Power Suit mechanics: what is and what is not possible

[Remnants]

Oh! Oh! I just thought of an explanation the other day for the glowing lights on the newer versions of the suit.

Perhaps they are like exhaust ports, venting heat (or some other form of energy that the suit expends) so that it doesn't build up inside. They could also help regulate external heat, seeing as the basic suit has less lights than the Varia.

Besides looking cool of course.

Or excess internal heat could just be converted to another kind of energy. Thermoelectric materials are able to directly convert heat to electricity (not heat kinetic electric like in power plants) although currently at low efficiencies. I think the latest kind has a conversion efficiency of 14% I think.

So if the suit can make energy out of temperature differences be it in- to outside or vice-versa, that same energy could be utilized for additional heating/cooling should it not be enough.

[TheBlackCat]

Or excess internal heat could just be converted to another kind of energy. Thermoelectric materials are able to directly convert heat to electricity (not heat kinetic electric like in power plants) although currently at low efficiencies. I think the latest kind has a conversion efficiency of 14% I think.

So if the suit can make energy out of temperature differences be it in- to outside or vice-versa, that same energy could be utilized for additional heating/cooling should it not be enough.

That would violate the laws of thermodynamics. It is not possible to convert thermal energy directly into usable work.

Thermoelectric materials convert the flow of thermal energy from a warmer place to a cooler place to electricity, but based on the laws of thermodynamics this must necessarilly be at very low efficiency (the efficiency is proportional to the difference in temperature between the warm area and cool area, the smaller the energy difference the lower the efficiency).

It may be possible to increase the efficiency somewhat, but it is still only going to be able to make use of a small fraction of the total energy flow.

The same is true for converting outside thermal energy into usable electrcity (or any useful form of energy). This is only possible if the eenergy in the outside flows into the inside. But that would cook Samus alive in Norfair, for instance. On the contrary, the suit would need to be continuously using large amounts of energy in order to pump built-up thermal energy inside the suit to the outside (once again, the energy needs to move from one place to another). Even if we assume a perfect insulator, there is still Samus's body heat and the heat from the suit's own machinery that needs to be pumped out.

And the efficiency of heat pumps like that (i.e. refrigerators) is proportional to the difference between the area that is being cooled and the area that is being warmed. As the area being cooled drops in temperature relative to the area being warmed, the efficiency drops, so in an area like Norfair the efficiency must be terrible (even if the heat pump is operating at theoretical limits).

[Remnants]

Thermoelectric materials convert the flow of thermal energy from a warmer place to a cooler place to electricity

Thanks. Can't believe I left out that important detail.

Although... If Samus is able to shoot energized-cold as a weapon, surely it could be used to help keep herself cool inside.

Speaking of beams, what form of energy is it? Or a more simple question, does anyone have an idea what's it like to get hit by the Power Beam?

[doc O. Mire]

... Or a more simple question, does anyone have an idea what's it like to get hit by the Power Beam?

Considering the fact that anything hit too many times by the power beam explodes/disintegrates would probably suggest that it would probably be like getting electrocuted. You're molecules would begin to vibrate incredibly quickly, there's a high chance of being momentarily paralyzed and the beam would most likely cause bodily functions to begin to shut down. Eventually molecules would begin to break apart as the beam's energy interferes with their bonds and you experience being torn apart completely.


(The galactic federation is not responsible for any possible side effects to being exposed to a weapon containing such dangerous energies for prolonged periods of time. It is not recommended that you come within twenty feet of a power beam weapon if you have back problems, stomach problems, heart problems liver problems, brain damage, a fear of losing your hair, are pregnant or want to live to the age of 60. If you experience diarrhea, chest pain, or think you have been effected in any way by power beam energy, please consult a doctor. It is unadvisable to be hit by a power beam and we recommend you spend your money buying power beam-proof suits from your local federation domestic protection facility. On a completely unrelated note, despite what Samus Aran may have told you WE ARE NOT CLONING METROIDS AS BIO-WEAPONS. We hope you have a wonderful day! GF)

[TheBlackCat]

Although... If Samus is able to shoot energized-cold as a weapon, surely it could be used to help keep herself cool inside.

Of course, my point is simply that she can't use Norfair's heat as a power source. She needs what amounts to a really powerful refrigerator to keep her cool.

Speaking of beams, what form of energy is it? Or a more simple question, does anyone have an idea what's it like to get hit by the Power Beam?

That probably depends on the beam. The ice beam I always figured was super-cooled gas (probably not normal air, it would liquify) surrounded by some sort of shell or weak shield that would break open on impact.

My hunch is that the plasma beam is probably composed of plasma (superheated and ionized gas).

The wave beam in the prime games behaves like a charged particle gun. The one in the 2D games doesn't, though.

If the plasma beam is plasma, that implies that the power beam isn't plasma, but if it isn't plasma it is hard to imagine what it is. It can't be a laser, those travel at the speed of light. It does appear to cause a small explosion on contact with matter, but whether this it the beam itself exploding or it is flash-vaporizing small bits of the matter it hits is unclear.

Some somewhat ad-hoc guesses:

Some sort of unstable or exotic form of matter bundled in a shield. When the shield breaks on contact the contents rapidly decay, releasing a lot of energy. It is hard to imagine why this would be weaker than plasma, thought.

Some sort of gas that refracts, traps, and or slows laser light. The refraction is only stable as long as the ball maintains it shape, so the laser energy is instantly dumped into whatever the ball of gas hits.

A ball of gas that is superheated but not enough to be a plasma (perhaps one that is hard to ionize).

Two concentric shells of gas that are inert on their own, but when they hit a target the shells break and the gasses mix, resulting in an explosion. This could be a chemical reaction, or two sets of particles with opposite charges that are being kept apart.

Some sort of stable vortex of energized gas or energy flowing through a gas. When it hits a target the vertex breaks down, releasing all the stored energy.

A variant of whatever they use for a shield, with the shield breaking down and releasing stored energy when it hits a solid object.

[Flobertroid]

I don't have time to read the whole thread,but I know a way the morph ball could work...gyroscopes.Samus is in the center and there's a ball bering or some shit so that no matter what the outside of the ball ( ) does she is still upright inside the morph ball

[YamI]

I believe she does a 360 flip into a ball form, and controls the ball, but as you see in prime 2, its a ball of energy.

[LesserChozo]

If you watch closely, in the Prime games, it looks like she's doing a back-flip into it. It actually kinda looks painful.

[Toxsyl]

A girl who can curl up in a ball, she must be one hell of a tiger in bed.

I always thought of some kind of shape shifting technology to a certain extent happens to occur that allows her to shrink down that size.

[YamI]

I think that its impossible to actually Do it in real life, but It would hurt if attempted.

[LesserChozo]

A girl who can curl up in a ball, she must be one hell of a tiger in bed.

I always thought of some kind of shape shifting technology to a certain extent happens to occur that allows her to shrink down that size.

It is pretty obvious that Samus is incredibly, if not unnaturally, limber.

[metroidfusionfan237]

Well this is a sort of explanation of the morphball that I sort of thought up.(Its not a fan fic I am just guessing about how it could work).
OK so shoulder pads lift up,absorb other parts of armor (that's why it looks so big) body turns to energy to fit better in it.
Outer shell keeps moving so it does not fall and to move.
Inner shell does not move to not barf.
bombs are created from the kinetic energy and are deployed from a small hatch.
I know it might be wrong It is just something I thought up of how it might work.

peace

[YamI]

A girl who can curl up in a ball, she must be one hell of a tiger in bed.

I always thought of some kind of shape shifting technology to a certain extent happens to occur that allows her to shrink down that size.

It is pretty obvious that Samus is incredibly, if not unnaturally, limber.

Indeed. I agree 1000000000%

[Toxsyl]

I think the morph ball mechanic will never be explained... ever. Even if they made a response to it, it would prolly sound really bootleg.

[Dark Samus Aran]

Umm... with Samus's giant shoulders... and flexibility. The morph ball is possible. K?
So is the Space Jump Boots... they probs have thrusters in them have give her a jump power.
X-Ray visor. Really. Well duh! she can.. cuz she has a visor. that can do... like anything!