ID:152946
 Jun 23 2005, 12:52 pm
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If the distance between point a and point b is one, then half the distance between must be 0.5, and half of that must be 0.25, and half of that must be 0.125… etc etc. but how can two objects possibly touch each other if one considers that half of infinity is still infinity, are we to treat all objects in a code as separate? Assume that an object isn’t actually moving towards its destination but rather to a point just a millionth of a fraction further away than it was expecting to go? How can you possible code two objects to act completely independent of each other, and does our universe even manage to achieve that itself? Sorry been drinking all day and have thought of a few questions…
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That sounds very much like Xeno's Paradox. Do a bit of searching on it. Xeno had a few problems with infinite sums adding up to a finite number.
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Jp wrote:
That sounds very much like Xeno's Paradox. Which really isn't much of a paradox at all. =) The thing with moving objects is that they DON'T behave like that (move half the distance, then half again, then half again). Obviously at some point it's going to cover the whole distance in one "time step". Like, duh! I've always found that "paradox" to be rather stupid. =P | |
In my sober mind I can see that the destination doesn't affect the forces acting on its motion, and also that there never will be zero distance between a and b because no two objects can occupy the same space at the same time... can anybody recommend a hangover cure?
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Things collide because the molecules in each substance repel each other. Electrons in the orbitals and all. They don't need to have the distance between them as zero, just very small.
Incidentally, that offers a marvellous proof of why the electromagnetic force is significantly stronger then gravity. The Earth's gravity is pulling you down with tremendous force, and little electrons can provide enough repulsion to keep you above ground. Yay for electrons! Oh, and Crispy, I'm well aware that it's a stupid 'paradox'. But nobody knows what the hell I'm talking about if I call it 'Xeno's Not-A-Paradox'. And I can't ever remember to put quotation marks around paradox. | |
Jp wrote:
Oh, and Crispy, I'm well aware that it's a stupid 'paradox'. But nobody knows what the hell I'm talking about if I call it 'Xeno's Not-A-Paradox'. And I can't ever remember to put quotation marks around paradox. Heh, fair enough. =) | |
Remember that distance is only a measurement of two objects in realtionship to each other. Therefore distance can not exist alone, it is simply a relationship. Relationship relationship relationship.
You can code two objects to act independently of each other, but they are not independent of their parent.. (in this case the DM language) | |
Lummox JR