Random Questions Thread

Large values of 2.

2.26 + 2.26 = 4.52

Round those numbers to the closest integer.

Can attest to that, acting is harder than you think.

edited 20th Jul '14 10:44:27 AM by LeGarcon

I'm trying to sort out a magic system based on Dungeons & Dragons, and I'm having trouble figuring out the suffixes based on Greek roots. I already know -mancy means divination (and got rid of necromancy as a generic "evil magic" discipline), and that -urgy means work. I need suffixes for shielding (abjuration), making (conjuration), controlling (enchantment), and changing (transmutation). I probably also need something for blasting (evocation) too, though I was planning on using -urgy for that one.

For enchantment, this discussion suggests "-kely", apparently from the Greek "keleo": to charm, bewitch, cast a spell upon—although I haven't managed to verify that, myself.

For abjuration, perhaps something like "-aegy", from "aegis". It might be a little awkward to work with, however.

For conjuration, you might use "-fication" (as in "pyrofication"), or something along the lines of "-factry" ("pyrofactry") from the same root.

For transmutation, perhaps something based on the "fict-" or "mut-" roots: "-fiction" or "-muty"/"-mutis", perhaps. (For examples, "necrofiction" or "necromuty"/"necromutis")

Otherwise, this list might be of use to you (I took ideas for some of the above from it).

Can anyone tell me what the female form of "Paracelsus" is?

@Storyyeller: No, it would bend reality so that the divide by zero function describes something accurately, but only people reading the actual enchanted equation can see this.

Im looking some info of the FARC. The colombian terrorists.

Besides wikipedia, do you guys can suggest me a documentary or something about them?

I need it in order to Avoid The Theme Park Version of a villain of mine.

Have you tried following the sources that Wikipedia points to? Wiki's great for two things: it's a starting point for what you need to know, and it's a convenient bibliography of sources for you to run down.

Now I feel silly... thanks.

How fast can fluoroantimonic acid dissolve a human body? What about a steel door? Can a chemical compound be more corrosive than good ol' F7, or is there some reason that's just not possible?

How strong is the acid?

Strong enough to melt through, well, conceivably goddamn anything in seconds. Could such an acid exist?

edited 22nd Jul '14 5:13:03 PM by KSPAM

I meant like the concentration of your super florine there.

Whatever the case is, I doubt you can get a superacid like that. You can get ones that eat through organic materials like flesh and wood quickly but metal or stone? Not as much.

And just forget about glass for that matter.

You're better off using different forms of corrosive materials for different things. Some sort of super-oxidizer for a steel door, for example. Most acids will work pretty effectively on organics. It depends on how you're using it. If it's a team of criminals or whatever, they could easily have a different type of acid for everything they might encounter. If it's one guy with a superpower to create some singular super-acid, then you're either going to have to handwave it or use something different.

And keep in mind the big problem with an aqua regia (universal solvent/dissolve-everything acid) — What are you going to store it in?

I am not a chemist, but I suspect that Fluoroantimonic acid is very difficult to handle. It reacts violently with water, and producing it requires reacting obscure chemicals. It doesn't seem that plausible unless you're Walter White.

Also Wikipedia says that it can dissolve nearly all organic compounds. I didn't see anything about whether it can dissolve steel or not. But why would you want to get rid of a steel door. Unlike with a body, it's not something you normally need to disappear without a trace.

If you're trying to get through a steel door there are better chemicals to use.

Like thermite or something.

For all you astronomers and physics experts!

Super earths.

They exist.

However, we don't know for sure if we can live on them (regardless if they have life or not)

Say we can live on them.

Would the atmosphere be "bigger" per say? A 747 flies at roughly 35,000 feet for good fuel economy. Would a 747 on the Super earth (let's say 2x bigger just for easy numbers) fly at 70,000 feet then? Would the 70,000 feet be the equivalent of 35,000 ft on our earth? Logically, the altitudes should be different due to the planet being much larger no?

A super-Earth is going to have stronger gravity because the mass of the planet increases with the cube of its radius, while gravity only decreases with the square, so the surface gravity (at the same density) is going to increase with the radius. Increasing gravity decreases the "scale height" of the atmosphere. Otherwise, it's a function of overall atmospheric density.

What kind of a store would sell self-defense products, such as pepper spray or stun guns?

Sporting goods stores will sell those, next to the hunting and home security shotguns. It's rare to find stun guns and tasers, but not because of legality—they're too expensive and have only a very limited utility, so they just don't sell well.

Gun stores usually have a few

re: TF: We have a page on how planet sizes, atmospheric composition, and the like will affect things. Start there.

re: Tera: at least in the US, I think pepper spray and some lower-power tasers are available at a general-purpose store, though that may very well vary from state to state. Sporting goods stores are a better bet.

edited 23rd Jul '14 11:16:11 AM by SabresEdge

Tasers and stun guns aren't legal for civilians in all US states/cities/counties.

Taser laws. "...They can be legally carried in 45 states..."