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| | ''Stationeers'' measures most properties using units standardized in the [[wikipedia:International System of Units|International System of Units]] ("SI"). This applies to the HUD and other visual displays, but it also applies to values used in logic circuitry, which is important to logic-based math. | | ''Stationeers'' measures most properties using units standardized in the [[wikipedia:International System of Units|International System of Units]] ("SI"). This applies to the HUD and other visual displays, but it also applies to values used in logic circuitry, which is important to logic-based math. |
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| − | ==Mass== | + | ==Mass: "Can I Push That?"== |
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| − | Or, Take This Blob and Shove It.
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| | '''[[wikipedia:Mass|Mass]]''' measures an amount of matter, in terms of its relationship to forces (e.g., gravity), inertia, and acceleration. ''Stationeers'' uses the SI unit '''gram''' (g) for mass. | | '''[[wikipedia:Mass|Mass]]''' measures an amount of matter, in terms of its relationship to forces (e.g., gravity), inertia, and acceleration. ''Stationeers'' uses the SI unit '''gram''' (g) for mass. |
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| − | The laws of science make two major statements about mass that are relevant to stationeering. First, the amount of force it takes to accelerate an object is directly proportional to its mass. Big things are harder to push, stop, or steer. Second, mass cannot be created nor destroyed, even when it undergoes drastic chemical and physical changes. This second rule is broken in relativistic situations, such as nuclear reactions.
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| | ===Direct Measurement=== | | ===Direct Measurement=== |
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| | ===Implications=== | | ===Implications=== |
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| − | It's hard to say how faithful ''Stationeers'' is to the laws of mass, force, and acceleration. For example, it seems unlikely, but not impossible, that the physics engine calculates the total mass of a Stationeer and all of the objects they carry, applying that to the results of player movement.
| + | [[:Category:Ore|Ores]] are not measured by mass, but each unit of ore always produces one gram of product (not counting off-gas byproducts) when smelted. |
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| − | To be tested: Ships and rovers?
| + | The [[Furnace#Recipes|recipe for an alloy]] is given as ratios between ingredients, not as exact amounts. These are ratios of mass, not of moles or volume. While this is faithful to real-world metallurgy, the recipes themselves are simplified from their real counterparts. |
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| − | ''Stationeers'' is generally very faithful about conservation of mass. The smelting of alloys, for example, always produces the same mass as the ingredients put in. There is an exception due to odd behavior of the [[Centrifuge]]; see [[#Metallurgy|Metallurgy]].
| + | The total count of the ore units output from a [[Centrifuge]] always equals the mass in grams of the mix put in. This is '''not faithful'''<sup>[verification needed]</sup>, because all ores in the game explicitly include impurities. The implication is that the Centrifuge somehow reintroduces the original impurities, and in fact this can be exploited to create those impurities from nothing, if you find them useful. |
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| − | There are currently no nuclear reactions in ''Stationeers'' to violate the conservation of mass legitimately. (Despite the name, the [[Battery Cell#Nuclear Cell|Nuclear Cell]] is really just a super-capacity energy storage device; it does not consume fuel.)
| + | ==Moles: "Will It Blend?"== |
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| − | ==Moles== | |
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| − | Or, Will It Blend?
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| | In chemical terms, [[wikipedia:Amount of substance|"amounts" of substance]] are not measured as mass, but as counts of particles. In ''Stationeers'', the particles in question are always molecules, and the game relates these counts using the SI unit '''mole'''. A mole is 6.0 × 10<sup>23</sup> molecules (the Avogadro number). It is abbreviated as '''mol'''; ''Stationeers'' also uses '''kmol''' (one thousand moles) and '''Mmol''' (one million moles). | | In chemical terms, [[wikipedia:Amount of substance|"amounts" of substance]] are not measured as mass, but as counts of particles. In ''Stationeers'', the particles in question are always molecules, and the game relates these counts using the SI unit '''mole'''. A mole is 6.0 × 10<sup>23</sup> molecules (the Avogadro number). It is abbreviated as '''mol'''; ''Stationeers'' also uses '''kmol''' (one thousand moles) and '''Mmol''' (one million moles). |
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| | 2H<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> → 2H<sub>2</sub>O + a bunch of heat | | 2H<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> → 2H<sub>2</sub>O + a bunch of heat |
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| − | That is, two molecules of hydrogen-hydrogen react with one molecule of oxygen-oxygen, producing heat and two molecules of water. This can scale up to larger amounts, of course, and to apply real amounts of substance to this equation, you can do it very simply as long as everything is expressed in moles.
| + | To apply real amounts of substance to this equation, you can do it very simply as long as everything is expressed in moles. |
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| | 2mol H<sub>2</sub> + 1mol O<sub>2</sub> → 2mol H<sub>2</sub>O | | 2mol H<sub>2</sub> + 1mol O<sub>2</sub> → 2mol H<sub>2</sub>O |
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| | ===Implications=== | | ===Implications=== |
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| − | The game does not include a reference to the [[wikipedia:Molar mass|molar masses]] of these fluids, but it should not normally be necessary. Ratios of one substance to another can be crucial (e.g., for [[Fuel]]), but these are always calculated by mole (see [[wikipedia:Stoichiometry|stoichiometry]]), not by mass or volume. As such, when you set the mix ratio on a [[Pipe Gas Mixer]], that's a ratio of moles as well. | + | The game does not include a reference to the [[wikipedia:Molar mass|molar masses]] of these fluids, but it should not normally be necessary. Ratios of one substance to another can be crucial (e.g., for [[Fuel]]), but these are always calculated by mole (see [[wikipedia:Stoichiometry|stoichiometry]]), not by mass or volume. |
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| | The game is '''not faithful''' to molar chemistry when it comes to the substance called "[[Volatiles]]". Volatiles behave in some chemical contexts like pure hydrogen gas (and are sometimes labeled "H2"), but when burned they behave more like a [[wikipedia:Hydrocarbon|hydrocarbon]]. | | The game is '''not faithful''' to molar chemistry when it comes to the substance called "[[Volatiles]]". Volatiles behave in some chemical contexts like pure hydrogen gas (and are sometimes labeled "H2"), but when burned they behave more like a [[wikipedia:Hydrocarbon|hydrocarbon]]. |
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| − | ==Volume== | + | ==Volume: "Where Can I Fit That?"== |
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| − | Or, You Know Where You Can Put That?
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| | '''[[wikipedia:Volume|Volume]]''' is, simply, the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional shape. If a substance can compress (like a gas), and a container is rigid, then the volume will remain constant even as you pump mass/moles into or out of the container. | | '''[[wikipedia:Volume|Volume]]''' is, simply, the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional shape. If a substance can compress (like a gas), and a container is rigid, then the volume will remain constant even as you pump mass/moles into or out of the container. |
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| | * [[Gas Canister]]s | | * [[Gas Canister]]s |
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| − | The exception is the global atmosphere, which is not contained and can be said to have infinite volume<sup>[verification needed]</sup>. | + | The exception is the global atmosphere, which does not "contain" anything and can be said to have infinite volume<sup>[verification needed]</sup>. |
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| | ===Implications=== | | ===Implications=== |
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| | Here are some important reference volumes. | | Here are some important reference volumes. |
| − | * One large grid cube: 8,000 L (= 8 m<sup>3</sup> = 2 meters per side) | + | * One large grid cube: 8,000 L |
| | * [[Gas Canister]]: 64 L | | * [[Gas Canister]]: 64 L |
| | * [[Portable Tank]]: 790 L | | * [[Portable Tank]]: 790 L |
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| | * A Stationeer's lungs: 6 L | | * A Stationeer's lungs: 6 L |
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| − | ==Temperature== | + | ==Heat: "Will That Cook Me?"== |
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| − | Or, Will That Cook Me?
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| − | '''[[wikipedia:Temperature|Temperature]]''' is the measurement of how hot or cold matter is. The precise thermodynamic definition is complex, but it can be roughly summarized as the amount of energy embedded into a substance. Temperature has a very direct effect on [[#Pressure, Absolute|pressure]], and vice versa.
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| − | Thermal energy moves around by three major methods. In '''conduction''', heat transfers directly through matter, tending to bring regions of high and low temperature into equilibrium. (Think "burned by a hot pan".) In thermal '''radiation''', heat generates electromagnetic emissions that can be transmitted even across a vacuum, then absorbed by other matter causing it to heat up in turn. (Think "sunshine is warm".) In '''convection''', conduction heats a portion of a fluid, creating local pressure changes which cause the fluid to move; it carries the heat with it. (Think "hot air rises".)
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| − | ===Direct Measurement===
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| − | ''Stationeers'' measures temperature on two scales. Fluids within plumbing (e.g., pipes, tanks, furnaces) are measured in '''kelvin''' (K), where 0K represents the theoretical complete absence of thermal energy ("[[wikipedia:Absolute zero|absolute zero]]"). Fluids in enclosed spaces or in the atmosphere are measured in '''degrees Celsius''' (°C), where 0°C is the freezing point of water at standard atmospheric pressure (101.325 kPa). One kelvin is exactly equal to one degree Celsius, so you can easily convert from K to °C by subtracting '''273.15'''. (This is why ices placed in a [[Furnace]] will change to gas on their own if the Furnace is above 273K, and otherwise just sit there.)
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| − | ===Implications===
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| − | ''Stationeers'' clearly models heat conduction in general. For example, a Pipe will gradually conduct heat between its contents and the surrounding matter to reach equilibrium, and this exchange rate is greatly increased by adding a [[Pipe Radiator]]. It also models the reality that forcibly "pumping" heat from one volume to another (e.g., with an [[Kit (Atmospherics) Air Conditioner|Air Conditioner]] or an [[EVA Suit]]) requires the use of energy, and also that excess heat is not simply destroyed in this process—it still has to be disposed of somehow.
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| − | To be tested: Do different materials have different conductivity?
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| − | To be tested: Is thermal radiation modeled? Try in a vacuum.
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| − | To be tested: Can fluid flow be induced with heat alone?
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| | ==Pressure, Absolute== | | ==Pressure, Absolute== |
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| | ==Phase== | | ==Phase== |
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| − | ==Metallurgy==
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| − | Or, He Who Smelted
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| − | ===Implications===
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| − | [[:Category:Ore|Ores]] are not measured by mass, but each unit of ore always produces one gram of product (not counting any gas byproducts) when smelted.
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| − | The [[Furnace#Recipes|recipe for an alloy]] is given as ratios between ingredients, not as exact amounts. These are ratios of mass, not of moles or volume. While this measuring method is faithful to real-world metallurgy, the formulas themselves are simplified (or totally different) from their real counterparts, as shown in the table below.
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| − | The total count of the ore units output from a [[Centrifuge]] always equals the mass in grams of the mix put in. This is '''not faithful'''<sup>[verification needed]</sup>, because all ores in the game explicitly include impurities. The implication is that the Centrifuge somehow reintroduces the original impurities, and in fact this can be exploited to create those impurities from nothing, if you find them useful.
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| − | ===Comparison to Real Formulas===
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| − | {| class="wikitable"
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| − | ! Alloy !! Stationeers Formula !! Real Formula !! Remarks
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| − | | Steel || 75% iron + 25% carbon || mostly iron + < 2.2% carbon + others || Real steel comes in many varieties for different purposes, all with different iron-carbon ratios and additives. Stainless steel, tool steel, and spring steel name just a few wide classes.
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| − | | Electrum || 50% silver + 50% gold|| 20%~80% silver + 20%~80% gold || Real electrum is one of Earth's few naturally-occurring alloys. Natural deposits vary widely in their ratios, and other elements can be included.
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| − | | Invar || 50% iron + 50% nickel || 64% iron + 36% nickel || Real invar is used when an object needs to precisely keep its size and shape as its temperature changes.
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| − | | Constantan || 50% copper + 50% nickel|| about 55% copper + 45% nickel || Real constantan is used when an object needs to precisely keep its electrical resistivity as its temperature changes.
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| − | | Solder || 50% iron + 50% lead || varies || In the real world, "solder" describes many different materials that are very different from one another in composition. They all melt at low temperatures, solidify at room temperature, and are used to bond objects together, but the varieties used for electrical circuits, plumbing parts, and jewelry are each tailored for their applications. "Classic" solder is a mixture of lead and ''tin'', but modern solder often contains no lead (as it's toxic). Iron is not a typical solder ingredient. (However, the tool used to melt and apply solder is generally called an "iron", whatever it's made of.)
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| − | | Astroloy || 50% iron + 25% copper + 25% cobalt || mostly nickel + 17% cobalt + 15% chromium + molybdenum, aluminum, titanium, and others || Real Astroloy was developed for specialized aerospace uses, such as jet engine turbines.
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| − | | Hastelloy || 50% nickel + 25% silver + 25% cobalt || C-276 formula: mostly nickel + > 17% molybdenum + > 14.5% chromium + iron, tungsten, cobalt, and others || The various real formulas for Hastelloy are all nickel based. They are used in chemical processing systems for their corrosion resistance.
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| − | | Inconel || 50% nickel + 25% gold + 25% iron || 625 formula: mostly nickel + > 20% chromium + > 8% molybdenum + niobium, tantalum, and others || The various real formulas for Inconel are all nickel-chromium based. They are used because they are self-protecting against corrosion and oxidation at high temperatures, along with being physically strong.
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| − | | Waspaloy || 50% nickel + 25% lead + 25% silver || mostly nickel + 19% chromium + 13% cobalt + molybdenum, titanium, aluminum, and others || Real Waspaloy is used in demanding high-temperature applications, such as jet engines.
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| − | | Stellite || 50% cobalt + 25% silver + 25% silicon || Stellite 1 formula: mostly cobalt + > 28% chromium + > 11% tungsten + carbon, silicon, iron, nickel, and others || Real Stellite is used for hard-wearing applications, such as power tool faces and cutlery.
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| − | |}
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| − | ==Physiology==
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| − | ==Botany==
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| − | Or, Sow What?
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| − | ==Ornithology==
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| − | Or, Layers Upon Layers
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| | ==Energy== | | ==Energy== |
