Editing 2088: Schwarzschild's Cat
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
+ | {{incomplete|Created by a SMALL CAT WITH NO CONCEPT OF FIELD EQUATIONS. Could use more explanation of what happens as an event horizon is approached, and background information on the relevant theoretical physics. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
+ | This comic is primarily a wordplay joke about the {{w|Schwarzschild radius}}, or the radius surrounding a black hole corresponding to the {{w|event horizon}}. The event horizon, in turn, is the limit from which nothing can leave a black hole. The joke is that, apparently, smaller cats are cuter, and there is a limit below which a sufficiently small cat (but larger than zero) will approach infinite cuteness, in a similar pattern to the way time's rate for an observer will approach infinity, the closer they get to the event horizon of a black hole. | ||
− | + | It's also a reference to the {{w|Schrödinger's cat}} thought-experiment, since the names (Erwin) "Schrödinger" and (Karl) "Schwarzschild" are somewhat similar and both men were interested in quantum physics. | |
− | + | The title text makes multiple allusions. First, it alludes to what happens when an object falls into a black hole. From an outside observer's point of view, such objects appear to slow down and take an infinite amount of time to cross the Schwarzschild radius due to the time dilation of {{w|General relativity}}. The object's photons will become increasingly red-shifted, fading as they lose energy to the black hole's gravity well. | |
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− | The title text makes | ||
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[A graph is shown. The x-axis is labeled "Cat size" and the y-axis, "Cat cuteness". Parallel to and a short distance from the y axis is a dashed line the same length as the y-axis line | + | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
− | + | :[A graph is shown. The x-axis is labeled "Cat size" and the y-axis, "Cat cuteness". Parallel to and a short distance from the y axis is a dashed line the same length as the y-axis line; the space between the y axis and the dashed line is labelled "Critical Limit". Graphed is a function coming down from infinity, starting close to the dashed line; it then levels off and does not reach zero on-screen. At the top end of the graph is the text "Schwarzschild's Cat" and an arrow pointing upwards outside of the graph.] | |
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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