tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119383823552885882.post5659544990874902589..comments2024-03-12T07:22:29.718+01:00Comments on The Science Fiction Writers' Guide to Space: Friction in space and on EarthTsana Dolichvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16213478548320312760noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119383823552885882.post-14231732419163981762013-04-29T09:26:13.970+02:002013-04-29T09:26:13.970+02:00No need to be rude, particularly to someone active...No need to be rude, particularly to someone actively trying to learn.<br /><br />As for reviewers, there's more to science fiction — even hard science fiction — than just the science. While it would be nice if everyone were equipped to comment on the science, reviewers have every right to comment on whatever aspects they want.Tsana Dolichvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16213478548320312760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119383823552885882.post-71308816741202695112013-04-29T00:22:24.353+02:002013-04-29T00:22:24.353+02:00This is pathetic. I don't want to read anythi...This is pathetic. I don't want to read anything called science fiction written by anyone like that.<br /><br />That is the trouble called SF today. The reviewers don't even talk about the science in the story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119383823552885882.post-66727693269655609662013-04-28T17:14:07.037+02:002013-04-28T17:14:07.037+02:00Yeah, if you run out of fuel you would keep going ...Yeah, if you run out of fuel you would keep going at the speed you were at after the last time you did use your motor. You would go in a straight line unless you happened to pass close enough to a planet or a star to change your direction thanks to its gravity. The chances of being captured into orbit around a planet or a star are very small — you basically have to be going at a very exact speed and direction relative to the star/planet. And your chances of colliding with a planet or a star are even smaller. Space is very very big and very very empty. In terms of eventually ending up somewhere else, it's possible but, aside from the low probabilities because of the emptiness of space, it would also take a long time because of the vastness of space. It takes light a bit over 4 years to get to our nearest star and you would probably be drifting much slower than the speed of light.<br /><br />The only thing that could slow you down a bit is a nebula, a cloud of dust and gas (google for some pretty pictures if you're interested). But even then, the density of the dust and gas is pretty low in most of these so it would only make a difference if you were going quite fast (especially if you were close to the speed of light) when collisions with these dust and gas particles could do significant damage to your ship. In most of space, the density of random hydrogen atoms is extremely low and would only cause problems if you were going very very close to the speed of light, but in a nebula it'd become a problem sooner.<br /><br />So to get back to the point, if you were just drifting (= moving at the same speed in a straight line; I think "drifting" is a dangerous word to use in this context because it does evoke boats on water), you could eventually end up somewhere else, but it would probably take a very very long time to get there. I'd be concerned about the ship lasting that long just in terms of random bits of damage from interstellar radiation and general deterioration with age.Tsana Dolichvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16213478548320312760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119383823552885882.post-55539320510197844122013-04-28T16:57:25.433+02:002013-04-28T16:57:25.433+02:00Thanks for the explanation, Tsana. I get friction ...Thanks for the explanation, Tsana. I get friction on earth - like how road cyclists have those very skinny, basically bald tyres on their bicycles to remove as much friction as possible, right? - but it's always hard to wrap your head around the concept of, well, nothing.<br /><br />So your options are A) use fuel to propel yourself/ship forward or B) do nothing and just drift. Is that about it? If you don't use any fuel to get forward or reverse momentum going, then you're not going anywhere? Can you drift endlessly in space and eventually, like a boat on a lake perhaps, end up somewhere else? Not that there are any currents in space! (Remember <i>Red Dwarf</i>? Sorry, no relation. Just made me think of it!) I know with boats, because I've driven them, that the water will propel you even when the motor's off, but the only real way of controlling the boat is to have the motor on. I guess in space, removing the bit about water and currents, it's more-or-less the same principle. You're not going to go anywhere or have any control unless the power's on. Have I got that right?Shannon (Giraffe Days)http://www.giraffedays.comnoreply@blogger.com