Gravity manipulation in the 'verse by mycroftxxx

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Gravity manipulation in the 'verse

POSTED BY: MYCROFTXXX
UPDATED: Monday, February 27, 2006 17:28
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Monday, February 27, 2006 8:23 AM

I know there's been a number of threads on this but, being rather new to this area (but a long term fan of this franchise) one thing that I've felt needs a bit more consideration is the whole gravity thing. Here's my thoughts:

There is no question that mastery of gravity is at the heart of the entire technology in the Firefly 'verse. Whether used to "push" a ship across the sky or keep everyone's feet on the ground, the ability to manipulate gravity is omnipresent in the series/movie.

It also appears to be relatively easy to manipulate. For instance, in "Out of Gas" the "atmo" processor fails but the deck gravity stays active. Dontcha think you'd sacrifice gravity for air and heat?

I know I know, without gravity making the show would be a magnitude more difficult to produce.

The ship itself shows just how well they've conquered gravity. If you notice in several outside shots the darned thing appears to be RIVETED together in places like a turn of the last century battleship! Probably could come up with reasons why this is so (ie, panels aren't metal but ceramic and these are just secondary supports like nails and glue in carpentry). It also presents a substantial construction. No Apollo lightweight anything. To move that sort of bulk around with finese reeks of absolute control over gravity (think of "Trash" and the trash bin reprogramming scene).

Okay, so is this pure fantasy or based on speculative or more concrete but just-out-of-reach capabilities? If you've been reading any of the recent science journals or, heaven forbid, watching the Science Channel (my other addiction) you'd know that one of the mysteries plagueing current astronomical (and subatomic to some degree) physics is why all of the universe seems to be accelerating away from us! Most current theories on the subject says gravity should prevail over everything and cause a slowing down of this expansion but that is not what's being observed.

So, given that there is something very strange going on regarding the fundamental nature of gravity and its nature as a very very weak force--albiet effective over incredible distances, maybe, just maybe, it is possible we'll find a way to totally or partially counteract its effect with little or no power required. Something just over the horizon of today's knowledge. Maybe even as simple as an "electromagnet for gravity". Come to think of it, Gravity always attracts, never repels but almost all other forces have opposite poles (electromagnitism being the most obvious) so maybe that breakthrough will be the discover of that repulsing gravity "pole". That is certainly more plausible than, say instant teleportation or time travel.

So, mastery of gravity could be the major breakthrough that makes the 'verse we love possible. The rest, as they say, is secondary.

Thanks for your time.

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Monday, February 27, 2006 8:30 AM

ISAACSHEPHERD

I can't give you the technical explaination of gravity in the 'verse but I can refer you to another source, two sort of. One if the site the signal http://www.signal.serenityfirefly.com/
If you listen to the podcast, the second one of season 2 in the tech section they briefly explain how it works. The source they use is the Serenity RPG book though, b/c I think there is 3 different kinds of gravity (or 3 ways to manipulate it). Sorry I can't answer your question, but at least I can point you in the right directions.
IS

The Bible's a bit fuzzy on the subject of kneecaps.

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Monday, February 27, 2006 2:55 PM

CYBERSNARK

Quote:
Originally posted by mycroftxxx:
one of the mysteries plagueing current astronomical (and subatomic to some degree) physics is why all of the universe seems to be accelerating away from us!

If I had a choice I'd be accellerating away from Earth too.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Monday, February 27, 2006 4:58 PM

KIZYR

Yeah there's a basic explanation given in the Serenity RPG that, at least for the purposes of series integrity, makes pretty good sense--and it falls in line with the idea of cheap gravity.

The idea is that the major breakthrough was the unification of the theories behind gravity and electromagnetism. That allowed the creation of g-screens which reduced or enhanced the pull between objects, and lastly g-screens which reduced inertia.

It's hard to get the g-screens established in the first place, but apparently it takes very little energy for it to keep going. So, you can have a ship on its last legs, but the grav-drive is likely the last thing to go right before atmo. 'Cause of the inertial dampening, though, if the fuel's out then the ship won't keep moving, it'll end up on the drift. KF

~KF

Lord, I'm walking your way. Let me in, for my feet are sore, my clothes are ragged.
Look in my eyes, Lord, and my sins will play out on them as on a screen. Read them all.
Forgive what you can and send me on my path. I will walk on until you bid me rest.
~Haven Prayer

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Monday, February 27, 2006 5:28 PM

BARNABY36

Quote:
Originally posted by mycroftxxx:
It also appears to be relatively easy to manipulate. For instance, in "Out of Gas" the "atmo" processor fails but the deck gravity stays active. Dontcha think you'd sacrifice gravity for air and heat?

Yeah, but imagine this: on your airplane, the air pressure regulation fails. Does that mean the engine fails? Or any other particular part of the ship? Not usually. The ship isn't putting effort into gravity over energy into making atmo; the making atmo part broke. As did the engine. Other ships with better capablities (read: Alliance) would have all sorts of back-ups and redundancies and such, but Serenity has to put up with broken port thrust catalyzers and primary buffer panels all the time, and no matter how much you take away from gravity generation, it ain't gonna fix the part.

Ben

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