Post by **victorhadin** » 2002-07-04 06:50pm

Damn. Must I keep getting logged-out like that? Ah well.

Enlightenment · Post by **Enlightenment** » 2002-07-04 07:58pm

Rob Wilson wrote:Which particular violation of the Laws of Physics in any context (not just sci-fi, but Pseudoscience like Creationism etc) really annoys you?

The most annoying denial of reality I see in space SF is the 'must keep engines going to keep moving' falacy. It would be nice to see at least one SF universe use a real space flight model--complete with orbital dynamics--rather than the halfbaked airplane metaphores everyone seems to stick with.

Post by **Rob Wilson** » 2002-07-04 09:59pm

Enlightenment wrote:
Rob Wilson wrote:Which particular violation of the Laws of Physics in any context (not just sci-fi, but Pseudoscience like Creationism etc) really annoys you?
The most annoying denial of reality I see in space SF is the 'must keep engines going to keep moving' falacy. It would be nice to see at least one SF universe use a real space flight model--complete with orbital dynamics--rather than the halfbaked airplane metaphores everyone seems to stick with.

B5 made a pretty good stab at it for the Earthforce Fighters and ships.

Enlightenment · Post by **Enlightenment** » 2002-07-05 02:27am

Rob Wilson wrote:
Enlightenment wrote: The most annoying denial of reality I see in space SF is the 'must keep engines going to keep moving' falacy. It would be nice to see at least one SF universe use a real space flight model--complete with orbital dynamics--rather than the halfbaked airplane metaphores everyone seems to stick with.
B5 made a pretty good stab at it for the Earthforce Fighters and ships.

'Cept for the battle tactics.

And the ion engines with enough thrust to accelerate ships at >1G.

And the lack of orbital dynamics.

And the <cough> unusual mass ratios.

And the ...

Post by **Rob Wilson** » 2002-07-05 02:57pm

Enlightenment wrote:
Rob Wilson wrote:
Enlightenment wrote: The most annoying denial of reality I see in space SF is the 'must keep engines going to keep moving' falacy. It would be nice to see at least one SF universe use a real space flight model--complete with orbital dynamics--rather than the halfbaked airplane metaphores everyone seems to stick with.
B5 made a pretty good stab at it for the Earthforce Fighters and ships.
'Cept for the battle tactics.

And the ion engines with enough thrust to accelerate ships at >1G.

And the lack of orbital dynamics.

And the <cough> unusual mass ratios.

And the ...

I said they made a good stab at it, I didn't say they got it right

However it's better than 99% of the shows and movies out there's interpretation.

Eleas · Post by **Eleas** » 2002-07-08 07:16am

"Which particular violation of the Laws of Physics in any context (not just sci-fi, but Pseudoscience like Creationism etc) really annoys you?"

Subspace.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2002-07-09 01:26am

Enlightenment wrote:
Rob Wilson wrote:Which particular violation of the Laws of Physics in any context (not just sci-fi, but Pseudoscience like Creationism etc) really annoys you?
The most annoying denial of reality I see in space SF is the 'must keep engines going to keep moving' falacy. It would be nice to see at least one SF universe use a real space flight model--complete with orbital dynamics--rather than the halfbaked airplane metaphores everyone seems to stick with.

Go read "Starship Troopers" or the Hope series by David Feintuch ("Midshipman's Hope," "Challenger's Hope," "Prisoner's Hope," etc) Both of them use normal old "fire and you keep going" physics.

Morat · Post by **Morat** » 2002-07-10 08:21pm

Telepathy

NapoleonGH · Post by **NapoleonGH** » 2002-07-26 02:44am

gotta go with the use of black holes as ways to generate wormholes in scifi, if you tried that, you would end up in quite a few pieces

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2002-07-26 03:33am

Any action adventure movie/anime where the expendable munitions yeild exceeds the total mass of the indiviuals/ships engaged in battle.

oberon · Post by **oberon** » 2002-07-26 06:18pm

the way people will grouse abt cracks in the event horizon violating mathematical definitions, while at the same time accepting temporal rifts, or not thinking about the connectedness of Euclidean space. It's not all Minkowski and Einstein. Consider that if there IS a crack in the EH, it just may be a dimensional gateway, wormholes not needed. Yeah, baby, yeah!

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2002-07-26 11:13pm

I dislike organic technology, and those sudden evolutions into mysical energy beings.

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2002-07-26 11:52pm

The sudden evolution into energy beings brain bug is a result of a misinterpretation of the events in the Lensman series. During this series of books, an entire race of highly evolved beings, basically composed of pure mental energy, are working to create a race superior to them in order to take over as the guardians of civilisation. Because the final step occurs suddenly in one generation, people tend to gloss over the billions of years of breeding program required for the final result.

oberon · Post by **oberon** » 2002-07-26 11:55pm

yeah, it wouldn't be the result of watching Star Trek or anything like that

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