Park Shift Theory
The Park Shift, first introduced in the book Ender's Game, is a theory in which a spaceship or object traveling at the speed of light, can instantly, or near instantly, slow to a stop. This is used when a spaceship meets with another and connects, or if a spaceship is nearing its final destination. An otherwise impossible feat, since the inertia would propel the object much farther than the intended target. In doing so, the ship in question would have to exit light speed which would cause time to revert to relativistic speeds. Since travel at light speed, or near light speed, would cause a time dilation effect, the time in travel would make a near second take weeks or months in correlation with the rest of space. The scientists of the series do not know how the Park Shift actually works, and it seems to have been discovered accidentally, and used ever since.
Read more about this topic: Concepts In The Ender's Game Series
Famous quotes containing the words park, shift and/or theory:
“Linnæus, setting out for Lapland, surveys his “comb” and “spare shirt,” “leathern breeches” and “gauze cap to keep off gnats,” with as much complacency as Bonaparte a park of artillery for the Russian campaign. The quiet bravery of the man is admirable.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Someone had literally run to earth
In an old cellar hole in a byroad
The origin of all the family there.
Thence they were sprung, so numerous a tribe
That now not all the houses left in town
Made shift to shelter them without the help
Of here and there a tent in grove and orchard.”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
“Osteopath—One who argues that all human ills are caused by the pressure of hard bone upon soft tissue. The proof of his theory is to be found in the heads of those who believe it.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)