Difference between revisions of "Unobtainium"
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'''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 | '''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. | * Metals with impossibly high melting points. | ||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
* Fuels or explosives with impossibly high energy density. | * Fuels or explosives with impossibly high energy density. | ||
This term | This term comes up occasionally in science fiction, describing a material with impossible properties. Many science fiction materials actually fit this description, though. | ||
== | ==Science Fiction Examples== | ||
* [[Adamantium]] | |||
* [[Cydonium]] | |||
* [[Element Zero]] | |||
* [[Elerium]] | |||
* [[Gravitonium]] | |||
* [[Hypermatter]] | |||
* [[Naquadah]] | |||
* [[Naquadriah]] | |||
* [[Neutronium]] | |||
* [[Quantium 40]] | |||
* [[Red matter]] | |||
* [[Trilithium]] | |||
* [[Trinium]] | |||
* [[Vibranium]] | |||
==Uses of explicitly named "Unobtainium"== | |||
* The hull of the drilling vehicle in ''The Core'' was composed of unobtainium. | |||
* The human miners in ''Avatar'' were extracting unobtainium, an element with superconductive properities which could, in sufficient quantities, levitate. | |||
[[Category: Science Fiction]] | [[Category: Science Fiction]] | ||
[[Category:Materials]] | |||
Latest revision as of 15:38, 11 October 2013
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 occasionally in science fiction, describing a material with impossible properties. Many science fiction materials actually fit this description, though.
Science Fiction Examples
- Adamantium
- Cydonium
- Element Zero
- Elerium
- Gravitonium
- Hypermatter
- Naquadah
- Naquadriah
- Neutronium
- Quantium 40
- Red matter
- Trilithium
- Trinium
- Vibranium
Uses of explicitly named "Unobtainium"
- The hull of the drilling vehicle in The Core was composed of unobtainium.
- The human miners in Avatar were extracting unobtainium, an element with superconductive properities which could, in sufficient quantities, levitate.