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Wow, what a massive subject this could turn out to be!
Yes, countless SF movies, books and television series have ships and objects moving faster than the speed
of light. Is it possible? Hell, yes, of course it is. Some particles already do this, although tachyons are still
only theory. People and ships? No chance.
What are the problems? Mainly, anything that accelerates requires more fuel and gains more mass. The
family car becomes less fuel efficient at higher speeds, just to prove the point. A car only moves slowly in
comparison to space ships. To get a space ship to get anywhere near half light speed would require larger
holds for fuel, but to move that extra mass would require more fuel, and so we reach the point where the
ship can move little faster even if it is the size of a planet. Mass gain means that a person could not hope to
move anywhere near light speed because they would also gain mass until they died from the weight. Imagine
suddenly putting on a few tons rather than pounds. Acceleration is another big problem. If the human body is
encased in a super-suit that allows acceleration of say 20 times gravity, then it would take forever to reach
those higher speeds in the first place.
How do we get around the problem? Simple, and one solution is as follows. The engines 'fold space' to
move instantaneously from one point in space to another by folding space until those two points touch. The
ship could then reset a new fold and so step across the universe. Everyone has their own preferred method,
and hundreds must exist, albeit unprovable.
Generally, everyone covers or ignores these problems, or uses a theoretical or unknown power to move
through space at high speeds without having any effect on the occupants. The same thing goes for gravity.
Trekkies never float around the control room, and are never affected by acceleration or deceleration. Their
ships also move into 'warped' space, much like 'folding space', although they have accelerated around the sun
to reach light speed - without getting flattened.
If speed is not a problem, then a ship could accelerate at normal gravity, and everyone walks around
normally. Speed keeps increasing at normal gravity until the halfway point of the journey. Then the crew
must turn the ship so it faces the opposite direction. The engines continue thrust, thereby slowing the ship at
normal gravity. This allows the crew to continue to move around the ship normally. By the time they reach
their destination, their speed has reduced to zero velocity. This method would take too long to cross light
years, but is the way we may need to begin our travels around our solar system. The problem here, of course,
is the need for some sort of 'fuel' to provide the thrust. Normally, space ships use enough thrust in one long
burst until they reach 'escape velocity', which enables them to escape the Earth's pull. They then 'float'
through space by continuing at the same velocity because nothing exists to slow them. Well, not much,
anyway. Hydrogen particles move away from the sun in the solar wind, and all planetary bodies exert
gravitational pulls against objects. 'Burning' engines is not always necessary. Any escape of gases, especially
through a venturi system, would cause changes in speed and attitude. Due to the lack of air resistance and
gravity, any movement in one direction gives equal pressure in the opposite direction.
Until anyone invents a workable solution, SF writers can continue to invent new ways to cross huge
distances in their novels. One writer even attached a ship to a comet, thereby giving the ship huge amounts
of fuel (ice). Good one, Ben. |
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