Pegasi flight, how dose it work? Possibly Quantum Mechanics. · 10:02pm Sep 12th, 2014
So I'm working on my story AEO (chapter coming out soon mabey even today) and I remembered the episode Sonic Rainboom where in rainbow dash makes a 90 degree turn instantaneously at a speed of at least mach 5.5 without experiencing any of the issues related to high G forces. Now I like physics, and I can tell you that in the maneuver Dash and anything moving with her pulled a force of something like 400 Gs. To put this into perspective a trained fighter pilot who has accumulated to high G forces will start to loose consciousness at any force over 10 Gs, and for most organic creatures a force of 70 Gs for even an instant will kill you by causing your organs to pop like balloons. So how can Dash take enough G force to crush her to dust and for everypony in that turn o be perfectly fine not even experiencing grey out or other High G force symptoms?
You might say that ponies are so stupidly durable they can take this kind of force no problem. But that cant be true, if it were they couldn't realy be hurt by anything, and we have seen ponies get small cuts scratches and bruises before. These forms of injury would not be possible if they could take 400 Gs of force. The answer to how they can take the Gs must be that a pegasi is able to reduce their effective mass, which in turn prevents them from ever feeling high G forces. This mass effect field (yeah yeah I know, but that is what it is.) must also ether extend to cover things the pegasi is touching under a certain size, or effects a bubble of space/time around them while they are in flight. This could in theory be accomplished if the pegasus could reduce how much their mater interacted with the Higgs Field but that physics is way over my head and I ant say for sure.
Exploring this further, ever notice how a pegasi's wings are too smal to allow them to fly, and that their flight is stated to be a magical gift? It is logical to conclude that Pegasi wings are merely a physical symbolic aspect of the magic which grants them flight, hence why they can accelerate, change detection, and break without flapping their wings. In fact pegasi are capable of VTOL, moving upwards in a strait line and even hovering n place with only tiny wing flaps. Because of this, the actual mechanism for pegasi flight seems to be accomplished by manipulating the quantum vacuum in the same way as the theoretical Q-thruster, by utilizing the quantum vacuum fluctuations of space as a "propellant" and directing their flow to create thrust int he same manner as a traditional rocket. Since a Q-thruster would leave no vapor trail and has no flames or other exhaust it simply produces thrust and the object moves, this isn't to implausible as Pegasi seem to just move as they please.
This would not explain their ability to hover however as anyone who has played KSP knows a rocket dose not like to hover in place. But, if pegasi magic is the manipulation of quantum strata then there is an answer. A pegasus hovers via the process of flux pinning. Flux pinning is a phenomenon which occurs when a superconductor is positioned over an electromagnetic field, the material in the superconductor is penetrated by the magnetic field in such a way as to lock the conductor in place. Or to paraphrase Bioshock Infinite, "The pegasus fails to fall." Since we know that pegasi can create electricity in the form of lightning, we know they are able to manipulate the electromagnetic force. Mabey their magic which allws them to do this also manifests in the subtle way of allowing the pegasi to hover by making them a superconductive material, and allowing them to create a low level magnetic field just beneath them.
In summery, the magic behind pegasi flight can be explained as they posses the ability to manipulate the quantum strata of the universe to create thrust, are superconductive and able to create enough magnetic force to hover via flux pinning, and can preform high G maneuvers thanks to being able to manipulate the Higgs Field to reduce their effective mass. Sure they are able to do these things because magic, but that's how the magic dose it. At least it is according to this physics nerd who wanted to kill some time thinking about flying ponies.
Oh, also if this is the case it would be possible for a pegasus to use their ability to warp the Higgs Field to generate intense gravity fields and thus make an Alcubierre Bubble, a field which warps space/time contracting space in front of the bubble and expanding it behind the bubble. This process literally moves that patch of space/time and everything side of it. The awesome part is that this is that this docent actually violate the laws of physics, and using the loophole of moving space instead of an object in space like this you can actually achiever faster then light speeds. Which means in theory with enough magic a pegasus could jump to warp. 
... Um... Wings.
The magic "Bubble" thing also helps me prove how a Pegasus doesn't just get ripped apart when it flies really fast. The air particles would really begin to sting before it gets to the point where you'd be getting 20 or 25 Gs of force, even sticking your face out of a car window when it's going 50 hurts a bit. I'm not sure about the amount of force needed, I'm pretty bad with physics, but I don't think anything organic is streamline enough to be able to cut (for lack of a better word) that cleanly through the air particles. So, who says the bubble could also help push away the atoms in the air, creating less resistance, and allowing them to fly faster then humanly possible.
And that would mean something if they were metal, hue. It would have to be really strong to push the iron in your blood up, by the way.
Changing their atomic structure without causing physical problems... Okay! Flesh isn't a superconductor, nor (do I think) it has the ability to change it into one without horrible repercussions... If a Pegasus was already born with the superconductor in it, say, bones for example, it would be able to do this instinctively, merely creating the magnetic field (Also giving the Pegasus the "bird-like density" in their wings, due to the superconductor- possibly- being lighter then bone, but tougher then it as well so there wouldn't have to be as much, hence the lighter wings).
Having the superconductor already in it would help explain how a Pegasus can withstand a lighting bolt, as the electricity would just flow through the superconductor almost harmlessly- or just around vital organs, keeping it alive. It could also explain how the whole thing doesn't just get ripped off if it breaks, the superconductor keeping the wing together, allowing the wing to heal.
I really love the whole "Bubble" idea as well, the whole storm-cloud-trail the Wonderbolts did give me some trouble. The water vapors naturally formed when moving that fast could become charged and make storm clouds... And it might be possible for any Pegasus to do, as long as their moving fast enough to create the vapors and a powerful enough charge in the first place.
I still have no idea how Rainbow Dash gets the rainbow going out behind her, it makes close to zero sense, unless you just have the sun reflecting off the water particles... And it could just be that the way she affects the atoms with the bubble makes it so they aren't positively or negatively charged, but neutral, so they still vibrate more... and get better angles to reflect the sunlight... Okay, maybe I do have a theory or two about Rainbow, jeez.
EDIT: Okay, this was horribly badly explained, but I think you know how a rainbow forms, and you can probably figure the rest out yourself...
I honestly have little to no clue when it comes to physics, I've always preferred... Atomic Theory... Uh, blanking on the science name... Chemistry! That's it... Yeah, I've always like chemistry better then physics. Theories are more fun then Laws. ;)
Honestly, this is the most realistic and possible (to me) way of explaining how the wings and biology of a Pegasus works, and while I had some theories, this basically made it so I could say what I found. So... Thanks, from one nerd to the next ;P (... I spent almost 45 minutes on this...)
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It wouldn't push them away, but it would actually move most of the air in the bubble with the pegasus. It's hard to imagine but the majority of air around you would be stationary relative to you, lessening how much drag you experienced.
Magnetism is an interesting force. While we are most commonly aware of ferrous metals being magnetic, the truth is ANY material can be effected by a powerful enough magnetic force. This is because Magnetism works by alining the ions of a material in a single direction. In the materials we know as magnetic, this occurs natural due to their atomic structure. If you could manipulate quantom strata (aka subatomic partacles) you could make anything magnetic.
Howeaver you are correct in one respect, pegasi don't have metal stick to them when they hover and they don't attract metalic objects. Which means it has to be a very low level magnetic field, most lily located inside their bodies. The superconducting material being part of their skeleton makes a lot of seance, most likely it's graphiene which is actually incredibly light and could be sandwiched in layers between bones (because its an atom thick sheet of carbon, which is you know, an organic material). Since graphiene works like copper only several orders of magnitude better the the point where IBM has made a crude processor out of it all a pegasus would need to do to hover via flux pinning would be channel electricity through themselves, the electron flow would create a slight magnetic field, which would flux pin their skeleton in posision. (This is nice because it means that pegasi would still tire from hovering, and they clearly have limits to this capability. Even if it's about the same as getting tired from standing for humans.)
A graphiene coated skeleton would also explain why pegasi are so durable. Remember when Rainbow Dash smashes through a rock pile and is only a bit concussed, no broken anything? Their skeletons would basically be indestructible under most circumstances since they would basically be reenforced with carbon nanotubes.
We should keep going! We are on the verge of a scientific explanation for Pegasi magic and biology!
In reference to it being difficult for flux pinning to occur with an organic being, I reply with the the majestic flying frog!
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Well, yeah, and with the graphiene (I couldn't remember it's name last time) inside the bone, it allows the bone to be broken, if enough weight or force (SHH I'M TOO LAZY) is applied over a large enough area. Which proves how Rainbow's wing was broken under the rock in Ghastly Gorge...
Sadly, the bubble thing still wouldn't work completely because it moves MOST of the atoms, meaning some of the partials would still be colliding with your body. That's what I was getting at the most, it would still feel like needles (or something) being driven all the way through your body. While not a killing blow, it would still hurt a lot. Unless, they could somehow distort the particles around them using this sphere to move around them, or have a strong form of protection against it... I guess that's what the goggles are for... Or maybe they just have a second eyelid like cats and birds? (Not sure about the birds... My girlfriend is the biology fanatic here, but you'd have to admit, it would be an awesome coincidence... And no, I'm not looking any of this up) Or scales like snakes.
Why do I feel like this is incredibly dangerous to do to a body, and would also be very hard to do. If they had the superconductor in their bones, I don't think that you'd really need to do this as much... If they used the more freely flowing electrons in the superconductor, couldn't they just use that as a magnetic force instead? They could easily pick up the electrons from the Earth, despite it being such a positive force, and use that to keep them air born? It could also painlessly be transferred back into the Earth whenever they ground themselves. The energy gained from this makes it so a Pegasus doesn't imminently go get something to eat after a flight as well
I forgot possibly the most important part of the whole skeletal structure. Skin is an insulator, and the electricity flows on the sweat and other substances on the skin. Now, if there were small deposits of this pushing through the skin on various places of the body - a bit like a unicorn's horn - in places like... Under the wings, behind the ears, and bottoms of the hooves, then it would make it a lot easier for this to actually flow through the body. Some of the electricity going through the body would still go out into the rest of the body, resulting in the mild paralysis.
... Really, that could have just explained ALL of how ponies use their magic, Earth Ponies have a stronger ability to use it to prevent exhaustion by using it to strengthen their muscles. Pegasi use it to help them fly and make it so they aren't torn apart when they fly. Unicorns (most obviously) use it to create "magic" or just stronger magnetic fields to levitate objects... the amount of maximum power is just how much of the superconductor they have in their bones, and how much wear and tear their bodies can take...
... We're awesome.
Edit: Leylines could just be places where a larger amount of electrons are located/accessed/ Say, a giant metal vein?
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This is exactly what I meant. Most of the air around them moves with them inside the bubble. This is why Mach 5.5+ speed only make dash's lips and mane blow as if she is moving ~55 mph. I'm sorry if I explained it poorly, I'm a nerd not a teacher
That is what I was getting at. That is a far safer way of doing it and evolution produces things which are more and more safe for the organisms of a species. Sure Pegasi evolved the ability to subconsciously use magic, but in a world where magic is a part of nature this would just be standard evolution.
That is actually very likely. We can harvest electrical energy from the ionosphere, pegasi might be able to harvest stray ions while in flight to help fule their flight.
Yeah we actually have at least he basic idea, pony magic allows them to manipulate quantum strata in differing ways. All we have left is to figure out the biology behind each species. Damn! Science strikes again!
It also speaks volumes about the series that it's magic can be explained scientifically.
Ponies are naturally able to utilize quantum particles due to the existence of magic as a real tangible energy in their world, likely because evolution is plastic to the environment.
As for lay lines, yeah that could be exactly what they are. For instance the ionosphere has hot spots where larger groups of ions tend to cluster. If they can take ions in to use as energy, then these would be the "lay lines".
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Ugh, biology... Okay, let's just start with Earth ponies. So... Hoofs. Well, hooves are bones, right? So, if the superconductor is in their bones, it is directly in contact with the Earth... (... Yeah...) Which means it gets the easiest feed of "magic" (because science is to complicated, and I'm afraid I'll say something stupider). The energy from the Earth - or Equis (Their planet is made from different stuff, which means it could have more charge... Or something. When the planet was formed, it could have formed with a lot more mineral gems and metals, which would mean it would form with more electrons and stuff, right?) could be taken in like how plants use sunlight for photosynthesis (yet another connection with the Earth ponies in general) and used to power their body instead of using mitochondria, which would help increase their endurance. They may also be able to redirect the flow of the energy straight into plants to help them grow.
I'll be out swimming for a bit, so I'll be back soon. I'm not exactly sure how this is possible for anything to evolve like this... But whatever
Welll... not quite. According to wikkipedia the bone is incredibly close to the surface there but is covered by a layer of keratin to protect the bone from infection. But that wouldn't make our theory impossible, as it could easily also contain graphiene, or since it is thin not provide enough resistance to severely negatively impact the energy flow.
As far as evolution is concerned, we know exactly how it works. The only thing which we don't know for sure is how the magical energies of the ponyverse effect living creatures within it. If we knew that we could figure out exactly how the environment is and since evolution of biological organisms is plastic to the environment (meaning the environment dictates evolution) if we knew what the environment was like we could begin to guess how organisms might adapt to thrive in it.
But that's actually not important. All we need to know here is what the ponies are like currently, not what they used to be like or how they might be in the future.
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What if there is no magic, and it's really just electricity.
An electric eel for example, it sends off electrical or magnetic waves through the water... Who says that couldn't be condensed into a bolt or something? Hell, water is magnetized, and electricity can make fire (they're the same thing). While this limits the actual definition of magic (Anything is possible) it would give us a really good start...
I'm moving to magic, because magic is a really big part of a pony's biology. With the latent amount of additional power in Equis, and possibly radiation, it might help explain how they evolved into creatures possible of creating fields of energy... Like an electric eel.
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My grandmother was a frog, you jerk.