BEBruns
11-19-2006, 08:53 PM
OK. Entering full Trekkie geek mode here.
It has long been established that in the orignal series, the warp factor was the cube root of the velocity divided by the speed of light. In other words, Warp 2 is 8 times the speed of light. Warp 3 is 27 times the speed of light, etc.
However, as I rewatch the series on DVD and in the new enhanced versions, it is obvious this wasn't the intent when the show was in production. For instance, in "Arena" at one point they state that they are traveling at warp 6 (and it is very dangerous to sustain warp 7 for any length of time). Kirk asks there location and the navigator says "22.3 parsecs past the latest chart limit."
Unfortunately, Warp 6 translates to 216 times the speed of light, or a little less than .6 light years per day. At this speed, it would take about 4 months to travel 22.3 parsecs (72.9 light years).
In a number of episodes, the ship is traveling at warp for three or four days and it is implied that they are traveling a great distance. Actually, this would only take them to a neighboring star system. In fact, it would take about a week to get from Earth to Alpha Centauri.
Then there is "The Squire of Gothos." It is stated several times that Trelane's planet is 900 light years from Earth. If you traveled in a straight light at Warp 6 with no stops, this would take over 4 years. (Of course, the episode also implies that the show takes place around the year 2700, but that's easier to explain away.)
Apparently, the warp factor was created for the same reason they used stardates. It allowed them to imply great speed without pinning down the actual velocity.
So two questions. Where did this the warp factor cubed formula come from? I believe it was in THE MAKING OF STAR TREK (published between the second and third seasons), but who came up with it? Is there any on-screen evidence to support this figure? The only one I remember is the first episode of ENTERPRISE, where Archer gave the speed in kilometers per second. (Of course that episode also said the Klingon homeworld was only 4 days away.)
Secondly, what should the actual formula be? Warp factor to the fourth power times the speed of light works out better, although even then there are some problems. I doubt they were pursuing the Gorn ship for three weeks.
And don't get me started with the multi-plane stars speeding past the ship.
It has long been established that in the orignal series, the warp factor was the cube root of the velocity divided by the speed of light. In other words, Warp 2 is 8 times the speed of light. Warp 3 is 27 times the speed of light, etc.
However, as I rewatch the series on DVD and in the new enhanced versions, it is obvious this wasn't the intent when the show was in production. For instance, in "Arena" at one point they state that they are traveling at warp 6 (and it is very dangerous to sustain warp 7 for any length of time). Kirk asks there location and the navigator says "22.3 parsecs past the latest chart limit."
Unfortunately, Warp 6 translates to 216 times the speed of light, or a little less than .6 light years per day. At this speed, it would take about 4 months to travel 22.3 parsecs (72.9 light years).
In a number of episodes, the ship is traveling at warp for three or four days and it is implied that they are traveling a great distance. Actually, this would only take them to a neighboring star system. In fact, it would take about a week to get from Earth to Alpha Centauri.
Then there is "The Squire of Gothos." It is stated several times that Trelane's planet is 900 light years from Earth. If you traveled in a straight light at Warp 6 with no stops, this would take over 4 years. (Of course, the episode also implies that the show takes place around the year 2700, but that's easier to explain away.)
Apparently, the warp factor was created for the same reason they used stardates. It allowed them to imply great speed without pinning down the actual velocity.
So two questions. Where did this the warp factor cubed formula come from? I believe it was in THE MAKING OF STAR TREK (published between the second and third seasons), but who came up with it? Is there any on-screen evidence to support this figure? The only one I remember is the first episode of ENTERPRISE, where Archer gave the speed in kilometers per second. (Of course that episode also said the Klingon homeworld was only 4 days away.)
Secondly, what should the actual formula be? Warp factor to the fourth power times the speed of light works out better, although even then there are some problems. I doubt they were pursuing the Gorn ship for three weeks.
And don't get me started with the multi-plane stars speeding past the ship.