What does a warp drive consist of?

Answer 1

Hi Ash

Im afraid 'Warp Drives' are science fiction.

The term Warp implies a speed greater than light which is currently not possible. Warp was conceived by Roddenberry et.al. during the production of 'StarTrek' series.

He explored the foundations of the sound barrier, where we can travel faster than the speed of sound - which is indeed science fact - most planes travel several times the speed of sound. This is referred to as 'Mach' speed given a scale of Mach 1, 2,3...and so on.


He conceived the fictional idea of traveling faster than the speed of light and coined the term Warp with scales of Warp 1,2,3...and so on.

The prospect of traveling faster than the speed of light is really exciting isn't it, but it holds many complications. One being the speed of light is so enormous, it would take us, with our current technology and understanding, years to reach it as acceleration results in G Force and we can only cope with so much G (I think we black out at 8G) so we would have to accererate slowley. The depiction in Star Trek where they hit a button and BAM your at Warp 1 would throw the crew against the wall in a pulp - indeed through that wall. Also, at those speeds, even a tiny speck of dust would distroy our vessle, remember E=mc2.

There are some space age prepolsion systems, one is like you see on StarTrek and is called an ion engine or electron engine where ions or electrons are accelerated from an exhaust at high speed, and in the almost frictionless environment of space it propells you.

Also, there are nuclear pulse engines, which are essentially tiny controlled nuclear explosions in rapid sequence which produced enormous thrust far beyond conventional rocket technology but it only has application in space due to the dangers.

Authough we can not travel faster than the speed of light - we may be able to one day. If you are interested in this I encourage you to explore it. How could we do it? What would it look like for us in the Craft at such speeds?

This is a really bright question - you have a very enquiring mind - study science, you will do well.

Answer 2

A warp drive consists of a reactionless (aka anti-gravity) drive combined with 'warp' field generator to raise the speed of light within a pocket of space.

The principal being that sublight speeds within the warp bubble will translate into translight speeds outside. E.g. A velocity of 1/2 c within a 10c warp is 5c in space normal.

Warp drives also typically need some form of time compensation, because warp fields accelerate time by the same factor they accelerate light. At 1/2 c it's an 8 year trip to the nearest star. At 5c it's 0.8 years but a 10c warp field will make this seem like 8 years. Now robots don't care, but for humans, warp drives must either contain some non-relativistic time control like suspended animation OR pay the huge energy cost of achieving time dilation by near lightspeed velocities within the bubble.

Finally, although objects at warp typically 'radiate through' objects in space normal, (aka the 'Philadelphia' effect) care must be taken to minimize interaction. For lack of a better term warp drives must include 'shielding'.

Answer 3

i'm not going to start off by saying men are a different sort of animal but to be completly honest they are i don't think they actualy look at love or life the same but there are those certain few out there that think they know everything. i think thats the type of guy you had can't fully coment cause ( there is always two sides to a story). But from what you touched apon in the start of your question it does sound like emotional abuse. there is no way you could have carried on in that type of relationship you would have ended up either resenting each other for you both stopping each other moving on or him bringing you completely down with no self worth which i don't think anyone wants to be in that situation. hope i've been of some help it's obvious that you did have feeling there but when you do finaly realise you've done the right thing you'll feel much better

Answer 4

Warp drive or the "Alcubierre drive", would actually fall into the category of "perceived" faster then light travel. It operates on the same theory as to why we can see galaxies 14 billion light years out, when 14 billion years ago there were no galaxies out that far to emit light.

There are similarities between warp drive and the Alcubierre drive. But there are also differences. Check out this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive

Answer 5

The Wikipedia article on the Warp Drive gives some information and many further references that I hope would provide you with enough information to satisfy your question.

Answer 6

the ignitions chamber
the status indicator
the thrust box,
connected by the "Feed" tubes
but the most important part is the cooling system, (going into warp speed requires a lot of heat and energy)

but you can't make one anymore, the thrust boxes have gone off the market

Answer 7

In order to tell a good story, science fiction authors require a way to get their characters around various planets. Reality and its annoying speed limits, put a damper on a good story. So authors invent FICTIONAL ways to move their characters around faster than the laws of physics allow. Other authors invent dragons, wizards, and elves to enlighten their fantasy novels. But it is fiction. So are elves. Science fiction authors dream up all sorts of good fake technologies to make their stories more interesting or plausable. force fields, disintegrator rays, aliens, battlestations, and time travel. But its all for the story. They are not in the business of making predictions. They are just story tellers.

Answer 8

Don't forget the warp nacelle!

Answer 9

Dilithiam crystals

Answer 10

Its from Startrek, which is fiction.

Its like asking where is the hill that Jack and Jill went up?