This is topic TNG Graphic in forum Starships & Technology at Flare Sci-Fi Forums.


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Posted by Cadet Sorak (Member # 874) on :
 
Hi, all...

There's a nagging question I've been wanting to ask for quite some time now, and I think y'all are the right bunch to ask...

What's with the big ol' flash when the Enterprise-D (or any starship after it, for that matter) enters warp? There's the initial bright flash emanating from the nacelles, then as the ship disappears, there's another flash.

Can anyone tell me what that is? (Theoretical physics/technology please, no real-life speculation and/or show analysis.)
 

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Posted by Mucus (Member # 24) on :
 
It looks cool.

Note how TOS used no effect, the movies used many including a rainbow effect, etc.
Its like a screen saver option that captains can choose, to impress audiences when they pass by starbases, planets, and other starships.

Download winamp and a few visualizations if you want to learn more.
 

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Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
 
Cherenkov radiation, perhaps.
 

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Posted by Akira (Member # 850) on :
 
WOW thats the best answer i have ever seen
 

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Posted by Dr. Phlox (Member # 878) on :
 
*stares at the link wondering what all the pretty symbols mean*
 

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Posted by Guardian 2000 (Member # 743) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Dr. Phlox:
*stares at the link wondering what all the pretty symbols mean*

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Try this:
"Speed of sound" is to "sonic boom" as "Speed of light (via warp)" is to "photonic boom".
 

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Posted by Mucus (Member # 24) on :
 
Except that wouldn't explain why the same ship would make different effects in different ST movies.
Next!
 

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Posted by Capped In Mic (Member # 709) on :
 
well if its a screen saver type thing all Kirk had to do was double click a few times.
 

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Posted by E. Cartman (Member # 256) on :
 
The first flashy thingy is produced by the plasma stream thingamajiggs energizing the field coilamabobs, creating the subspace bubblemacallit.

The second flashy thingy is a byproduct of the ship crossing the warp barrier, and consists of exotic technobabblicles being ejaculated from the subspace thresholdojumble.
 

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Posted by Dr. Phlox (Member # 878) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Guardian 2000:

quote:

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Originally posted by Dr. Phlox:
*stares at the link wondering what all the pretty symbols mean*

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Try this:
"Speed of sound" is to "sonic boom" as "Speed of light (via warp)" is to "photonic boom".

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Ah, I see, so it's a boom of light as opposed to sound? Cool. I get it.
 

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Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
 
Except we also hear a boom...

Not that I'm complaining.
 

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Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
 
When an aircraft breaks the speed of sound there is also an accompanying puff of vapor, which is what I always figured the flash was.....

or, it is that missing 5th light you all talk about....
 

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