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] 59 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Facepalm Man i'm dumb, this is a great answer to that thought experiment.

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

Force is not a thing that moves. Force is what is applied to an object. In this "answer" whatever is shown and depicted as force is not force.

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

Then reverse the assumptions. Maybe it’s the immovable object that can’t be interacted with. Apply all the force you want and meet nothibg

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

If you applied the unstoppable force and the object of application did not move - then this force was not unstoppable

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 hours ago

Was that unstoppable force unstoppable before the object? Was it unstoppable after the object? Did anything stop it?

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

Eh, it's just redefining the assumed meaning. "Intangible" does mean "unstoppable" in a way, but that's not really what's intended.