Difference between revisions of "Unobtainium"

From Imperial Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 5: Line 5:
* Fuels or explosives with impossibly high energy density.
* Fuels or explosives with impossibly high energy density.


This term has appeared at least once in science fiction<ref>''The Core''</ref>, describing a material with impossible properties.  Many science fiction materials actually fit this description, though.
This term comes up occationally science fiction describing a material with impossible properties.  Many science fiction materials actually fit this description, though.


==Science Fiction Examples==
==Science Fiction Examples==
Line 16: Line 16:
* [[Trilithium]]
* [[Trilithium]]


==References==
==Uses of the "Unobtainium"==
<references />
* The hull of the drilling vehicle in ''The Core'' was composed of unobtainium.
* The human miners in ''Avatar'' were extracting unobtainium.


[[Category: Science Fiction]]
[[Category: Science Fiction]]
[[Category:Materials]]
[[Category:Materials]]

Revision as of 15:28, 12 July 2010

Unobtainium is a term coined by engineers to describe materials that do not exist. When you find that the material properties required for a particular function cannot be met by any material known to modern science, the material that you need is unobtainium. Examples include:

  • Metals with impossibly high melting points.
  • Structural materials with impossibly high tensile strength.
  • Fuels or explosives with impossibly high energy density.

This term comes up occationally science fiction describing a material with impossible properties. Many science fiction materials actually fit this description, though.

Science Fiction Examples

Uses of the "Unobtainium"

  • The hull of the drilling vehicle in The Core was composed of unobtainium.
  • The human miners in Avatar were extracting unobtainium.