When Things Spin, Science Happens: Difference between revisions

** According to the director, the engine is a gravity drive, which still doesn't explain why it has to spin.

* From ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'''s self-parody episode ''200'':

** The Stargate itself is an aversion to this. Yes, the Earth gate spins, but this is a function of the backup interface which the Tau'ri use, and has no relation to the actual workings of the gate. Gates never spin under normal circumstances.

*** Until [[Stargate Universe|SGU]] where now the entire gate spins. Indeed, it seems that the older the technology for the gate, the more spinning is required.

** Professor Lazarus' machine in "The Lazarus Experiment".

** Lampshaded in ''Planet of the Dead'' with one of the Doctor's little science-detecting gadgets.

** Combined with [[It Runs on Nonsensoleum]] in ''Blink'', where a gadget has a big rotating wheel on the end:

** And the "jammer" concocted by the Doctor in ''The Time Monster'', made of all sorts of household junk and a nice cup of tea.

** The Doctor uses a similar approach to create some sort of scanning device in "The Lodger" from bits and pieces of terrestrial 'technology.' [[Lampshaded]] when the Doctor has to pass it off as a 'commentary on modern society.' Craig [[Blatant Lies|doesn't buy it.]]

** And [http://xkcd.com/162/ this] one uses spinning with real science.

* Lampshaded in [http://www.hlcomic.com/index.php?date=2006-10-05 this] episode of [[Concerned]]:

* ''[[Drive (webcomic)|Drive]]'': It's not clear how the Ring Drive works (all we know is that it's ''really'' cold in there), but since it's apparently ring-shaped by necessity, there's likely spinning involved.

 

== Web Original ==

* ''[[Homestar Runner]]'' spoofs this in the [[Parody Commercial]] "Coach Z's 110%":

* From the ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]:'' Herr Doktor Archeville possessed a machine that his teammates called "the spinny gizmo". No one was sure what it did, really, but it sure looked fancy, and it had that spinny part on the front of it.

 

*** This is where the term "Going balls out" comes from. Not from [[Going Commando|not wearing undies]], but from operating at maximum speed.

*** This is referenced in the ''[[Discworld]]'' novel [[Discworld/Small Gods|Small Gods]]. One inventive character has constructed a primitive steam engine - similar to Heron of Alexandria's, described below - and mounted it on a small boat. Long story short, it's hit by lightning in a storm, overheats, and explodes. The inventor talks about the need for something to prevent excess pressure building up,

"Funnily enough, when that lightning bolt hit, the thing started glowing, and we went scudding across the water, I distinctly felt ''my''-" }}

* Imparting a spin on any projectile stabilizes its flight path and may even direct it more or less predictably. Applications include...