the ability of a muscle to twitch is based on the type of muscular fiber [fast- or slow-twitch] and the efficiency of neuro-electric impulses to the muscle itself. the ability to lift significant weight is determined by the density and strength of the protein chains in the muscle, as well as the number of muscular fibers. these are not related aspects of the muscular system, as a large amount of weight can [and often is] lifted slowly when the majority/entirety of the muscular fibers are being used. so, to imply that a super-strong character has the efficiency of neuro-electric impulses to move a part or whole of their body at any respectable fraction of the speed of sound/light is a fallacy based in a lack of understanding of the biological system.
to assume that they should be able to, and chock it up to a superhuman physique/inhuman body structure is in stark contrast to PHYSICS [the way objects move, exist and interact in our universe, and topic of this thread] and is without any [sound or otherwise] LOGIC.
not to mention the sapping effect a physical atmosphere has on a body in motion. even objects in freefall, with a positive acceleration [in terms of direction being travelled] hit a terminal velocity as the air they're displacing, as well as the drag being caused, stops the object from gaining speed. without a constant accelerant [such as a series of rocket boosters like those found on space shuttles,] an object's acceleration is negative [due to gravity] from the second it moves upward.
physics points so, so far away from jumping/punching someone into orbit being possible it's not even funny. sorry to break it to you.
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Last edited by Disappear on Jan 29th, 2008 at 08:28 AM
please, friend, dumb down the argument to ignore the topic of the thread. take a physics class, calculate the necessary initial velocity for an object of any mass to reach orbit without constant propulsion, then a biology class to determine the necessary muscular function to provide that initial splurge of upward velocity. then come back and tell me i'm wrong to say your assumption is bad physics.
some quick math i threw together. to reach just outside the ozone layer [approximately 50 kilometers up,] and completely neglecting the immense atmospheric drag, an object fighting gravity alone would need an initial upward velocity of mach 3, assuming the object hits the 50 kilometer mark at its peak [velocity equalling zero meters per second.] a LOW earth orbit is at six times that height, due to the differences in atmospheric friction, and an object will not get into orbit by hitting that height with no speed as it would simply begin falling. a standard LEO [low earth orbit] can reach up to 2000 kilometers above the earth's surface. to actually attain orbit, it needs to continue moving incredibly quickly [typically seven kilometers per second, or 7000 meters per second. that's mach 20.] and that's at a vector corresponding to the curve of the earth, not straight up. meaning, it'd need to be moving faster to hit orbit as moving at an angle to the earth creates a longer distance needed to reach orbital heights.
there isn't a damn thing in the world that can naturally achieve the proper initial velocity to reach orbit on it's own. atmospheric resistance increases with velocity [see: terminal velocity.] it's just not possible.
Unless of course you know the fast twitch muscles also become upgraded. Which if a person's bones, internal organs, muscles all become upgraded I would also assume that his fast-twitch muscles would also become better. Just an observation.
I would also like to point out a anything can reach escape velocity, and continue along past the atmosphere if given enough force. Even if it isn't under constant acceleration. So terminal velocity once again can be overcome and gone past if given enough force.
It's a good thing these things happen in a comic world where people are strong enough to lift mountains, and islands you know.
You see I don't think this is a thread to say what is impossible in our world, but what is impossible in their world even given their abilities.
Like lifting a building without in crumbling because of no support, kind of thing. Because with the strength levels I would be willing to bet a number of people could reach those numbers.
Simple really but I dunno people just wanna argue. *shrug*
This is what I suspected hence your complaint about street levelers KOing class 100s but then again it could still be argued that in their world it could be possible.
At any rate even in real world phyics a superhuman body could jump out of orbit it just needs to be superhuman enough.
__________________ Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.
- General George Patton Jr
Last edited by Deadline on Jan 30th, 2008 at 05:55 PM
A long time ago, in a thread far, far away, I worked out the math to this. IIRC, it would take Superman 500 years to absorb enough energy to withstand a single megaton bomb.
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Shinier than a speeding bullet.
Also there should be a limit to supes sun absorption. Its not like he has infinite mass. batteries do have their charge limit. Once he reaches his charge limit it shouldnt matter if he is there 1 year or 1 million years, he would have the same charge.
If Supes did reach a theoretical 'charge limit' would he explode ? Or would the effects be Identical to All-Star Supermans (EG : Rapid Cell death, regeneration and thus shortening of life span)
fast-twitch muscles capable of immediately creating force significant enough to create an upward velocity far greater than mach 27. within an atmosphere. while standing on top of a structure capable of withstanding the force itself, thus repelling the object upward. sounds likely.
if you're going to engage in a thread regarding good or bad physics/biology/chemistry/science-of-any-kind, then dismiss rational arguments with the fantasy of "superhuman" this and that, why bother in the first place?
also, even in comic universes, constants such as gravity, atmosphere, wind resistance, normal force, and the various basic biological functions of the human or superhuman body still apply. a building not crumbling under its own weight isn't disproof of the fundamental characteristics of a physical universe; it's bad science. that's what the thread's about.
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Jan 29th, 2008 08:20 AM
