star trek mistake

[Professor Brensec]

Hmmm,(raises eyebrow, and smiles) The Professor has spoken. (Cocks head, scratches chin, folds arms..........and walks slowly away to quarters to ponder.)I shall have to give it further study..........

LOL  

[chomp_rock]

Yeah, as I recall, in Star Wars, the was a lot of fire in space... How can there be fire if there's no oxygen (or O2 for you scientific types...) to fuel it?

That is probably the air in the cockpit when a ship explodes.

[Deputy]

Okay okay. Something I just thought about, and, now I'm curious about it.  We all were taught in school, that in space, no sounds can be heard because of the lack of air. Here's what I want to know. What would happen, if somebody took a bottle of compressed air, and let it all out. What would that sound like in space? Or would it make a sound at all?

[SabreHawk]

Hmmm, interesting...............let us take this a step further, ....................if I farted in space,........ would THAT make a sound!!
Worse yet,...............would you be able to smell it!!!!!!!!! :-/

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

You know this discussion could go on forever.
With my limited education and knowledge of aviation and space (I have only been a Senior Commercial Pilot for thirty years) I have seen a lot of things change.

For example: A pound of Feathers and a Pound of steel dropped to-gether at the same height  hit the ground at the same time as was taught years ago.

Whether you agree or not we can't even define the term SPACE to-day accurately.  We listen to a number of people WHICH  you can count on both hands give their interpretation of space.

Until we share information and spend a lot more money your argument will go on and on. cheers Doug

[Professor Brensec]

Too true, Trucker!  Too true

As for WesternSky's question, I suppose if the bottle of compressed air was right near your ear, and when it was released there was a 'conduit' (for want of a better description) of air particles for the 'hissing' sound to be transferred, yes you would hear it.
But we are really splitting hairs here. There can be discussions about all sorts of things, especially those occurring in Nature (again, for want of a better term) about which there is little understanding, but a number of theories, suggesting on thing or another.

However, aside from these issues, there is a branch of science called Physics. One of my favorite people (until he passed away a few years ago) was one of your countrymen, whom I'm not sure gained as much notoriety in the US as he did here and in Britain. His name..........Professor Julius Sumner Miller.
His explanation as to what Physics was, or it's definition, if you like:

"The study of why things are as they are, and not otherwise".  

There are no thoeries, no arguments, no ponderances, just rules and facts governed by those rules. Like the 'pound of feathers and the pound of steel' that Trucker speaks of, the 'Laws of Physics' state that objects of equal mass are acted upon identically by gravity regardless of their physical size or shape, although, resistance to air movement and such cause this rule to be difficult to prove in the 'outside world', they are nonetheless rules for which sometimes, there is no particular reason or explanation. Just the fact that it is, as it is!.  ;D

[Professor Brensec]

Hmmm, interesting...............let us take this a step further, ....................if I farted in space,........ would THAT make a sound!!
Worse yet,...............would you be able to smell it!!!!!!!!! :-/

As above, if you farted in my ear, yes I would probably hear it, if there were particles (of air and methane etc) close enough together to transfer the sound, over the whole distance from your arse to my eardrum. But it will never happen. I can assure you of that!!  ;D

Yes you could smell it, aromas are carried by the particles that make up the particular chemicals, so consequently, they only rely on their own mobility to be transferred. But, I recall reading at some point that some aromas rely on a mixture of oxygen (or other component) to be 'activated'. But I'm pretty sure this is not true of farts!  ;D
Plus in Space, a nose full of fart, with no oxygen mix, would certainly be deadly!!!  ;D

[SabreHawk]

Well, heh, If I do fart...........in space..........you wont be seein me fer awhile. It'll take a few light years to get back from where it'll send me!!

No hyperDrive needed..................just beans & cornbread