Speed limits in space?

Accountant · Post by **Accountant** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 6:32 am

Reading through the future requests and suggestions thread, I noticed that several players requested no speed limits in space. Now, I do not pretend to know much about physics, but would spacecraft not hit some speed at which they cannot exceed? If we look at the equation:
E=MC^2
it tells us (I think) that the energy required to accelerate an object in space increases exponentially as the object speeds up. This is why particle accelerators have never managed to accelerate any atomic/subatomic particle to light speed, because it would essentially require infinite energy to make the leap to light speed. Wouldn't this behavior also translate to spacecraft? The more mass a spacecraft has, the more energy would be required to accelerate it and the sooner it would hit a point where the engines could not accelerate the ship any further. So, the model in the Evochron universe where we cannot go above a certain speed may indeed be correct. Perhaps the fact that we instantly stop at that speed instead of have the acceleration gradually slow as we approach the speed is what causes us to believe there is a "speed limit". From my experience, each of the frames in EL have different top speeds, as would be expected.

So, am I far out in left field with this train of thought? Debate does not necessarily need to be Evochron-centered, I am genuinely interested from a physics standpoint as well.

-Accountant

GAlex · Post by **GAlex** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:36 am

Originally posted by Accountant
Reading through the future requests and suggestions thread, I noticed that several players requested no speed limits in space. Now, I do not pretend to know much about physics, but would spacecraft not hit some speed at which they cannot exceed? If we look at the equation:
E=MC^2
it tells us (I think) that the energy required to accelerate an object in space increases exponentially as the object speeds up. This is why particle accelerators have never managed to accelerate any atomic/subatomic particle to light speed, because it would essentially require infinite energy to make the leap to light speed. Wouldn't this behavior also translate to spacecraft? The more mass a spacecraft has, the more energy would be required to accelerate it and the sooner it would hit a point where the engines could not accelerate the ship any further. So, the model in the Evochron universe where we cannot go above a certain speed may indeed be correct. Perhaps the fact that we instantly stop at that speed instead of have the acceleration gradually slow as we approach the speed is what causes us to believe there is a "speed limit". From my experience, each of the frames in EL have different top speeds, as would be expected.

So, am I far out in left field with this train of thought? Debate does not necessarily need to be Evochron-centered, I am genuinely interested from a physics standpoint as well.

-Accountant

from a physical and mathematical point of view, in special relativity,

(1) E=mc^2;

is the equation which resolves the balance beetween potential-mass and energy, i.e. when mass is at quiet. this says nothing about speed limits.
BUT, when body is in movement, Lorentz transformation apply to the above (1) and we have the more general case:

(2) E = m y(gamma) c^2;

where y(gamma) is the Lorentz trasformation as the

(3) y = 1/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2);

where v = body speed.

as you can easily see in (3),

lim(y) for v->0 = 1
(for v<<c the ratio near equals 0 and sqrt(1-~0) ~= 1)

but when v climbs, (2) implies that given m and c, E first climbs slowly, and in proximity of C, tends to infinity for:

lim(y) for v->c = 0
(if v~=c v/c~=1 and sqrt(1-~1)=~0 and 1/~0->infinite)

if you test the above (2) in a spreadsheet, you will find that

for v=0,0001c y=1,000000005
for v=0,001c y=1,000000500
for v=0,01c y=1,000050004
for v=0,1c y=1,005037815
for v=0,2c y=1,020620726
for v=0,5c y=1,154700538
for v=0,9c y=2,294157339

the above gives the proportion of how much more energy is needed to reach that speeds, but not of the time to reach them.

also at 0.01c dust could quickly deplete shields, and at 0.1 c a small piece of silice of 1g mass can have enough energy to harm (and destroy) a ship.

and particle accelerators can speed up a single proton to 0,99999c using GWs of energy.

our ships have masses in Mg (=t):o

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:27 am

HUH?:o

warsign · Post by **warsign** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:28 am

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 1:32 pm

Uuuuuum??????

o:o, sounds quite simple in Latin, but my American is better then my English, so I'll quess I'll stick to my Dutch! LOL:P:P:P:P:P

GAlex · Post by **GAlex** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:08 pm

ok, ok i was too short and simple was i?;)

it is possible, for a ship of 1000t, to reach 0,5c with a constant acceleration of 2g:o

in ~100days after 0,055ParSecs (0,178ly) and ~50GWh of energy consumption.

at that speed in ~8 year you can reach the proximity of Alpha Cen, then you must stop:

in ~100days after 0,055ParSecs (0.178ly) and ~50GWh of energy consumption.

for a term of comparison, DEMO, the most advanced eperiment on fusion reactors to be initiated AFTER the positive conclusion of the predecessor ITER that will (presumibly) built AFTER 2025 and will begin experimenting not before 2050, DEMO i said will hopefully generate 5GW for 1000s, then it will stop:(

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:21 pm

Sounds ~right!, I think! ROFL:P:P:P

GAlex · Post by **GAlex** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:25 pm

er...~

ROFL:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:31 pm

Can you submit diagrams with that?
I forgot who carried the ball on that last play!:D

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:50 pm

Here is a diagram:

>:o>>:(>>>>:)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>;)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

~>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:D~>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>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Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 3:34 pm

Well, a ship can go pretty darn fast if you either accelerate long enough or hard enough before you start running into the increasing mass issue that supposedly prevents a ship from reaching the speed of light, so it should not be an issue in the game.

In any case, combat at these extremely high speeds would be unpalatable, unless you had two ships that were almost exactly on the same vector to begin with. Since there is jump technology, though, there is no reason to accelerate to such high speeds. However, once you are within a system, you should be able to manoeuver around without the speed limits that are obviously way too low for spacecraft.

Think about the escape velocity to escape Earth...

Then again, the planets in EL are so small, that maybe escape velocity is only a few meters per second.

I would like to see more accurate reporting of speeds, in any case. Try this:

1. pick a target that is, say 20K away.
2. Speed up to 4K
3. Count the seconds between the time you reach 16K and 15K away.

If you were traveling at 4K/second, it should take 1/4 of a second to get from 16K to 15K from the target. This is not the case. I think you will find that it takes about 4 seconds. So, you're not really traveling 4K/second, but more like 250 units/second.

Also, I don't think the indicated speed/actual speed is a flat function. It might be linear, but I think that as you speed up, the indicated speed is less accurate.

And, these ships are waaaaaaay slower than reletavistic speeds, so I don't think we need to engage Einstein for quite a while.

Post by **Vice** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:37 pm

The speed to distance ratio isn't 1:1 (this may indeed change in the future). Remember that in-sector coordinates are repesented in 1/10 relative meter values ( http://www.starwraith.com/forum/viewtop ... 1#pid31449 sectors are 2-million meters across), or effectively the speed could be relative to decimeters if the coordinates are meters, meaning 1000K per second speed is roughly 100 coordinate units per second.

Accountant · Post by **Accountant** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:08 pm

from a physical and mathematical point of view, in special relativity,

(1) E=mc^2;

is the equation which resolves the balance beetween potential-mass and energy, i.e. when mass is at quiet. this says nothing about speed limits.

Yeah, I just read up on this a little and realized that you are right, this equation tell us how much energy is equal to a corresponding mass; it does not affect speed limits.

BUT, when body is in movement, Lorentz transformation apply to the above (1) and we have the more general case:

(2) E = m y(gamma) c^2;

where y(gamma) is the Lorentz trasformation as the

(3) y = 1/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2);

where v = body speed.

as you can easily see in (3),

lim(y) for v->0 = 1
(for v<<c the ratio near equals 0 and sqrt(1-~0) ~= 1)

but when v climbs, (2) implies that given m and c, E first climbs slowly, and in proximity of C, tends to infinity for:

lim(y) for v->c = 0
(if v~=c v/c~=1 and sqrt(1-~1)=~0 and 1/~0->infinite)

if you test the above (2) in a spreadsheet, you will find that

for v=0,0001c y=1,000000005
for v=0,001c y=1,000000500
for v=0,01c y=1,000050004
for v=0,1c y=1,005037815
for v=0,2c y=1,020620726
for v=0,5c y=1,154700538
for v=0,9c y=2,294157339

the above gives the proportion of how much more energy is needed to reach that speeds, but not of the time to reach them.

also at 0.01c dust could quickly deplete shields, and at 0.1 c a small piece of silice of 1g mass can have enough energy to harm (and destroy) a ship.

and particle accelerators can speed up a single proton to 0,99999c using GWs of energy.

our ships have masses in Mg (=t):o

Dang, I tried writing down the equations on paper to understand what is going on, but I do not know if my knowledge of algebra is good enough for this

I think I get the gist of what you're saying, though, in that the energy requirements to accelerate a mass increase exponentially as the mass approaches light speed. This means that at slower speeds it takes less relative energy to accelerate the ship compared to higher speeds, and this really doesn't start to kick in until the mass approaches 20%-50% of light speed. So would this essentially mean that the "speed limit" of EL ships should be higher than they are?

it is possible, for a ship of 1000t, to reach 0,5c with a constant acceleration of 2g:o

in ~100days after 0,055ParSecs (0,178ly) and ~50GWh of energy consumption.

Ok, that may be possible mathamatically, but 50GWh? If I am not mistaken, that is a lot of energy, probably more than the the engines could manage. Since we as gamers don't have 100 days to wait for the ship to accelerate, would we not hit a point where theoretically the ship is still accelerating, but the acceleration is so slow that it is negligible? That would essentially be our "speed limit" then, because who, in their right mind, is going to press the Tab button for 100 days to get their ship sped up to 50% of light speed?

As I said earlier, I am a n00b at physics, so feel free to correct any mistaken notions I have. Just try to keep it simple for me

:P

-Accountant

GAlex · Post by **GAlex** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 5:23 pm

Ok, that may be possible mathamatically, but 50GWh? If I am not mistaken, that is a lot of energy, probably more than the the engines could manage. Since we as gamers don't have 100 days to wait for the ship to accelerate, would we not hit a point where theoretically the ship is still accelerating, but the acceleration is so slow that it is negligible? That would essentially be our "speed limit" then, because who, in their right mind, is going to press the Tab button for 100 days to get their ship sped up to 50% of light speed?

indeed it's exactly what i mean. but you asked for physics/non EL related answer...

to accelerate 1kgmass for 1m/s by definition you need 1N/m (1 Newton/m) = 1joule = 1W/s

2g~=20m/s (19,6m/s), 1000t = 1000000Kg, 100days = 8640000s, so ... 20m/s*1000000Kg*8640000s ...

have a comparison of the most advanced nuclear fission plants: their max production is 1,5-1,6 GWh:(

as for the algebra ... that is basic algebra you usually learn at an age of 14-15years;)

Accountant · Post by **Accountant** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 5:40 pm

indeed it's exactly what i mean. but you asked for physics/non EL related answer...

to accelerate 1kgmass for 1m/s by definition you need 1N/m (1 Newton/m) = 1joule = 1W/s

2g~=20m/s (19,6m/s), 1000t = 1000000Kg, 100days = 8640000s, so ... 20m/s*1000000Kg*8640000s ...

have a comparison of the most advanced nuclear fission plants: their max production is 1,5-1,6 GWh:(

Yes, I did ask for a physics answer, and certainly got it. I just referenced EL because ultimately I am curious as to how the physics of our universe compares with EL's, and whether or not such things as "speed limits" are realistic from the standpoint of the game.

...so our nuclear plants produce about 3% of the power necessary to accelerate a 1,000 ton object to light speed?:o Me thinks we won't hit that goal any time soon.

as for the algebra ... that is basic algebra you usually learn at an age of 14-15years;)

haha, yeah, but in my defense, it is very hard to read the math you are talking about without it being formatted to make it easier on the eyes. Anyway, it did make more sense after I spent some time looking at it, it just took a little while to come back. You know what they say, if you don't use it, you lose it...

Thanks for your expertise in helping a n00b understand elementary physics

-Accountant

EDIT:
For the record, I just want to say, the European/rest of the world method of using commas to represent decimals is really wierd. Took a few moments for my American eyes to adjust to it:P

[Edited on 6-14-2009 by Accountant]

Graven · Post by **Graven** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:58 pm

I like speed restrictions. I remember the B5 IFH game, EVERYTHING came down to jousting. Limitations on speed keeps combat tight.

warsign · Post by **warsign** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:47 am

Originally posted by Graven
I like speed restrictions. I remember the B5 IFH game, EVERYTHING came down to jousting. Limitations on speed keeps combat tight.

Absolutely true, but in ER and also EL, If you go max speed, nobody can touch you already. What about space polices or enemies speeder than you

Keeps combat more tight

Glock36 · Post by **Glock36** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:50 am

E=MC2??? That old stuff is no longer valid. Quantum physics says my cat is not really there unless I'm looking at him.

Light goes at the speed of light and possibly faster but is a particle.

Two halves of certain types of subatomic particles vibrate at identical moments when one is struck even if the other one is on the other side of the earth or even farther away.

INSTANTLY.

we know nothing about everything.

ships in this game should keep accelerating as long as the thruster is burning...but we should have to turn around and do an equal burn to slow down.

or we could just use vented 4 wheel disk brakes.

Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 7:00 am

It's no use.

Vice has already made a pretty firm stand on the speed limit issue.

I guess the main factor is how playable the game is without speed limits, especially for inexperienced pilots. If you check the list of suggestions for the next Evochron game, you'll see that one clearly in red text, indicating that it isn't going to happen.

Ah well. It's still fun.

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 9:03 am

If UFO's can travel faster than light, then why do they have lights at all?:P

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:08 pm

Originally posted by MMaggio
If UFO's can travel faster than light, then why do they have lights at all?:P

That is to see where they are going once they slow down, but then they have to wait for the light to catch up with them before they can see where they are going! LOL:P:P:P:P:P