topynate comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 27, chapter 98 - Less Wrong

2 Post author: Vaniver 28 August 2013 07:29PM

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Comment author: topynate 28 August 2013 10:17:58PM *  2 points [-]

If he can make a model rocket, he can make a uranium gun design. It's one slightly sub-critical mass of uranium with a suitable hole for the second piece, which is shaped like a bullet and fired at it using a single unsynchronised electronic trigger down a barrel long enough to get up a decent speed. Edit: And then he or a friendly 7th year casts a charm of flawless function on it.

Comment author: ikrase 28 August 2013 11:52:48PM 2 points [-]

That was a lot more than a model rocket.... probably weighed at least 5kg. Also, the fact that either he OR Quirrel could make a working large rocket engine without knowing the exact composition of propellant, precise geometry of nozzle, etc indicates that Transfiguration can work at a really high level of abstraction. He probably would have no trouble at all transfiguring a nuclear weapon with a mechanical timer trigger.

Comment author: alex_zag_al 28 September 2013 03:21:22AM 1 point [-]

well of course, can't you transfigure animals?

Comment author: ikrase 28 September 2013 09:13:55AM -1 points [-]

Actually, yeah, you can. I think.

Comment author: Sheaman3773 04 January 2014 02:41:56AM 0 points [-]

http://hpmor.com/chapter/15

Her wand came down and tapped her desk, which smoothly reshaped itself into a pig.