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Why nor???? (mander.xyz)
submitted 8 months ago by to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] 11 points 8 months ago (12 children)

Question, if I have an unbreakable ring, what cool things could an engineer do with that?

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  • [–] 18 points 8 months ago (3 children)

    Well it's interesting that it makes regular ringing/metallic sounds when it's dropped(at least in the movies), so it is not inelastic. Which means it could be deformed if placed under extreme force but it would always spring back into shape. So I think it might be the world's most powerful spring.

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  • [–] 5 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    is there something useful that can be done with just ONE unbreakable spring?

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  • [–] 5 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    It probably produce/absorb heat somehow when being deformed. Then, we use it to boil water, turn a turbine, and generate power!

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  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago

    That level of power would corrupt even the most noble of mortal minds. Hell, it can even corrupt immortal minds. That level of power cannot be wielded for good intentions without subverting those intentions for evil purposes!

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  • [–] 6 points 8 months ago (6 children)

    It really depends on the other material properties. Like if it's as slippery as nylon vs as slippery as rubber is really gonna change things. Plus how does it react to outside forces trying to destroy it? Absorption? Diffusion? Conversion (like heat into sound or something).

    All that would drastically change what you could do with it

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  • [–] 5 points 8 months ago (5 children)

    the question is, with only ONE of those rings, is there something useful to be done?

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  • [–] 5 points 8 months ago (3 children)

    Sure. For me (computer scientist but went to engineering based school) I'd be most excited about the experimental possibilities.

    I mean if nothing else the potential to have the world's most stable mass and dimensional object could revolutionize measurements, which might not sound the most practical until you realize just how much we rely on dimensional accuracy for so many things.

    There's some experiments where we fire a laser at things, and we're approaching powers (zetawatts) where things basically instantly melt. Having a material that can withstand that could allow experiments that could push our understanding of light, nuclear reactions, quantum mechanics, and more.

    From a practical aspect. If it, say, absorbs heat. Having a limitless heat sink could potentially let us explore deeper into the Earth's core than ever before (where the heat and pressure really caused issues for the drills).

    And all that is just off a few seconds thought from a non engineer.

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  • [–] 4 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    Not sure if it is useful for measurement standards, as it is seen changing size based on the wielder.

    which could be use for stuff. big finger person puts something inside, hand it to someone with smaller fingers, and it has unlimited crushing force.

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  • [–] 4 points 8 months ago

    Well, it doesn't change size based on the wielder. It changes size based on its will and what it percieves will bring it the result it desires. Which is admittedly way more complex and abstract. This is why I said knowing more about it's properties would be extremely important to figuring out how to use it.

    If it only changes size in one direction, like growing bigger to slip off a finger, but the band width never changes, then it would still be extremely useful for some measurements. We also don't know if there's a maximum or minimum to it's size changes which would greatly matter.

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