dimreepr

The most obvious would be why the Martians couldn’t use their own technology to solve their own problems?

Sounds fun, but be careful, logic is also scrutinised (even more so) and that scenario seems open to much scrutiny.

However hard we try, no-one will ever be able to predict the future (with any accuracy or beyond a week or so) and who knows what direction today’s technology will take? If you want an example of how to write science fiction with plausibility that extends ‘many’ years into the future, read Isaac Asimov (for me ‘the man’) amongst others.

Given that it’s a science fiction project you seem to be getting stuck/fixated on reality rather than just presenting plausibility, it’s really only the glaring mistakes that get any serious critique (though some take, a simple, pleasure from being pedantic enough to point out potential errors). Edit/ no pun/offense intended, cross post

God doesn’t play dice; he’s too busy playing hide and seek.

There’s no need to keep the speed quite so low, it is science fiction. Star Trek props department had a good stab at it...

Thinking about it you could use both engines, as illustrated, for both thrust and lift. By ducting the blowers output, at a guess, 75% of both to lift and 25% (a nice easy ratio for the pipe work) to a simple directional ramjet providing thrust and steering.

Apart from the passenger/s the most weight would be the engines so apposing them on the craft would evenly distribute the weight. Here’s a basic design to illustrate where I would suggest to put your blowers and a suggestion for an insert to help distribute the air more evenly and avoid direct thrust leakage.

Due to the design of a hovercraft thrust isn’t what you need to be calculating, the volume of the air under the skirt when inflated is what you need to work out. 860 cfm sounds enough, to me, for a 1 or 2 man craft. As for positioning, it’s not really important, except for balance, so I’d suggest apposing ends or sides.

Anyone care to speculate?

@Kinkajou Firstly nice post, the only thing I will pull you up on is the potential problem of eating rabbit (rabbit starvation) as a primary dietary constituent.

No problem: 1 The electrode from memory was 0.08. 2 The electrode would probably do 2 or 3 holes depending on depth 3 The speed of operation was quite slow. 4 Yes, although graphite can be used as an electrode, so I imagine anything that conducts and breaks down similarly to steel (the only material generally used as the process is primarily for dies) would possibly work. 5 You can change amperes, voltage, on-time and off-time (the time the electrode is charged). 6 The electrode only is charged the rest of the machine is perfectly insulated (as perfect as a mega tester can measure) The above information comes with the natural haze 20 years absence brings.

I drilled holes down to 0.1mm using a spark eroder with a good degree of accuracy.

I wonder if it’s related to a chimp display, essentially making lots of noise to impress the ladies, but as our intelligence grew and our language developed, maybe it’s a more refined version; noise level equals excitement level.

Maybe I should ponder this further and respond tomorrow? But for me; the more obvious the explanation is, the easier it is to explain. Perhaps a perspective provided by another member would help, who knows at this point?

To simply take the literal definition of the words: culture and bought, to extrapolate an answer, is in no way enlightening; have you misunderstood the question perhaps?

No, please explain?

Whilst reading this, very dubious thread, I was struck by the following question, so rather than hijack it, I’ll start another. Culture, is all encompassing for each and every one of us, our individual culture informs our every thought. Could an industry really be so powerful as to thwart that? Many try, via advertising, PR etc, but by how much do they really impact our lives, other than in a superficial way; do they go deep enough? The media would have us believe companies like Coke and McDonalds do so, on a daily basis, but, as they are a reflection/exaggeration of the existing culture; are they the informed or the informer? Could one company really become so ‘all encompassing’ in any one society as to directly inform the indigenous culture or is this just fodder for science fiction writers?

This design seems vulnerable to forward collapse, especially with a lot of grip on the top surface; maybe using lots more screws than you think sensible would solve the potential problem. Edit/ or using thicker supports

Read this, @Arjun Deepak Shriram how exactly do you get this ‘do from an is’?

Maybe, but don't forget, distance is relative...

The problem with a great idea derived in a pub is twofold, firstly, the idea is probably not that great and secondly the expression of that idea is probably not that well expressed (the odd pint or two is probably responsible). To clarify my question, the POV of the observer means increments would be measureable, my question, however, is from the POV of the traveller; wouldn’t any speed greater than c mean an instantaneous journey for said traveller?

Let us suppose the speed of light isn’t insurmountable, would superluminal travel have increments? As in star trek ‘warp speed 9’ and so on, or would any trip at superluminal velocities be instantaneous? Using the train analogy to describe time dilation, the photon has to travel further and therefore time runs slower relative to the observer, extending this analogy, when travelling at superluminal speeds light would never catch up, hence instantaneous.

The most obvious and perhaps easiest solution would be to attach the plank to the left edge of the stairs via hinges and simply fold away when not required.

That reminds me. Why do homeopaths always go to heaven? St Peter figures they’re close enough.