Obi-Wan Defies Physics.....even more.

I'm new to the boards, so I don't know if this has been asked yet, but this has been bugging me since I have seen Episode II.

When Obi-Wan chases after the assassin droid after it starts to fly away, he smashes through the window. And, as logic would have it, it shatters. Now, it has been rather well established in the extended universe books that glass/crystal is no longer used for windows, at least, not on Coruscant, at any rate. Windows, cockpit covers and so on are composed of transparisteel. Transparisteel, as in clear steel. A) How is it possible then that Obi-Wan can simply smash right through it. B) Supposing Obi-Wan was physically capable of ramming himself through steel, shouldn't it burst out and contort, since it is contrary to the nature of steel, or any metal for that matter, to simply shatter?

 

Why are you conserned with that? Shouldnt you be focusing on the fact that Zam shot the droid instead of simply shooting Obiwan.

 

If you watch Luke push the cockpit window when he is trying to escape from his snowspeeder when the ATAT is coming in TESB, you will see the window bend like really thin plastic.

 

Nate...

...hmm, I didn't notice that, I'll check it out. But bending is less nitpicky, as metal DOES bend, hence malleability. But my main concern is why Obi could CRASH through solid, albeit clear, steel.

Baggins...

... I could focus on that too, but I won't for now. Because I'm a stubborn jerk that way. I just wanna see someone try to explain the shattering transparisteel thing. And anyone who says "a wizard/jedi did it" can go platz.

 

Obi-Wan Defies Physics

So does pretty much everything in Star Wars! yay!

To answer your question, the fact that its called "transparisteel" doens't necessarily mean that its made of steel, nor does it mean that it's not basically glass. Transparisteel is basically the Star Wars word for glass. There are also terms like "durasheets" which is like a piece of paper.

 

It sounded very painfull. Perhaps Obiwan is as powerful as master Windu. Since im not familiar with the EUs technical explaination of glass and metal in the SWuniverse i would have never thought twice about it.

I may as well ask why there are explosions in space. We have long excepted that. Can we this once allow Obi this feat? Lets pretend this particular structure was an older building, oldschool with glass windows. Maybe when the years progress the galaxy starts to use more Permamedasteel or whatever it was.

 

Now, it has been rather well established in the extended universe books...

EU =/= canon. There's your answer right there.



tf

 

EU =/= canon. There's your answer right there.

Irrelevent. The person asked a question, stating untrue facts about the EU has nothing to do with it. I think if Swordchucks has a related question, it should be able to be answered without bringing canon into it.

Transparisteel: the strong, clear material used for windows on spaceships. It has the unique property of adjusting to the external lighting conditions, darkening the light is brighter and clearing when the light is lower. Specialized, optically-enhanced transparisteel was developed by Kuat Drive Yards during the early years of the New Order, as a way of providing minimal cloaking for the Empire's huge warships. Nano-tech datalinks were imbedded into the transparisteel, and programmed to filter out specifc wavelengths or other visual data. Thus, a ship plated with this special transparisteel would seem almost invisible. However, this was an expensive technology, and never found widespread use. (CPL, SLS)

Now, the window doesn't have to be transparisteel. It most likely isn't. There is actual glass in the SW galaxy. Here are a few things that came up when I searched for "glass" in the CUSWE:

Braaken Glass: this form of artwork was thought of as hideous by Bail Organa.

Brewglass: Specially-formed glass used to drink Adumari beer.

Carbon Glass: this tough, resilient material is used to create transparent partitions.

Ceraglass: a transparent ceramic alloy that is extremely tough and durable, ceraglass is often used for viewports in military land vehicles like the Mekuun Hoverscout.

Flexiglass: this flexible material was used to form membranes which could seal off a breach in a starship hull.

Glitterglass: this unusual form of glass was made on the planet Tatooine, and was used primarily in the creation of artworks. Many considered the flowing, organic panes of glitterglass to be too garish to be considered art.

Sand-glass: this form of glass, created from the silicates found in the sands of Tatooine's deserts, was used in the creation of unusual works of art. The best specimens of sand-glass were created during intense storms, when heat lightning fused the natural sand into strange shapes. A similar effect could be created using a blaster set to maximum power, but these works were much smaller and often resembled lumps of melted glass.

Transglass: this incredibly strong, transparent form of glass was used to make the faceplates of many survival suits, as well as armored helmets.

Vors-glass: this was a delicate, glass-like material used to create intricate vases and sculptures.

See, glass exists. And there is no reason to believe that regular glass does not exist either. Its just because the term "transparisteel" is so popular that it can be confused from time to time. My guess is that regular glass is used for personal windows, and transparisteel is used for windows in places such as museums, the senate building, the Jedi Temple, etc.

 

Ah, much there that I did not know Ousley. A very well thought out answer, and I appreciate it. I will now go, and remove my foot from my mouth. ^_^;

 

Not a problem.

 

TheFallen, not only is trying to start a canon war frowned upon 'round these parts, but it's "!=", not "=/=". Unless you are dividing equals by equals.


Rick McCallum loves you!

 

"Shouldnt you be focusing on the fact that Zam shot the droid instead of simply shooting Obiwan."

Good point!

"anyone who says "a wizard/jedi did it" can go platz."

Isn't that against the TOS?

"but it's "!=", not "=/="

I prefer "<>" myself.

 

What I really don't get is how Obiwan "defies physics" by jumping through a made-up alloy.

Cometgreen

 

I think the Fallen has a point.

Traditionally, things are only canon in the books, radio dramatizations, etc., until something in the films contradict them. For instance, Owen being Ben's brother in the ROTJ novelization. AOTC contradicted it, so that part of the novelization no longer applies.

This is not to start an EU/canon war. Simply to point out that there are and will always be inconsistencies between the various sources and the films themselves. Heck, the films contradict one another if you really want to nit pick. At some point, you just have to pick something and go with it. You can't question every little inconsistency, because you'll start finding them everywhere and drive yourself crazy, thus robbing yourself of the pleasure of the experience.

 

I must agree with Ousley-not all windows would use transparisteel.

What I'd like to know, however, is how he managed it without a scratch on him. I don't care WHAT universe you live in-you throw yourself through a glass window, you're gonna cut yourself up pretty bad!

 

dehrian, I usually do not disagree with you, but I will here. All the types of glass I posted were from the EU, so how is it a contradiction?

 

To add to the idea that the windows did'nt have to be transparisteel. If you are going by the EU, you'll note in what JMO posted that KUAT developed it in the early years of the New Order. IMO ep II takes place before Palpatines New Order, so there would'nt even be transparisteel yet anyway. To me that say's it's most likely some type of glass.

 

"Obi-Wan Defies Physics.....even more"


No kidding, AOTC sucks because of those physics!

And don't even get me started on lightsabers! They ruined the entire saga for me!

 

I need to get a t-shirt that says I've been 0wn3d by ousley.



tf

 

dehrian, I usually do not disagree with you, but I will here. All the types of glass I posted were from the EU, so how is it a contradiction?

I wasn't responding to you, but to the original post. It was just a general statement, not a direct assessment of the nature of glass in the EU.

 

It's not like we're reading conflicting history books here, it's some random, unimportant facts that people made up conflicting. Big deal.

 

"What I really don't get is how Obiwan "defies physics" by jumping through a made-up alloy. "

Ha. That's great. Kudos.

 

Yeah, imagine things defying physics. Like lightsabers, or sound in space, or jumping 50 feet in the air. Look mate, just enjoy the film because it looks cool, it feels cool, and it's a kick-ass flick