If warp drive is possible, how would it affect nearby planets?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the hypothetical effects of a warp drive on nearby planets, particularly focusing on the minimum distance required to avoid any gravitational or atmospheric influence. The scope includes speculative reasoning and conceptual exploration of a fictional technology.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how close a warp drive spaceship would need to be to other planets to avoid affecting their orbits, expressing uncertainty about defining a minimum distance.
  • Another participant suggests that warp drives are fictional, implying that discussions about their effects may not yield useful scientific insights.
  • A further comment reiterates the need for the spaceship to be far enough from planets to remain outside their atmospheres, although this does not specify a precise distance.
  • One participant points out that the question posed is considered "impossible" within the context of real science, suggesting that it is more suited for a science fiction discussion.
  • Another participant acknowledges the relocation of the thread to a more appropriate forum for speculative topics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the validity of discussing warp drives in a scientific context, with some asserting that such questions cannot be answered by scientists and others engaging in speculative reasoning about potential effects.

Contextual Notes

The discussion is limited by the fictional nature of warp drives and the lack of established scientific principles governing their hypothetical effects on planetary orbits.

material
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If warp drive was possible, how could it affect the orbit of planets that are close to the warp? I'm not sure how to define how close. Is there a minimum distance the spaceship would need to be from other planets, so that it has no effect?
 
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material said:
Is there a minimum distance the spaceship would need to be from other planets, so that it has no effect?

Far enough to stay outside of their atmospheres.
 
Hi material! I notice you've been a member here on Physics Forums since 04 November 2010. During that time I'm surprised you've not noticed that the type of "impossible" question you've posted here cannot be answered by scientists and engineers. You must know that we here only deal with "real science" in the regular forums.

There is a science fiction area for this question: https://www.physicsforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=219 (Mister Data may help you there.)

Cheers, Bobbywhy
 
Sorry, I wasn't sure where to post the thread, thank you for moving the thread.
 
Please see the sub forum rules. The SF & F section is for the discussion of science fiction and fantasy, not highly speculative science.
 

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