[...unWARP!!!]
Good evening.
Yuoofox's post below got me to thinking:
What are the Rac Conian's units of measuring lux? Yuoofox mentioned "luxohms", but would that be appropiate? An ohm is a unit of resistance, not "print resolution".....
I was thinking about this earlier today, and wondered, "why not name the units after the creator of the strip?" After all, when electricity became categorised, many inventors pitched in with their names:
The volt was named after Alessandro Volta.
The ohm was named after George Simon Ohm.
The watt was named after James Watt.
The ampere was named after Andr
Units of measure
Actually, I think Lux is a bit more fundamental than electricity. From the descriptions, it appears to be more like the electromagnetic force: a complicated field force. (Bear in mind that the electromagnetic force is the fundamental force that drives electrons.) It's difficult to discern much just from watching how individuals use it, because it's a byproduct of living things and sentient beings are very complicated structures, so to speak.
'Lux' could easily be a fundamental force. String theory (and later, M-theory) have predicted an abundance of particles (some variants even predict infinite particles) that have never been accounted for, including ones that seem to defy physics. For example, it predicts massless particles (gravitons), particles that go faster than light (tenatively dubbed 'tachyons'), and particles that can slip in and out of the boundaries of our universe.
So, what characteristics would Lux have?
- Extrapolating from the known forces, it's likely that it would obey an inverse-square law. (Strength decreases proportional to the distance squared) This seems to be confirmed by the fact that they can't quickly 'recharge' unless close to a ley-line.
- Energy can be stored in the form of Lux, and we've seen ample evidence of that.
- As a fundamental force, Lux would have to obey the conservation of energy. At first, this was a puzzlement to me. But then it occured to me that it isn't actually created by living beings, but rather converted from other forms.
- It would need a mediator particle, but that's plausibly enough worked into string theory, as stated above.
So, then the biggest problem with it is really the fact that it can be controlled at a will. Is it controlled at a cellular level? That wouldn't make alot of sense, because you can't really control individual cells at a will. That would suggest that either Lux control occurs at a systemic level, or perhaps they have a different set of organs that permit them to distort Lux fields on command, something that runs throughout the body akin to another set of nerves.
There are another couple of problems regarding Lux, and ones that I don't really have a speculative answer for. The first is quantitative conservation of energy. That is, a being that size couldn't produce anywhere near the raw energy required to do what a mage does. It's much like the so-called 'milkshake' problem that arose with the plot of the movie 'Reign of Fire' and 'The Matrix'. Namely: biological beings are not very good sources of power in and of themselves. Now that I think of it, I do have a speculative answer for this in the form of them drawing untapped Lux from other organisms and artificially generated sources (like the Luxfont).
The next problem I can think of with this theory is how Lux interacts with ordinary matter. It's effects are so wide and varied that it doesn't really look like a fundamental force at all. How can one force be responsible for such diverse effects? The closest force that we can observe (directly or in-) that comes to that is electromagnetism, but even it is a far cry from the supposed capabilities of Lux.
And finally, there is a question of how Lux is held spatially. At times, it seems to just float about irrespective of any physical source. Now, maybe that's just because we don't have the full picture. It could be that there are objects at set distances that act as 'anchors' or 'guideposts' ... or maybe 'power poles' would be a better analogy for the leylines.
I think if you could explain the 'why' of all the sheer diversity of effects it has, then you could very plausibly pass this off as a scientifically-defined fundamental force.
Hmmm... back to units of measurement. Okay, let's assign Lux the fundamental field characteristics for the sake of argument. Every point in the field would have a potential. 'rehj' would be a measurement of the difference in potential between two points in the Lux field.
The first step to defining a system of units for Lux would be to define a unity measurement for a static Lux charge. That is, we need to adopt a baseline of '1' for a charge of Lux that isn't changing. It's just sitting there. We could pick anything we wanted, but let's try to keep it with the metric system. For the moment, we'll call the unity charge 1 Nib. (No, there's no particular reason I picked that.)
Now, in order to be a fundamental force, it has to be conservative. That means that the potential energy stored by 'pushing' a lux-charged particle against a static lux field is the same between any two points, independent of what path you took to get there. (this is assuming that like charges repulse and opposite attract, which is implied in the strip where the workings of the luftship are explained) This energy would be measured in Joules, to stick with metric. In order to remain conservative, and for all Lux to be equal, bringing a charge of 2 Nib would have to take twice as much energy (in the form of work) to bring it to the same distance as a 1 Nib charge.
This would lead us to define Lux potential:
Lux potential = work / charge
Where Lux potential is the equivalent of voltage. Thus, 1 rehj = 1 J/Nib.
(yes, I'm developing this like electricity)
As it turns out, the rest of the definitions are circular. So, either one would need to simply adopt a standard charge and define all other measurements by it, or one would need some sort of benchmark standard by which to define the haye (ampere). For amps, the definition is convoluted and refers to the physical characteristics of electrical flow through a wire: Definition of an Ampere. Without something similar on which to base Lux, we can't really go any further.
Though, if I take the time and REALLY think about it, I might be able to later. We'll have to see.
[edit - URL fix]
'Lux' could easily be a fundamental force. String theory (and later, M-theory) have predicted an abundance of particles (some variants even predict infinite particles) that have never been accounted for, including ones that seem to defy physics. For example, it predicts massless particles (gravitons), particles that go faster than light (tenatively dubbed 'tachyons'), and particles that can slip in and out of the boundaries of our universe.
So, what characteristics would Lux have?
- Extrapolating from the known forces, it's likely that it would obey an inverse-square law. (Strength decreases proportional to the distance squared) This seems to be confirmed by the fact that they can't quickly 'recharge' unless close to a ley-line.
- Energy can be stored in the form of Lux, and we've seen ample evidence of that.
- As a fundamental force, Lux would have to obey the conservation of energy. At first, this was a puzzlement to me. But then it occured to me that it isn't actually created by living beings, but rather converted from other forms.
- It would need a mediator particle, but that's plausibly enough worked into string theory, as stated above.
So, then the biggest problem with it is really the fact that it can be controlled at a will. Is it controlled at a cellular level? That wouldn't make alot of sense, because you can't really control individual cells at a will. That would suggest that either Lux control occurs at a systemic level, or perhaps they have a different set of organs that permit them to distort Lux fields on command, something that runs throughout the body akin to another set of nerves.
There are another couple of problems regarding Lux, and ones that I don't really have a speculative answer for. The first is quantitative conservation of energy. That is, a being that size couldn't produce anywhere near the raw energy required to do what a mage does. It's much like the so-called 'milkshake' problem that arose with the plot of the movie 'Reign of Fire' and 'The Matrix'. Namely: biological beings are not very good sources of power in and of themselves. Now that I think of it, I do have a speculative answer for this in the form of them drawing untapped Lux from other organisms and artificially generated sources (like the Luxfont).
The next problem I can think of with this theory is how Lux interacts with ordinary matter. It's effects are so wide and varied that it doesn't really look like a fundamental force at all. How can one force be responsible for such diverse effects? The closest force that we can observe (directly or in-) that comes to that is electromagnetism, but even it is a far cry from the supposed capabilities of Lux.
And finally, there is a question of how Lux is held spatially. At times, it seems to just float about irrespective of any physical source. Now, maybe that's just because we don't have the full picture. It could be that there are objects at set distances that act as 'anchors' or 'guideposts' ... or maybe 'power poles' would be a better analogy for the leylines.
I think if you could explain the 'why' of all the sheer diversity of effects it has, then you could very plausibly pass this off as a scientifically-defined fundamental force.
Hmmm... back to units of measurement. Okay, let's assign Lux the fundamental field characteristics for the sake of argument. Every point in the field would have a potential. 'rehj' would be a measurement of the difference in potential between two points in the Lux field.
The first step to defining a system of units for Lux would be to define a unity measurement for a static Lux charge. That is, we need to adopt a baseline of '1' for a charge of Lux that isn't changing. It's just sitting there. We could pick anything we wanted, but let's try to keep it with the metric system. For the moment, we'll call the unity charge 1 Nib. (No, there's no particular reason I picked that.)
Now, in order to be a fundamental force, it has to be conservative. That means that the potential energy stored by 'pushing' a lux-charged particle against a static lux field is the same between any two points, independent of what path you took to get there. (this is assuming that like charges repulse and opposite attract, which is implied in the strip where the workings of the luftship are explained) This energy would be measured in Joules, to stick with metric. In order to remain conservative, and for all Lux to be equal, bringing a charge of 2 Nib would have to take twice as much energy (in the form of work) to bring it to the same distance as a 1 Nib charge.
This would lead us to define Lux potential:
Lux potential = work / charge
Where Lux potential is the equivalent of voltage. Thus, 1 rehj = 1 J/Nib.
(yes, I'm developing this like electricity)
As it turns out, the rest of the definitions are circular. So, either one would need to simply adopt a standard charge and define all other measurements by it, or one would need some sort of benchmark standard by which to define the haye (ampere). For amps, the definition is convoluted and refers to the physical characteristics of electrical flow through a wire: Definition of an Ampere. Without something similar on which to base Lux, we can't really go any further.
Though, if I take the time and REALLY think about it, I might be able to later. We'll have to see.
[edit - URL fix]
Last edited by Aurrin on Fri Nov 12, 2004 8:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Yuoofox
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- Location: Florida, U.S.A.
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I think there is value in comparing fantasy stories with real life. For instance, we might never have gone to the moon if it had not been for people like Jules Verne or Arthur C. Clarke.
However, sometimes people do so much comparing that they miss the story. Some Star Trek people do this.
There is a balance.
[Sorry, I'm a little out of it today. I've been up since 2:00AM this morning, and school has been rough.]
However, sometimes people do so much comparing that they miss the story. Some Star Trek people do this.
There is a balance.
[Sorry, I'm a little out of it today. I've been up since 2:00AM this morning, and school has been rough.]
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The JAM
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[...unWARP!!!]
Good evening.
It totally escaped me that lux would be completely different from electromagnetism, from the way that Aurrin described it. Since it's obviously not a flow of electrons or electomagnetic waves, but a completely new force, let's say that just as light (electromagnetism) is composed of photons and gravity of gravitons (I think), then (for the sake of science fiction) the mediator particle of lux is the luxon.
The luxon would be a particle that more or less allows for living organisms to use the properties Aurrin described, and which we see portrayed in the comic.
Now that we have a "base", sort of, what else can we add?
Say, Ralph, lux doesn't need to flow in a circuit in order to do its job, does it?
...amazing what you can come up with while pedalling on your commute...
Good evening.
It totally escaped me that lux would be completely different from electromagnetism, from the way that Aurrin described it. Since it's obviously not a flow of electrons or electomagnetic waves, but a completely new force, let's say that just as light (electromagnetism) is composed of photons and gravity of gravitons (I think), then (for the sake of science fiction) the mediator particle of lux is the luxon.
The luxon would be a particle that more or less allows for living organisms to use the properties Aurrin described, and which we see portrayed in the comic.
Now that we have a "base", sort of, what else can we add?
Say, Ralph, lux doesn't need to flow in a circuit in order to do its job, does it?
...amazing what you can come up with while pedalling on your commute...
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Rich-online
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Another Perspective
Of course, if you want to describe lux in terms of polarities, you might be able to say it's like duct tape: it has a light side, it has a dark side, and it holds the universe together. 
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Earl McClaw
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That would make lux more like electromagnetism, wouldn't it?The JAM wrote:It totally escaped me that lux would be completely different from electromagnetism,... then (for the sake of science fiction) the mediator particle of lux is the luxon.
Maybe we should start over with a careful analysis of how lux already works...
Earl McClaw invites you to visit Furryco and the DGL. (Avatar used with permission of Ralph Hayes, Jr.)
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StrangeWulf13
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From what I remember of my conversations with Ralph on IRC, the whole thing is supposed to be a simplified version of electricity, and the rules governing it. This is why the spells are a lot like computer programs running through runes that act as circuitry.
=P I dunno if he wants to get as complex as you guys. Things like this would probably happen a long time in the Racona Daihm's future... when Quentyn is a legend in himself.
=P I dunno if he wants to get as complex as you guys. Things like this would probably happen a long time in the Racona Daihm's future... when Quentyn is a legend in himself.
I'm lost. I've gone to find myself. If I should return before I get back, please ask me to wait. Thanks.
Don't hide it...DISPLAY IT PROUDLY.....!Aurrin wrote:Heh heh... funny world, eh?
*hides star trek movie DVD collection*
I'm a "Trekkie" (NOT "Trekker") too. MOF my avatar "Shaaruuk" (pronounced: "Sha-rook")was created for the Star Trek RPG. I've got a friend who's a professional SFX make-up artist who has turned me into several Fur characters beginning with Shaaruuk for Trek-con costume contests. I've won every contest I've ever entered.....15.
Shaaruuk
We are NOT surrounded.....this is a "target rich" environment!
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Mjolnir
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Not to blow my own trumpet or anything, but some of my fellow Trekkies might be involved in a little project some friends of mine and I are involved in.Sharuuk wrote:Don't hide it...DISPLAY IT PROUDLY.....!
I'm a "Trekkie" (NOT "Trekker") too. MOF my avatar "Shaaruuk" (pronounced: "Sha-rook")was created for the Star Trek RPG. I've got a friend who's a professional SFX make-up artist who has turned me into several Fur characters beginning with Shaaruuk for Trek-con costume contests. I've won every contest I've ever entered.....15.
http://www.ussjustice.org/tales7thfleet.htm
Trust me, I know it's not great. The sound is horrible, the writing could use improvement and the acting sucks. However, we've improved everything for the 2nd episode (currently in production).
- Mjolnir
You misunderstand me....NO OFFENCE TAKEN in any way. I'm proud of how much fun I have at cons. I treasure having pictures of me with every cast member of the original series as well as the other three spin-offs, STTNG, DS-9, and Voyager.Yuoofox wrote:Oh, yes. I mean no offense to my trekkie friends. I'm a fan of The Next Generation myself.
The best part is that when I get into make-up, I not only get to become someone else, I get to become something else, and I'm surrounded by several hundred others who enjoy a good healthy living fantasy for a week-end.
Shaaruuk
We are NOT surrounded.....this is a "target rich" environment!
NOT BAD AT ALL!!!! I've seen, hell, DONE a LOT worse and I've worked with pros on several occasions.Not to blow my own trumpet or anything, but some of my fellow Trekkies might be involved in a little project some friends of mine and I are involved in.
http://www.ussjustice.org/tales7thfleet.htm
Dude....you got NOTHIN' to apologize for.
Shaaruuk
We are NOT surrounded.....this is a "target rich" environment!
Not a sweat man.....I call it like I see it. If it had really sucked, I'd have told you....Mjolnir wrote:Thanks, Shaaruuk. That means allot. But I wasn't lying when I said we've improved stuff for our next episode.Sharuuk wrote:NOT BAD AT ALL!!!! I've seen, hell, DONE a LOT worse and I've worked with pros on several occasions.
Dude....you got NOTHIN' to apologize for.
- Mjolnir
...but not on an open forum.BTW....I like the plot premise of "The Doomsday Machine" re-activated. Do you have any plans to try and explain how this may have occured? Remember, when the Constellation's warp core blew inside that thing, the temprature went to several millions of degrees instantaniously. Yes, the neutronium outer shell contained the blast, but given the near absolute zero temp of deep space, that sudden thermal shock not to mention the concussive blast shock of a matter/anti-matter detonation would have totally destroyed the inner systems of the planet killer. Remember also, Spock reported "zero energy output", and I can't see Kirk leaving that thing drifting in space without first making absolutely sure that it was "dead". That would have included an away team going directly into the guts of it to verify.
This is just an observation on my part, and in NO WAY is meant to lessen the really excellent work you and your team have done. I'm looking foreward to the next "chapter".
Keep it up
Shaaruuk
We are NOT surrounded.....this is a "target rich" environment!
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Mjolnir
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Tales of the Seventh Fleet (definately OT)
I thank you for your tact.Sharuuk wrote:Not a sweat man.....I call it like I see it. If it had really sucked, I'd have told you....
Yes, we will be explaining that. Basically, we've got a huge story-arc planned that will tie in the DDM and several other items that will appear in the next few episodes. The main premise of the show being a way to bridge the gap between the beginning of "Generations" and TNG.Sharuuk wrote:BTW....I like the plot premise of "The Doomsday Machine" re-activated. Do you have any plans to try and explain how this may have occured? Remember, when the Constellation's warp core blew inside that thing, the temprature went to several millions of degrees instantaniously. Yes, the neutronium outer shell contained the blast, but given the near absolute zero temp of deep space, that sudden thermal shock not to mention the concussive blast shock of a matter/anti-matter detonation would have totally destroyed the inner systems of the planet killer. Remember also, Spock reported "zero energy output", and I can't see Kirk leaving that thing drifting in space without first making absolutely sure that it was "dead". That would have included an away team going directly into the guts of it to verify.
Again, I thank you for your praise. Please keep in mind (and this is meant for everyone) that we are always looking for actors/writers/technical people to give us a hand. If anyone is interested, please send me a PM.Sharuuk wrote:This is just an observation on my part, and in NO WAY is meant to lessen the really excellent work you and your team have done. I'm looking foreward to the next "chapter".
Keep it up
- Mjolnir
P.S. 10 bonus points if you figure out which character I play.