In my spare time, I truely considered two of the most unexplained phenomena of ST. The usage of the prefix iso, and why ships warp linear in direction. Here's what I came up with:
1) Usage of the prefix Iso- We know that the prefix "Iso" means, "The same As", so anything with the word iso in front of it means "The same as" something else. Now this word appears ALOT in all the incarnations in Star Trek. Isomagnetic, for example, or Isoton This would mean "the same as magnetic" and "the same as a ton". This could be explained very, very simply with a little logic. It's presumable that in the "past" (in term of the 24th century) there was a period of time when science advanced, new matierals were discovered, and new techniques were available. For example, fission technology, hydrogen to helium, would yield impressive energy, in the range outside of what they could easily comprehend, so the prefix "Iso" was added to the energy, to bring it into a scale. The same as a joule, the same as a megajoule. These prefixes would make it easier to understand the energies and forces applied in these reactions. Isoton can be explained similarly. The same as one ton. It's commonly used in weaponry, and could easily be thought to mean that one torpedo has the equivilant force of 18 tones of some other substance. It yeilds the same as 18 tones. Isoton. This is just a theroy though.
2) Why ships warp in one plane. We know that the real reason is the photography originally used, makes it easy to photograhp in a planar motion. However, in ST terms, we could consider it as an effect of multi-dimensional physics. Between 3 dimensional objects, and n-dimensional subspace. These n-dimensions would have to be manifested in such a way as to interact with 3-dimensional solids. part of this "distilling" of dimensions, could result in a loss of ability to move outside of one plane. That's why all ships appear oriented the same, all stations, all orbits, all everything that appears in the same plane is a result of all ships having to obey this restriction. Subspace loses "integrity" or ability to move unidirectional, once it has to be comformed to 3 dimensional space, and as a result, all ships are restriced to orientation in this way. Warping in other directions would involve re-orienting along another plane vector.
Comments? Suggestions? Ideas? Threats? Money? Offers for Sex? Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
"iso" could mean "causing the same effects as". Perhaps the subspace effects of "isomagnetic" weapons are indistinguishable to magnetics. Torps could cause some subspace or other kind of effect that could be compared to tonnes.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
Rick Sternbach once tried to rationalize it by saying that "iso-" isn't a prefix as much as an acronym for "Interstellar Standards Organization". It didn't take.
Mark
Posted by USSdefiant (Member # 655) on :
quote:Originally posted by Squawk: 2) Why ships warp in one plane. We know that the real reason is the photography originally used, makes it easy to photograhp in a planar motion. However, in ST terms, we could consider it as an effect of multi-dimensional physics. Between 3 dimensional objects, and n-dimensional subspace. These n-dimensions would have to be manifested in such a way as to interact with 3-dimensional solids. part of this "distilling" of dimensions, could result in a loss of ability to move outside of one plane. That's why all ships appear oriented the same, all stations, all orbits, all everything that appears in the same plane is a result of all ships having to obey this restriction. Subspace loses "integrity" or ability to move unidirectional, once it has to be comformed to 3 dimensional space, and as a result, all ships are restriced to orientation in this way. Warping in other directions would involve re-orienting along another plane vector.
Well, it sounds good, but...If they can only move in a one dimentional plane, how do they get to any planets that are not on the same one dimentional plane. Imagine starting from a starbase. From there we go on our one dimentional plane to another starbase. Ok, one dimentional plane, starbases are lined up. But, how the hell are you going to get to another starbase that is "above" the first starbase. The first starbase isn't lined up with that one.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
The obvious explanation is that ships are only limited to one plane at warp speeds, not at impulse.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Uh, I'm confused. Warp planes? Are you talking about the fact that ships are always oriented in the same direction when they meet?
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
Isofascinating. 8)
Posted by Squawk (Member # 313) on :
LOL Isofacinating. The warp speed planes are Isofacing I must not have explained it, but Topher is right, in my theory. At impulse, there is no subspace "distillation" to worry about, so ships are free to move as they please. However, once warp is engaged, they are "locked" onto that plane. Remember Paris? "Faster than light, no left or right" (I don't know how much stock you put into that, but....). That seems to agree that once a ship engages warp, they have to disengage to change heading (and plane)
Posted by J (Member # 608) on :
err... You can turn at warp, we've not only heard of it being done, we've seen it, and the TNG TM gives us a way to do it.
Pump a little more plasma into the right nacelle or pump it in faster than you do on the left nacelle and your ship will drift to the left because that creates a bias in the subspace field. You obviously create a bias that is less than a cochrane in strength, otherwise it would probably tear the ship apart.
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