Talk:Irresistible force paradox
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[edit] About WoW
I haven't played WoW, but if it's similar to other rpgs, a two-handed weapon cannot be used together with a shield; given that The Unstoppable Force is a two-handed mace and The Immovable Object is a shield, a player wouldn't be able to use both at the same time, which might be a referrence to the fact that an irresistible force and an immovable object cannot exist in the same universe.
[edit] Existence of irresistable force
I agree that no object is immovable, however, I would argue that not only do irresistable forces exist, but, in fact, all forces are "irresistable". The gravitational attraction from one atom in a hair on your head is acting on the Andromeda galaxy such that, absent a counter-force, the two will be inevitably drawn together (although this would take a nearly infinite amount of time to occur). So, what happens when you try to push a car and it doesn't move ? Well, if you could push without standing on the ground, then you would be pushing the car and the entire Earth, thus changing it's spin rate/direction (by an amount well below anything we can detect). This is because the friction between the car and the Earth has the two locked together, at least for that amount of force. However, since you are standing on the Earth, your feet are creating an equal irresistable force in the other direction, so there is no change at all, as the forces are balanced.
Another example might be the effect of the force of space dust on the Earth. Each particle exerts a tiny force on the Earth when it hits, increasing or decreasing it's rate of spin, or changing the direction of spin, depending on the relative velocity. Again, the effect of each individual grain is undetectable, but the collective effect, over billions of years, may be. This effect, along with the increase in mass of the planet, should on average slow the Earth's rotation over time. Other factors, such as the interaction with the Moon, larger meteors, and solar wind, may also contribute to the slowing of the Earth's rotation. StuRat 11:18, 10 October 2005 (UTC)
Actually there is one force which may be considered irresistable - the gravity around a black hole. The interesting thing about this is that general relativity allows an object falling in to a black hole to consider itself stationary. This means an immovable object can fall into a black hole without contradicting either premise. -BadJim
One interesting thing to note about this paradox is that it is one that can be replicated virtually to see the effects. For instance, in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, players have spawned boulders (objects that, due to their programming (or lack thereof), are completely immovable regardless of the situation) on the tracks of an AI-controlled trolley (which itself is programmed to be unstoppable by any barricade whatsoever, and cannot even be slowed). Once the trolley reached to boulder, it simply passed through it. While physically this would be impossible, it is interesting to note that it still allows both objects to retain their properties (that is, if you take 'immovable' by its literal sense and not as something that cannot be penetrated/broken etc.). This is pretty useless in real-world discussion, I realise, but it is food for thought if nothing else.
When an irresistable force meets an immovable object you get an unmeasurable event. Nli10 13:21, 9 January 2006 (UTC)
As stupid as referencing GTA is for science, this is actually a great point. (a particular choice of words will demonstrate my vast scientific knowledge and credibility): Through quantum-like stuff, two things can be in the same place as their waves combine or something. I assume this means they can pass through eachother and junk. This may be the same thing as saying "an irresistable force and immovable object are the same thing", since we're reducing them both to energy waves. Of course, their irresistable nature may imply that the wavey things are already as wavular as they can be, but as you might be able to tell, I've like reached the limit of my own understanding or whatever. -- Vstarre 19:49, 23 May 2006 (UTC)
- No, when an irresistable force meets an immovable object, you get a lot of fireworks, an irresistable object, and an immovable force. --Carnildo 07:58, 13 February 2006 (UTC)
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- Fireworks? Where would they come from? Sounds like a violation of thermodynamics to me.--- [vstarre] 01:04, 29 November 2006 (UTC)
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- Again, I say there is no real paradox, because no object is immovable. (All unbalanced forces are irresistable, however.) StuRat 08:10, 13 February 2006 (UTC)
This is just I throwing my opinion out there. It’s true that this can be taken from a rational or a theoretical point of view. Rationally, in my belief, an immovable object can't exist. As mentioned earlier, there is irresistible energy. Every atom and how ever far you wish to break it down has some effect on the rest of the universe no matter how minute. Energy can't be created or destroyed, just concentrated or displaced. Theoretically or speculatively, if you indeed had an immovable object, the energy could deflect off similar to light, my primary question in response was, what if the immovable object was much like a conduit. After further thought I realized that if it was indeed immovable than it couldn't be made of the same building blocks that construct the rest of the universe. So to me, energy/force, which ever you want to call it could not in fact pass through the object. So the only way the irresistible force/energy could collide with an immovable object without canceling each other our or being their own demise, is if it was refracted off, without actually being "resisted". Yes, probably to any scholar this sounds rather half-baked. It’s my logic so I apologize if anyone found this lack luster. -Sennune
If an unstoppable force were to exist, wouldn't it not be able to stay on Earth because it either: can't be moved by the Earth's rotation; or it would float because it can't be pulled by gravity. Unless gravity is the irresistable force which proves the non-existance of an immovable object? The-Rob 02:01, 6 February 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Additional Solution
The annwer that I heard is that "The Immovable Object will be displaced in time." Don't know if anyone wants to include this answer in the article, though. Hi There 07:39, 4 September 2006 (UTC)
A solution? If the unmovable object were immovable in relation to the universe, then the unstoppable object would take the immovable object and the entire universe with it.
If the immovable object was immovable in relation to the space-time continuum, expect either instantaneous destruction of the space-time continuum, or the unstoppable object going through the space-time continuum (i.e. through another dimension).
[edit] Pop Culture addition
pretty sure Andre vs Hogan match at wrestlemania was referred to using this paradox... dont have the citation though.
