'Time Keeps on Slipping' error

[on:]

There are two condradictory bits of science in the episode. At first, when the gravity pump idea of moving the chronotrons using the stars' gravity fails, the Professor says that "Diverting chronotrons is mathematically impossible". But later, it stopped by the black hole of the implosion.

This is inconsistant because a black hole works by basically having really powerful gravity pulls on the things inside of it and around it, so it was only a more extreme version of the pump idea, which was said to be impossible.

[Reply #1 on:]

Well, nobody knows for sure what a black hole does, exactly. It could have transported the entire nebula (chronotons and all) to another dimension! Ooohhh... scary... Or, it could have outright destroyed them in the explosion, not diverted them.

[Reply #2 on:]

 

Originally posted by Ranadok:
Well, nobody knows for sure what a black hole does, exactly. It could have transported the entire nebula (chronotons and all) to another dimension! Ooohhh... scary...

No one really knows, but I'm going by the most scientifically supported theory that everything is crushed and bent, probably more likely than anything else. They also seem to believe that in the future, as the professor says in 'A Flight to Remember'.

 

Originally posted by Ranadok:Or, it could have outright destroyed them in the explosion, not diverted them.

Nothing else seemed to be destroyed, if I remember correctly. It all went into the black hole.

[Reply #3 on:]

 

No one really knows, but I'm going by the most scientifically supported theory

Then you’ll also agree that current scientific theory suggests that black holes result in a singularity, a point mass where the laws of science break down.  When condensed into a singularity (much like Cubert and Dwight’s lunches in TROAE), they most likely lost all properties that distinguished them as chronotrons.  This is much different than simple gravitational diversion.

[Reply #4 on:]

Actually, I believe only the theory of relativity breaks down, since both mass and time are infinite in a black hole. As far as I know, all other laws still apply.

Edit: However since time became infinite, either the universe should have been destroyed immediately or not at all, so you're probably right.

[Reply #5 on:]

   

Originally posted by Blackadder11:
No one really knows, but I'm going by the most scientifically supported theory that everything is crushed and bent, probably more likely than anything else. They also seem to believe that in the future, as the professor says in 'A Flight to Remember'.

I thought (it has been a while since I've seen either Flight or Skipping, so this is from memory, mind you) that the professor just indicated that the countess could not be alive... which makes sense if she is torn to shreds on the way in (which she would be, due to inequal gravitational pulls on different parts of her body) or condensed into an infinitely small space, whether the shreds or infinitely small countess-ball is transported into another dimension or not. Still, "most scientifically supported theory" doesn't mean much in this case, as there is precious little known about them at all. (note: this does not mean that I believe that black holes are gateways to another dimension, just that this may be a theory that resolves the problem you found)

 

  Nothing else seemed to be destroyed, if I remember correctly. It all went into the black hole.

Well the explosion  (wait... it was an IMplosion, wasn't it...) Well, the implosion was the solution to the chroniton problem, not the black hole. Perhaps the doomsday device destroyed the chronitons through radiation emitted when it was set off, or the shock wave, or heat, or something along those lines, and the black hole was just a cool-looking side effect. We don't know much about the properties of chronitons, it is hard to say what did them in (heck, it could have been Fry's strong emotions for all we know... luck break if that's the case!).

[Reply #6 on:]

Everyone knows the profesor comes up with his theorys in dreams which come to him and are subsiquently lost later... OH lets just blame the Wizards

[Reply #7 on:]

Chronitons are made up (I think!) so what ever happens to them can be explained due to the fact that they are fictional.

[Reply #8 on:]

I'm pretty sure chronitons have been mentioned on a certain science fiction series with a forbidden name.  Do they predate that?

[Reply #9 on:]

The professor is senile...
enough said

[Reply #10 on:]

most people in this thread are talking all sciency, well i'm not gonna, i'm gonna say one word:
wizards

[Reply #11 on:]

Another error in this great ep (minor one but still an error) is right at the end Fry says "Did you see it, did you see it....?"
and Leela says "The explosion....?"

It was an implosion was it not....?

Aha....!

[Reply #12 on:]

It was an explosion causing an implosion.

[Reply #13 on:]

Most people don't differentiate between an implosion and an explosion in everyday speech (when it comes up).

[Reply #14 on:]

Yeah well....*runs*