Why did the DeLorean travel 88 MPH?
Posted: 12/22/2014 7:52:02 AM
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Topic: Science Fiction

A Delorean DMC-12 is 4216 mm long [1]. When travelling at 88 mph, the car then travels its own length in 4216mm88mph = 107.2 ms. So this is how long the time-travelling wormhole-thingy that opens in front of the car has to be open, or alternatively the minimum time the flux capacitor is actually in effect. Could this time interval be significant

Note how the Delorean arrives in the same location on earth after travelling in time, but can arrive at different times of day. Assuming it is gravity-bound it must still somehow be able to translate along the circumference of the earth, to correct for Earth's rotation. We know that the time-travel takes place in California, which is at 37 degrees north latitude. If you travel due east from 37 degrees north and circle the earth, the distance travelled is circumference of earth  cos(37) = 32 005 km. Now notice that light travels this distance in 32 005 kmspeed of light = 107 milliseconds! [2]

It is then clear that Doc Brown uses the speed of the car to modulate the duration of travel, but in space, not in time. With reference to Minkowski space-time, the car leaves its normal time-like curve for a spacelike but performs a translation in space when passing through its lightcone, where it attains exactly the speed of light. 107 milliseconds affords travel to any point in time while returning to the same point on earth. A round-trip might be necessary depending on whether you travel forward or backward in time. If the car had been at the equator, the car would have to travel at only 70.38 mph. This would actually be a disadvantage as Doc Brown would have to provide more energy to keep the wormhole open for longer.

Not that the energy requirements are that large actually. The Delorean is stated to require 1.21 Gigawatts for time travel [3]. Watt is Joule per second and 1.21 GJs  107 ms = 130 megajoules. This is about the energy released by combusting one gallon of gasoline [4]. A gallon per trip makes for good mileage on a time machine.

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Why did the DeLorean travel 88 MPH?
Posted: 12/22/2014 7:52:02 AM
By:
Times Read: 2,342
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Topic: Science Fiction

So can any math whizes out there give me a formula to compute the speed and energy needed to time travel based on any point on earth where we know the Degrees North Latitude? I tried it and got lost.

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