What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?
Discuss the merits and deficiencies of political theories and philosophical questions.
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Re: What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?Ignoring the point that there are no such things as unstoppable forces or immovable objects, I shall attempt to answer the question.
The basics of the multiverse theory state that everything which can happen does happen, but in different parallel universes. Assuming this is true, in some universes the object would move, in others it would stay still and the force would stop. Both these possibilities break the original criteria of the question however, so i propose a third option; the force goes around/through the object, and continues on its way, leaving the object precisely where it was. -
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Re: What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?But then it wouldn't meet the immovable object(Original post by Tabris)
The unstoppable force moves over the immovable object.Last edited by PerfectSanity; 08-06-2011 at 02:55. -
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Re: What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?Equilibrium(Original post by DylanLJG)
So what do people think happens when an Unstoppable Force meets an Immovable Object? Interesting Paradox, anyone got any ideas? -
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Re: What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?Is it wierd that this question holds a lot of significance for me? My dad asked me this when he was doing his PhD, I was 10. I spent 2 hours trying to come up with an answer.
He said.
The Unstoppable Force Stops. The Immovable object Moves. -
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Re: What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?Another good answer (do you study philosophy by the way) but I don't see how that can be related to this (the tree and earth example), because according to the wording the OP has used, these two things are separate and not connected. Surely this has no logical answer as it is a paradox. (unstoppable is also unbreakable and immovable/invincible). In maths a - & - = + but a + & a + = +. I think that they would explode using the logic of maths and they're both invincible separately but when combined and or put into contact they will have to both give as that is the only logical answer. As if you were to consider + & + = +, that can't make sense as one object is immovable and the other is unstoppable... If they collide you can cannot create a immovable/unstoppable object as that is illogical, once again, creating another paradox. The third scenario is + & - = -, which equals -..... ?????? So, I'm still sticking with explosion.(Original post by Stratos)
yes it does as it reaches a velocity of 0 somewhere in there.
Another idea of mine was that the unstoppable force takes the object with it by moving the medium surrounding it e.g. a tree on earth is moved by pushing the whole of earth with it, however the object itself is still not moving relative to earth. -
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Re: What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?Surely this has no logical answer as it is a paradox. (unstoppable is also unbreakable and immovable/invincible). In maths a - & - = + but a + & a + = +. I think that they would explode using the logic of maths and they're both invincible separately but when combined and or put into contact they will have to both give as that is the only logical answer. As if you were to consider + & + = +, that can't make sense as one object is immovable and the other is unstoppable... If they collide you can cannot create a immovable/unstoppable object as that is illogical, once again, creating another paradox. The third scenario is + & - = -, which equals -..... ?????? So, I'm still sticking with explosion.(Original post by DylanLJG)
So what do people think happens when an Unstoppable Force meets an Immovable Object? Interesting Paradox, anyone got any ideas?
Like I said, it is a paradox so surely it has no logical or actual answer, but I will still stick to an explosion if there ever was such a scenario. -
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Re: What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?well if we are speaking theoretically, i.e value of both forces is infinite... then YES, the immovable object stops the infinite force.
but if we take it practically,
1, instead of infinite, lets just say the two forces are of great value, but instead of forces if they are objects (for practical reasons) the one with less structural integrity is bound to be damaged. Secondly at the point of impact there is going to be 3rd force which is the differentiation of the two forces (thank you applied mechanics) and will act as a negative force to their initial force.
the third force created will be divided to the two objects unevenly (again speaking practically) hence creating an imbalance which would result in one force being more greater than the other... -
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Re: What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?Yes, that makes sense. As the unstoppable force meets its nemeses, an immovable object.. or does it, as its an unstoppable FORCE and an immoveable OBJECT, surely that makes no sense. A force is a force and an objet is an object... So the unstoppable force stops to become what?????? An idil force, but surely it can not be a "force" if is "idil" (it could be an unstoppable object) and what becomes of the object now that it is moving, does itself become unstoppable... And surely that is contradictory, the immoveable moves and the unstoppable stops.. But it is still the most logic answer is this illogical scenario. I still feel that an explosion is a answer, in other words, they cancel each other out.(Original post by wactm)
Is it wierd that this question holds a lot of significance for me? My dad asked me this when he was doing his PhD, I was 10. I spent 2 hours trying to come up with an answer.
He said.
The Unstoppable Force Stops. The Immovable object Moves.
Edit: That is actually a really good answer as I said, they cancel each other out, however like your dad said, this is also the case because they become the opposite of their original states (immovable moves, and unstoppable stops) but it is still contradictory but sound logic at the same time..Last edited by King-Panther; 08-06-2011 at 09:05. -
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Re: What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?They meet head on, there is no steering wheel that will allow it to turn.(Original post by 69 All Day)
It goes ''AROUND'' the object ... and continues its path.
Simple yet logical, surprising you never got it before
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Re: What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?Did u get this from the Dark Knight?(Original post by DylanLJG)
So what do people think happens when an Unstoppable Force meets an Immovable Object? Interesting Paradox, anyone got any ideas? -
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Re: What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?Yeah(Original post by Seanr593)
Did u get this from the Dark Knight?
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Re: What Happens When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object?The point of this question is that there can either be an 'unstoppable force' or an 'immovable object', not both, because when they meet there arises a contradiction: either the unstoppable force is truly unstoppable, or the immovable object is truly immovable - one must give way. This question is part of the 'omnipotence paradox' which discounts the idea of true omnipotence as logically contradictory: what happens when god creates these two items and sets them to collide? Or what happens if He attempts to create a stone so heavy that He himself cannot lift it? Either outcome disproves omnipotence.
