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==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
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{{w|Faster than light travel}}, an impossibility in our universe, is often portrayed in science fiction by having spaceships enter (or "jump") into some different realm, termed "hyperspace" or similar {{w|technobabble}}, where superluminal travel can occur before returning to the ordinary universe. In this comic, a spaceship is being chased by an enemy ship and the crew attempt to escape by jumping into {{w|Minkowski space}} which is actually just conventional 3-D space together with time combined into a mathematical object called a {{w|manifold}} used in {{w|special relativity}}. Because Minkowski space is merely a representation of real physical {{w|spacetime}}, "jumping" into it is meaningless and offers no benefit for escaping pursuit, providing the humor of the comic's absurdist joke.
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{{incomplete|Created by A RELATIVISTIC QUANTUM STATE - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
  
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The visual depiction of the spaceships skewed diagonally is based on the graphical {{w|Minkowski diagram}} representation of objects in Minkowski space, where the {{w|world line}} of matter is bounded inside its diagonal {{w|light cone}}.  
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A spaceship is being pursued by an enemy ship. Much like in [[2577: Sea Chase]], it attempts to escape by changing the nature of the space. In this case, it goes into {{w|Minkowski space}}, a mathematical formulation of three dimensional space combined with the dimension of time to form a {{w|manifold}} originally intended to help describe {{w|electromagnetism}} in terms of {{w|special relativity}}, and which is also used in {{w|general relativity}}.
  
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The mention of distance depending on the observer's frame of reference refers to distances changing when measured in different {{w|inertial frame of reference|inertial frames of reference}}, a concept called the {{w|relativity of simultaneity}}. Here are [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asW78vToNLQ some videos] intended [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrqj88zQZJg to explain] that concept. The skewing depicted changes the distance between the spaceships in such a way that the tip of the pursuer comes closer to the pursued spaceship, but their centers move further apart. So the question of whether they have come closer is indeterminate for the reader of the comic.{{cn}}
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Minkowski space is no different than ordinary spatiotemporal physical reality, so the idea of traveling from regular space into Minkowski space is meaningless, providing the humor of the comic's absurdist joke. The visual depiction of the spaceships skewed diagonally is based on graphical {{w|Minkowski diagram}} representation of objects in Minkowski space, where the {{w|world line}} of matter is bounded inside its diagonal {{w|light cone}}. The mention of distance depending on the observer's frame of reference refers to distances changing when measured in different {{w|inertial frame of reference|inertial frames of reference}}, a concept called the {{w|relativity of simultaneity}}.
  
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The title text is a status report from someone in the pursuing spaceship to their leader (whom they call "my {{w|Homage (feudal)|liege}}.") Following the spaceship to Minkowski space was not a problem, but the pursued ship subsequently jumped to Hilbert space and could now be anywhere. Hiding in {{w|Hilbert space}} is much easier because Hilbert spaces (of which there are many very different varieties, unlike Minkowski space) can have an infinite number of dimensions, and are thus much more complicated than four-dimensional Minkowski spacetime.  
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The title text implies hiding in {{w|Hilbert space}} is much easier. This is because Hilbert spaces can have an infinite number of dimensions, and thus are much more complicated than four-dimensional Minkowski space. However, Hilbert space is used to describe mathematical objects such as functions of various parameters and complexity, not physical spatiotemporal reality, so it is very unusual for a physical object to be represented in Hilbert space. The reference to Hilbert space could also refer to the {{w|uncertainty principle}}, as quantum states can be represented as vectors in a Hilbert space. The fugitives of the first ship may enjoy a more comfortable getaway if they check into {{w|Hilbert's paradox of the Grand Hotel|Hilbert's Hotel}}.  
  
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A similar situation happened in [[2577: Sea Chase]], where instead of jumping from space to space, ships jumped from map projection to map projection.
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=== Apparent distance ===
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Whether the two spaceships are getting closer to each other does not depend on the frame of reference if both the ships are moving at constant velocity.
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Though if they are accelerating then depending on the frame of reference they may be getting further apart or they may be getting closer.
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If the ship giving chase has higher velocity than the ship being chased but ship being chased is accelerating faster, then from the perspective of ship being chased the other ship is getting closer to it. While from perspective of something a few light years away which is moving towards both of the ships the ship being chased is getting more distant from the other ship.
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This is because from perspective of something a few light years away which is moving towards the ships the ship being chased has already accelerated and is faster from the other ship so the distance between them is increasing.
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
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:[A spaceship is being pursued by another spaceship of similar size but distinctly different design. Both ships have a black part in the front representing a window. The pursued spaceship to the right has two nacelles below and a big engine behind. The pursuing spaceship to the left has a V-shaped rear end, and what seems like two weapons on either side pointing forward. At least two persons inside the pursued spaceship are talking to each other, and their text comes out from two starburst on top and bottom of the spaceship.]
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{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
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:Voice 1: The enemy ship is right behind us!  
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:{A spaceship is being pursued.}
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:Voice 2: Prepare to jump to Minkowski space on my mark.
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:Voice 1: The enemy ship is right behind us! Prepare to jump to Minowski space on my mark.
  
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:[Same setting, with star burst above only. The sound coming from the pursued spaceship is written inside a burst of small lines below the spaceship. Voice 2, by context, is the same as in panel 1.]
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:Voice 1: Three... two... one... MARK!
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:Voice 2: Three... two... one... ''mark!''
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:SFX: Click
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:Click
 
  
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:[Both spaceship are tilted upwards and becomes distorted so they become longer and thinner.]
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:{The panel distorts.}
  
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:[The tilting increases and the distortion is now so pronounced that the spaceships are almost unrecognizable, almost just lines with structure. The distance between the tip of the pursuing spaceship and the pursued becomes shorter in the last two panels, but the distance between their center parts becomes larger. Up to three distinct voices are shown, here, which may include those seen in Panel 1 but with no clear relation.]
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:{The panel distorts further.}
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:Voice 3: Are they still getting closer?
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:Voice 1: Are they still getting closer?
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:Voice 4: I can't tell.
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:Voice 2: I can't tell.
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:Voice 5: I think it depends on your frame of reference.
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:Voice 3: I think it depends on your frame of reference.
  
 
{{comic discussion}}
 
{{comic discussion}}
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[[Category:Space]]
 
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[[Category:Math]]
 
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[[Category:Physics]]
 

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