this post was submitted on 02 May 2025
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xkcd

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Title text:

Unstoppable force-carrying particles can't interact with immovable matter by definition.

Transcript:

[An arrow pointing to the right and a trapezoid are labeled as 'Unstoppable Force' and 'Immovable Object' respectively.]
[The arrow is shown as entering the trapezoid from the left and the part of it in said trapezoid is coloured gray.]
[The arrow is shown as leaving the trapezoid to the right and is coloured black.]
[Caption below the panel:] I don't see why people find this scenario to be tricky.

Source: https://xkcd.com/3084/

explainxkcd for #3084

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (5 children)

I'm driving. I lose my brakes and can't slow down as if my gas pedal is stuck (unstoppable force). I'm on a road that stops at a T intersection and there's a concrete wall to keep people from going straight when they are moving vertically towards the T intersection (immovable object).

The car just goes right through the concrete wall with no damage?

Replace the concrete wall with a wooden fence. Technically the fence is immovable, but the car is going to smash right through that thing.

So is this about clarifying what exactly the objects are? I'm not smart enough for this one and am so confused...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

The car just goes right through the concrete wall

Well, maybe..

with no damage?

No.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (5 children)

This is soo politically charged that can't be seen as political anymore.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Ugh. This is a good point. Force = energy, and even an immovable object can carry energy. I assume.

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