838
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by xkcdbot@lemmy.world to c/xkcd@lemmy.world

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

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] Goretantath@lemm.ee 65 points 3 months ago

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

[-] ech@lemm.ee 4 points 3 months ago

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

[-] Piafraus@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

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.

[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

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

[-] Piafraus@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

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

[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

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

this post was submitted on 02 May 2025
838 points (100.0% liked)

xkcd

12387 readers
49 users here now

A community for a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS