Rationale for 2D world in which planets don't move

[James Sterrett]

The planets and warp points *do* rotate.

(hands start waving about to help the explanation)

However, to keep everything simple, the viewport spins so that we always see one direction as "up", and everything looks like it doesn't move.

(hands speed up)

Obviously, this is inconsistent with basic orbital mechanics as we know them, in which closer-orbiting objects tend to have shorter orbital periods. However, due to the presence of Handwavium in the SEIV universe, SEIV orbital objects all have the same orbital period regardless of distance!

(hands begin to blur)

This physical anomaly is also linked the the phenomenon of Warp Points; because of the way that the Hubble Force interacts with the Ptolemaic Force, Warp Points are only possible in universes were orbital periods are fixed.

(hands stop)

The implications regarding launch velocities for ships departing trans-C orbital objects (how fast does Uranus have to go to keep up with Mercury?) is left for a future lecture. 8)


[This message has been edited by James Sterrett (edited 30 November 2000).]