m1b@rayssd.UUCP (12/19/84)
> >> Much of the science of "2010" is questionable in the face of what we >> knew, know and are learning. A new star appears in the solar system and >> the earth escapes without a tremor. The Leonov embarks without enough >> fuel to either return or slow down. They do "air braking" (without air) >> to slow Leonov as she whips around the planet and into a new orbit. >> How's that for science friction. > > Questionable? To who? Yes a new star does appear and if it popped up out > of nowhere there would be problems - but it didn't, the mass of a currently > exsisting object (one which many scientists believe is a failed star due to > insufficient mass) was increased until it collapses inwards and the pressure > ignites nuclear fusion and bingo! Besides, it stands to reason that the ones > creating the new star would have checked things out to insure there would be > no catalysmic consequences. > -- > Kevin Thompson {ucbvax,ihnp4!nsc}!voder!kevin > I thought the monoliths merely increased the *density* of Jupiter, not the mass. The observation from the Leonov that Jupiter is shrinking would support either idea, though. Joe Barone, {allegra, decvax!brunix, ccieng5}!rayssd!m1b Raytheon Co, Submarine Signal Div., Portsmouth, RI "What weighs more: a ton of bricks or a ton of feathers?!!" :-)
del@dataio.UUCP (Erik Lindberg) (12/21/84)
> > I thought the monoliths merely increased the *density* of Jupiter, > not the mass. The observation from the Leonov that Jupiter is shrinking > would support either idea, though. > Actually, the theory is that Jupitor was very close to being a sun anyway, so only a little upset was necessary to push it over the edge. The monoliths were supposed to add enough *mass* to cause it to implode, causing a tremendous increase in *density*.
carlton@masscomp.UUCP (Carlton Hommel) (12/25/84)
In article <524@dataio.UUCP> del@dataio.UUCP (Erik Lindberg) writes: >> >> I thought the monoliths merely increased the *density* of Jupiter, >> not the mass. The observation from the Leonov that Jupiter is shrinking >> would support either idea, though. >> > >Actually, the theory is that Jupitor was very close to being a sun >anyway, so only a little upset was necessary to push it over the edge. >The monoliths were supposed to add enough *mass* to cause it to >implode, causing a tremendous increase in *density*. My impression is that the monoliths were taking the gas from Jupiter's atmosphere (which is most of the planet, after all) and converting it through a virus replication process into solid matter. (More monoliths, that is.) This compaction in mass, and subsiquent increase in density, is what triggered the solar phoenix. "In any case, we're talking about a technology that can do _anything_ that doesn't defy the laws of physics" p. 296 I don't think the monoliths created extra mass, just compacted what was already there. "...Well, if I'm not allowed to add about ten Jupiter masses, or change the gravitational constant, I suppose I'll have to make the planet denser- hmm, that's an idea..." "When the core became dense enough, Jupiter would collapse- probably in a matter of seconds. The temperature would rise high enough to start fustion." pp. 317-318 Quotations from my second-hand Del Ray paperback. And in the east, a star was born... Merry Christmas, everyone.