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by ge963 hours ago |
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upvoteby imglorp2 hours ago|
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> I guess it looks like it's down since it's a slice but the effect is an inward sphere?

Yes, gravity is a vector field: every point in space near a heavy body has a vector pointed at the center of the body with a magnitude of the field strength. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_field

Whenever someone uses fabric sheet analogy, they need to shout that the X-Y of the sheet is a 2 dimensional analog of X-Y-Z space, and the Z direction of the sheet is the field magnitude, with the slope indicating direction.

All models are wrong, but some are useful (for understanding).

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upvoteby wrs3 minutes ago|
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The next thing they do after showing you the sheet is to roll a ball around the stretched part to demonstrate an orbit. Explaining how that analogy works starts to take more math than the actual field you’re trying to explain!
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upvoteby ge962 hours ago|
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Other thing is I believe they say gravity is strongest at the center of the sphere/core but I would think the mass is split evenly away from the core eg. maybe 2/3 radius from the center where it's equal mass on each side. But probably doesn't make sense wouldn't be a ball.
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upvoteby recursivecaveat2 hours ago|
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Since the strength is represented by the slope of the sheet (not the depth), it should still line up. Underneath the ball at the very center the sheet will be level, to match as you say, that the field strength is 0 there. The exact shape will probably be wrong though since it's mostly determined by the shape of the bottom of the object.
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upvoteby stevenwoo3 hours ago|
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Just a question - why do you classify Long Way with PHM - because there are aliens working with humans? I don’t see any other similarities. The technology IIRC (haven’t read in years) in the Becky Chambers book is closer to Star Trek than reality, and there’s not that much of an overarching plot - which is not to say a book cannot be good without one but it’s a big difference.
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upvoteby ge962 hours ago|
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True less technical and space themed so maybe not fitting just a fun easy read

Oh yeah another series would be Nick Webb Constitution (Legacy Fleet), I think I got farther into that series but didn't finish it unlike Bobiverse, maybe I did finish this trilogy, I haven't read books in a while honestly. That was a good series though I remember the depiction of the space battles.

Trying to be better at being in the moment vs. watching youtube/scrolling a website at the same time kind of thing

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upvoteby Hikikomori2 hours ago|
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In the vein of popcorn scifi, expeditionary force books are fun.
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upvoteby ge962 hours ago|
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Added to my kindle list, funny I tried to read Gravity's Rainbow as I heard it in a song, I did not get far, on the topic of reading, it is related to rockets but yeah
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upvoteby lstodd3 hours ago|
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it's like an inverse gas bubble underwater, or a liquid blob in gas in microgravity, but without phase border.

see, it's not that easy to explain or visualise.

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upvoteby ge962 hours ago|
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Yeah I watched this video recently about slingshotting I can see how it works but yeah https://youtu.be/-CqBP-CtM0c?si=BdCiZwWgpAp07mgs&t=15

It's not like there is a "down" it's just you're looking at it from a top view?

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upvoteby lstodd2 hours ago|
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There is no down, yes. There is no looking at it from a top view either, since there is no bottom. 3d models like this video are helpful, but one must keep in mind that they are but a slice.
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upvoteby godzillabrennus2 hours ago|
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I doubt my opinion will be well-received by all, but I hope that creators like the author of the Bobiverse will be able to, affordably and within their own capabilities, create new forms of content, such as AI-generated long-form content, like entire TV seasons, as the technology matures. That series is fantastic.
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