Ever wonder why Transformers can move so fast?, Even in robot mode? Rating Options

[Stungun]

I'm gonna copy and paste what I added to the Fridge Brilliance/Transformers page on TVTropes:

In most, if not all Transformers series - particularly the Japanese series, the live-action movies and Transformers Prime - the Transformers move with impossible grace and agility despite being Humongous Mecha. However, this can be seen as Fridge Brilliance since, in the movies and the Marvel G1 continuity, Cybertron is MUCH larger than Earth - in Marvel G1, it's stated to be the size of Saturn, while in the movies, it appears to be more the size of a Super-Earth. Logically, Cybertron must have a MUCH higher gravity than Earth due to its greater mass, and so, Transformers are Heavy Worlders - on their home planet, they'd probably have an agility more like a human's, meaning non-rocket-assisted jumps wouldn't be too high. On the much smaller Earth, though, they can run faster, jump higher, and are generally more agile - much like Silver Age Superman.

Plus, unlike most humongous mecha, they aren't built by humans... usually. And since they're machines, they wouldn't suffer the same effects a human would being stranded in a lower-gravity environment.

This post has been edited by Spin Out: Mar 9 2012, 08:59 PM

[Autobus Prime]

However, Chip Chase...but then, of course, Chip Chase.

[Magnusblitz]

I haven't really ever wondered, no... I figure they're bigger but proportional to humans, so they can move at roughly the same speed. Should this not be the case? Would something that size be slowed by mass/density/whatever problems? They can be made out of Cybertronium and run on Energon or whatever so its easy enough to handwave comparisons to human-made machines not having the energy to move so much weight.

Also, Cybertron in Sunbow was about the size of the moon IIRC, maybe even smaller.

[Destron D-69]

also they are the children of God... so they are not necessarily limited by out understanding of reality

[Nyarlathotep]

It's Just A Show, You Should Really Just Relax~

[Dake]

High strength, low mass super alloy metals and anti grav tech.

[The Doctor Who]

Of all the things to obsessively nerd over. I mean, almost every Transformer since the beginning has been a walking physics violation. I mean, if you can get your brain past the mass-shifting, I think the whole 'why do they move so fast' thing should be pretty much a non-issue.

On the other hand I have wondered why certain Transformers can move so quickly despite their comparative size, but it never bothered me too much. I mean, I just watched a motorcycle turn into a huge female robot, I can hardly start picking nits at that point.

[WorkbenchManiac]

It's Just A Show, You Should Really Just Relax~

Words of wisdom.

[Bug-Saw]

I mean, almost every Transformer since the beginning has been a walking physics violation.

I honestly think people take the laws of physics too seriously. Isn't the whole point of science is to keep an open mind since there's never 100% proof for the certainty of anything?

[▲ndrusi]

I honestly think people take the laws of physics too seriously.

I know! I float off into the sky and pass through solid walls every Tuesday night, and you don't see the Science Police coming and busting me. It's just not that big of a deal.

[WorkbenchManiac]

I honestly think people take the laws of physics too seriously. Isn't the whole point of science is to keep an open mind since there's never 100% proof for the certainty of anything?

If keep your mind open open that far, your brains will fall out.

[The Doctor Who]

I mean, almost every Transformer since the beginning has been a walking physics violation.

I honestly think people take the laws of physics too seriously. Isn't the whole point of science is to keep an open mind since there's never 100% proof for the certainty of anything?

Well, no, the point of science is to put observations under a very precise and exacting set of requirements before accepting them as fact. A good scientist, however, will not ignore a result just because it's unexpected or unexplainable at the time, but at the same time they won't throw out known laws at a whim, especially when those laws have a long history of predicable and reliable results. To totally overturn the basic principles of physics would take a very, VERY large discovery and a lot of proof.

I honestly think people take the laws of physics too seriously. Isn't the whole point of science is to keep an open mind since there's never 100% proof for the certainty of anything?

If keep your mind open open that far, your brains will fall out.

This is also an acceptable answer XD

This post has been edited by The Doctor Who: Mar 10 2012, 03:31 PM

[Mr Smitt]

Since I prefer 'smaller than earth' cybertron to saturn-sized cybertron, this is an unacceptable answer to a question I never asked (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-fire.gif)

[Shockwave 75]

Since it has been brought up in the past that some people believe that the TF's, especially the very large ones, would be crushed under their own weight, I think this is an interesting theory as to why they wouldn't be.

As for all the "It's just a show" responces, if that's how you guys truely feel then maybe it's time to sell your collections and move on. After all, isn't this kind of speculation just the sort of thing that communities like this are here to discuss?

[Bug-Saw]

Well, no, the point of science is to put observations under a very precise and exacting set of requirements before accepting them as fact. A good scientist, however, will not ignore a result just because it's unexpected or unexplainable at the time, but at the same time they won't throw out known laws at a whim, especially when those laws have a long history of predicable and reliable results. To totally overturn the basic principles of physics would take a very, VERY large discovery and a lot of proof.

The thing is, scientists are just human so they're interpreting things from their limited human perspective.

[WorkbenchManiac]

As for all the "It's just a show" responces, if that's how you guys truely feel then maybe it's time to sell your collections and move on. After all, isn't this kind of speculation just the sort of thing that communities like this are here to discuss?

Yes, if you don't care about the made-up physics of a cartoon about giant alien robots, way more than the creators ever did, then you don't deserve toys.

The thing is, scientists are just human so they're interpreting things from their limited human perspective.

May I suggest you drop the topic? You obviously do not know what you are talking about, and I'm not sure I'd like to derail the thread into a lecture about the scientific process.

[Starfield]

Transformers aren't always that fast. They walk (and sometimes run) the same pace as human children in most series.

But yea, when they want to, they can be very fast. How? Advanced technology, of course.

This post has been edited by Starfield: Mar 10 2012, 07:02 PM

[Cybersnark]

Also, computer brains.

I've always just assumed that TF reflexes are much much faster than humans' (to the point where gun-fu bullet-dodging is sometimes possible).

[TheMightyMollusk]

Sufficiently advanced technology. 'Nuff said.

[▲ndrusi]

Since I prefer 'smaller than earth' cybertron to saturn-sized cybertron, this is an unacceptable answer to a question I never asked (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-fire.gif)

Maybe it's also very, very dense.