Jump to content


Replying to Ships should have only an acceleration value and not a speed one


Post Options

    • Can't make it out? Click here to generate a new image

  or Cancel


Topic Summary

Tropical Bob

Posted 09 February 2009 - 04:13 AM

Well...repulsors quite visibly hold up things...and repulsor tanks can run characters over without hurting them (EP1:TPM)...so they clearly are "action at a distance". It's hard to see how they could do this and not have HUGE tidal forces induced somewhere between the repulsorlift and the planet...but...well...I like the repulsors-as-propulsion better because it gives me a nice handwavium box to stick all the otherwise crazy stuff the ships can do into.

*Sigh* Repulsors are just about as mysterious as the Force. =/

They could always harness dark energy in some manner, which would allow for the magical "action at a distance." For those who don't know what dark energy is: it's the opposite of gravity (Gravity pulls, dark energy pushes).

Another explanation could be that since repulsors contain subnuclear (Do they mean subatomic?) knots in space-time, it could just be a magical device that uses a planetary mass's gravitic warping of space-time to somehow move itself. Which would be another magical "action at a distance" solution.

Pred the Penguin

Posted 09 February 2009 - 12:22 AM

But he has a valid point...


*Sigh* Repulsors are just about as mysterious as the Force. =/

Tropical Bob

Posted 07 February 2009 - 11:11 PM

I can't imagine anything being able to apply enough force to move things that big not having adverse effects on atmosphere...


Well...repulsors quite visibly hold up things...and repulsor tanks can run characters over without hurting them (EP1:TPM)...so they clearly are "action at a distance". It's hard to see how they could do this and not have HUGE tidal forces induced somewhere between the repulsorlift and the planet...but...well...I like the repulsors-as-propulsion better because it gives me a nice handwavium box to stick all the otherwise crazy stuff the ships can do into.

r/
feld

Ah, sorry. I meant that post as a response to PR's statement:

I think the main point is that we know ships don't incinerate atmospheres with their engine wash, so it can't be explained by modern physics alone. Crunching the numbers is useful to get a better understanding of how things operate, but IMO, numbers alone can't contradict how the galaxy works - and engines just aren't aft-mounted superweapons in SW.


feld

Posted 06 February 2009 - 11:04 PM

I can't imagine anything being able to apply enough force to move things that big not having adverse effects on atmosphere...


Well...repulsors quite visibly hold up things...and repulsor tanks can run characters over without hurting them (EP1:TPM)...so they clearly are "action at a distance". It's hard to see how they could do this and not have HUGE tidal forces induced somewhere between the repulsorlift and the planet...but...well...I like the repulsors-as-propulsion better because it gives me a nice handwavium box to stick all the otherwise crazy stuff the ships can do into.

r/
feld

Tropical Bob

Posted 06 February 2009 - 07:08 AM

I know that flying closely through an Imperial-class Star Destroyer's engine wash in Rogue Squadron II means a pretty quick death.

I can't imagine anything being able to apply enough force to move things that big not having adverse effects on atmosphere...

...Unless they use particles that don't interact with normal matter (Somehow)...Things like tachyons, dark matter, etc. Going off of hypermatter's description on Wookiepedia...Perhaps not all of the energy is utilized by the reactor, and when its still in realspace, the remnants of hypermatter is used to accelerate the ship right before the hypermatter re-enters hyperspace. Then we would have a very limited particle wash range from the engine.

Phoenix Rising

Posted 05 February 2009 - 11:31 PM

Tangent: Check out this discussion (actually the one after, BB Code doesn't like the ellipses) on hypermatter that's buried on Wookieepedia. It's a pretty interesting read if you can ignore the typical Internet flaming.

I'm a little on the edge with that discussion. A Wizards of the Coast guy came in and said that Saxton's calculations from the movies should be disregarded, and that a magical solution to the figures should be taken instead (The bit about the virtual mass). It also regards a lot about fuel cells, which might or might not be canon for a lot of things.

I think the main point is that we know ships don't incinerate atmospheres with their engine wash, so it can't be explained by modern physics alone. Crunching the numbers is useful to get a better understanding of how things operate, but IMO, numbers alone can't contradict how the galaxy works - and engines just aren't aft-mounted superweapons in SW.

Pellean

Posted 31 January 2009 - 01:15 PM

The sure don't shield the reactors - Episode 1

I wonder, while a typical engine is too unwieldy to use in combat, is there anything designed around that idea?


Starfighters' use of maneuvering jets seem to indicate that they use thrusters as their main source of propulsion. Presumably they have much lower mass relative to their engine output than capital ships do, allowing them to accelerate and turn more effectively.

Pred the Penguin

Posted 31 January 2009 - 08:31 AM

Heck. If you could live kilometers up in the air, I bet you could live anywhere. Besides you can live on Coruscant without even walking outside, so I bet the mirrors are for something else.

I remember there still being ice in the poles, people even go skiing there. O_o


Anyways, we're getting really off-topic...

Kaleb Graff

Posted 30 January 2009 - 10:08 PM

I remember reading that the polar areas would be uninhabitable for humans without the mirrors, or at least very unpleasant.

feld

Posted 30 January 2009 - 07:40 PM

I thought the mirrors were just for light. There's also bound to be many species and people that prefer cooler temperatures.

With available power in the GFFA, I imagine that each of the Coruscanti buildings could have very different environments. Possibly even atmospheres. The locations Incredible Cross Sections cutaway of the Senate building gives some idea of the art of the possible...

Review the complete topic (launches new window)