Expert: Justin Case - 8/18/2009

Question
QUESTION: What effect would the following have on Batman, if he was in his Batsuit?

A) Armus' energy discharge
B) Apollo's lightning
C) Hand-phaser set at maximum stun
D) Hand-phaser set at stun
E) Varon-T Disruptor
F) Assimilation attempt by Borg
G) Wolverine's claws

Would the Traveler allow a Vulcan to mind-meld with him? What about an El-Aurian, Gary Mitchell, or Cytherian?

Ursa Major vs. Dauphin Beast

Ursa Major vs. Odo

Can Hulk break Wolverine's claws?

Since the T-1000 passed effortlessly through metal bars at the hospital, could he pass through the 'spaces' in the energy matrix of the Enterprise brig forcefield?

If Spock had a sudden onset of multiple personality disorder, could he give himself a mind-meld in order to try and figure out the problem?

ANSWER: Oh Hi O Gazimus John -

A) That much electricity would overload his central nervous system and kill him like it did to Tasha.

B)  He'd get electrocuted, but he'd survive thanks to the EM dampers in the suit.

C)  Max stun would most likely put him down as his body couldn't absorb so much energy and neither could his suit.

D)  At regular stun the blast might knock him back a step or two (Impact trauma) but I doubt he'd lose consciousness.

E)  Varon-T- The weapon would pull apart his suit before killing him.

F)  If the Borg probes penetrated his skin he'd be a Bat-Borg, I think it would take them time to get around the suit though.

G)  Wolvie's claw would rip right through the bat suit like they do to steel.

The Traveler seemed genial enough and willing to help others (i.e. Wesley) explore their mental potential so I'd bet he might allow a benevolent enough Vulcan to mind meld with him.  As for an El Aurian it would depend on whether or not they were like Guinan or Dr. Soran, meaning Guinan =good, Soran = bad!

I doubt he'd meld with Mitchell as Gary's human weaknesses were corrupting his use of his abilities and I doubt he would with a Cytherian since so much about them is a mystery.

The Traveler seemed to thrive on 'good thoughts' so I'd bet he could instinctively tell the good from the bad entities.

Ursa Major was trained by the Russian government to be an agent so I'd bet with his physical skills, training and experience he could figure out a way to route the Dauphin Beast.

Odo has the advantage over him however since he can add and shunt mass.  If Odo wanted to get nasty he could transform into a microbe, enter Ursa Major's lungs and then increase his size by only a little and cause major system trauma to the Major!

No, Wolverine's claws are unbreakable and adamantium had to be 'cut' using a particle beam.

If such spaces existed and the energy matrix wasn't 'air tight' then yes the T-1000 could pass through it. Since sound travels through the field, that would indicate it is not airtight so the scenario you suggest should be possible.

Hmmmm, that last question is tough.  Multiple personality disorder has a variety of causes and presentations.  Generally subjects who contract the disorder have significant trauma in their pasts that results in a disassociative reaction to their environment.  If that was the case Spock couldn't cure himself as the trauma would be an integral part of his psyche.

I'm no expert on that but I think it can also sometimes be caused by chemical interactions in the brain in which case the mind meld wouldn't work on that either.

Thanks!

Deran

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I asked about Wolverine's claws because you stated that Superman could break them. Superman is stronger than the Hulk but Hulk is obviously no slouch in that department.

In my newspaper comics, it was stated that only adamantium can cut adamantium, not a particle beam.

Why can't humans pass through the energy matrix of the Enterprise brig? Humans are solid but so is the T-1000, although the T-1000 is composed of liquid metal.

So, could a changeling or the T-1000 walk through a solid wall? That's difficult for me to picture.

ANSWER: Hi John -

Yep Superman is a real pain to assess since his strength has been portrayed so differently over the past sixty odd years.  Potentially his strength has no limits other than how much solar energy he absorbs and various issues of his comics have shown him pushing a planet, re-directing the path of a comet, and flying into a sun without suffering any ill effects from the heat, light and gravity of a star.

If our sun is strong enough to keep nine assorted planets (or whatever they are calling them these days), their respective satellites, the asteroid belt, comets and assorted debris trapped in its gravitational pull, and Superman can fly right through it without suffering any damage, then I feel pretty confident he could break Wolverine's claws.

Adamantium is one of those things that has been retconned to death in the comics.  In the era I first began reading comics (Late 70s early 80s) it was specifically stated that only a particle beam could cut the stuff, but that's been changed over the years.

The T-1000 can alter its molecular structure to flow through the spaces between the 'energy bars' of the energy matrix.  We know that the matrix is not air tight, so it must have spaces through which the T-1000 can flow.

The T-1000 has selective control over its molecular density, which is why it can flow around at all, whereas humans do not.  Our density remains more or less constant and isn't adjustable.

Since the molecular density of a solid wall is solid and light and massive quantities of air can't penetrate it, its molecules are more densely packed and it would thus be very difficult for Odo or a T-1000 to flow through it.  It might not be impossible, but it would require a high degree of "molecularization" and time for them to do it.

The wall might have somewhat of a porous surface and construction (since I doubt its completely airtight) but the heavy density of the thing would make it very difficult to pass through.

For example, it's pretty easy for you or I to pass through the water in a swimming pool because its density is more liquid, but passing through a solid wall is impossible because the wall has a higher molecular density.

Thanks!

D. -

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Okay, since Density = mass/volume, when the T-1000 becomes less dense, he also becomes lighter?

His volume obviously stays the same, so his mass must decrease, correct?

I'm sorry that my science is not that great. When you say his density decreases, he becomes more ethereal (Calamarain are less dense than Hirogen), correct?

So, when the T-1000 morphs through the bars at the hospital, his molecules are really spreading out, so that they're able to "avoid" the densely packed molecules of the bars. Thus, the T-1000 is able to morph through the bars.

Is this correct?

Can you explain how earlier at the hospital, the T-1000 was able to morph through the floor? Here's the clip, if you don't remember: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg7e9WeYg8M

It begins around 1:00.

Answer
Hey John -

I think that's correct, my 'old man' is a structural/forensic engineer and I often rely on him for the engineering expertise I need for some of these questions.  

Without going into the nauseating detail HE does when the T-1000 becomes less dense his molecules are less viscous but weigh the same.  (He used the analogy of 'which weighs more a pound of ice or a 'pound' of water?)  Both weigh the same, its just that one is more dense than the other.

You got it on the T-1000 morphing through the bars, his molecules are going through the spaces between the (dense) bars.

In the clip the T-1000 was laying on top of the floor, having spread himself out to the thickness of a piece of paper.  In that case he was on top of the floor, not morphing through it.

Thanks!

Deran