Author	Thread: Random nerdy question
maverick11 View Profile History	Random nerdy question Posted : 5 Aug, 2012 10:44 PM Ok, so yes, I had way to much time on my hands tonight, but I had a hypothetical questions for all those scifi/fantasy nerds out there In a battle scenario, who would win by KO: A fire dragon: capable of generating flames with temperatures equal to the sun's heat An ice dragon: capable of generating atmospheric temperatures and icy breathes reaching the temperature of absolute zero So, in theory, my big question is, will fire always be able to melt ice, even to the theoretical ultimate low of absolute zero? ***NOTE: assume both dragons can generate the same amount of fire/ice for the same length of time.*** Post Reply
jaybirdz View Profile History	Random nerdy question Posted : 6 Aug, 2012 11:55 PM Random nerdy answer: The faster molecules move, the hotter it becomes. If heat is exposed to a theoretical absolute zero environment, it would not cancel out the environment but conform to it. Therefore, the fire dragon would lose. Also, another reason fire would lose is that fire hasn't reached a theoretical ceiling of temperature (I don't think there even is one), while ice has, so if the two are battling it out, ice will continue to work toward absolute zero, while the sun works toward maintaining its temperature, and I'm assuming cannot go beyond its own temperature. Totally debatable, but I think ice wins. Post Reply
maverick11 View Profile History	Random nerdy question Posted : 7 Aug, 2012 05:48 PM Interesting. I am inclined to agree. Theoretically, I would assume that at absolute zero there would be nearly no molecular movement, if any. So, as you said, fire would be put at a disadvantage. However, an interesting question now arises. Could fire melt the ice fast enough to pose a threat to the ice dragon? Or would they be locked at a stalemate long enough for the ice dragon to reach it's threshold? Certainly, in the second case, I would give the ice dragon an advantage. Post Reply
mithridates View Profile History	Random nerdy question Posted : 8 Aug, 2012 08:42 PM I'd agree with the Ice Dragon. Absolute Zero... is a really weird theoretical phenomena (even space has SOME minute temperature I think). But then again, absolute zero just means that there is no average velocity of the particles in the area, while extreme heat means that the average velocity is very high...so maybe the extremely hot particles would simply excite the absolute zero atmospheric particles. Unlike in space, where there are almost no loose particles at all, an atmosphere even at absolute zero would still have a lot. Maybe the heat would simply transfer to the still particles. Post Reply
View Profile History	Random nerdy question Posted : 11 Aug, 2012 11:52 AM I disagree... Sure there is an absolute zero, but just because it cannot get any colder does not mean that it would stand a greater chance against a flame as hot as the sun. As to which side conforms... it depends. Now then, if there were two beams going head-to-head at each other, one fire (sun-like temperature) and one ice (absolute zero), it would depend on the distance of the two dragons. If the two dragons are 100 yards from each other (both beams meeting right in the middle at 50 yards), I can't see how the ice beam would be able to make it 50 more yards past the fire beam. Let us remember, if you had an ice cube almost as cold or as cold as the absolute zero, it would instantly start melting if the environment around it is not equal to the absolute zero. If Earth's average temperature could do that, imagine what a beam of flames as hot as the sun would do. So if this was a neutral setting (Earth's average temperature), ice would have no chance and the fire dragon would pwn it pretty easily. Post Reply
View Profile History	Random nerdy question Posted : 23 Aug, 2012 09:22 PM That's just silly, you can't get to absolute zero, that's like dividing by zero; you'd break the interne- Seriously, though: are you talking about dragons that walk on all fours, or the ones that look like giant worms, or like t-rexes with dirty big bat wings, or something else? Less seriously, what's the fire dragon actually spitting out? Burning petroleum? Fusing hydrogen? C'mon, all the gory details! Post Reply
View Profile History	Random nerdy question Posted : 22 Sep, 2012 06:27 AM Are we using the sun's core temperature or the surface temperature? Post Reply
maverick11 View Profile History	Random nerdy question Posted : 14 Oct, 2012 01:27 PM Haha. Now you are forcing me to think! I had in mind the typical walk on all fours, scales, big leathery wings, large teeth and claws dragon with a muscular body. So in other words, not a Chinese dragon, giant snake with wings, or whatever. If you've seen Dragonheart or Reign of Fire, that's what I'm going for, or anything like that. I'll have to get back to you on the whole fire issue. Post Reply
maverick11 View Profile History	Random nerdy question Posted : 14 Oct, 2012 01:28 PM I was thinking the sun's surface temperature, but we can debate it with both scenarios. I can't believe I actually got a thread started on this. :yay: Post Reply