Why don't they always use the highest warp in Star Trek?

[ultimatebob]

To avoid this

They've gone to plaid!

 

[Imp]

You're probably thinking of the TNG episode where a certain area of space was suseptible to being damaged by warp speed. The inhabitants eventually proved it to Picard and now the Federation avoids using warp speed there.

Yes, the one where the idiot initiates a warp core breach to prove her theory, then almost kills everyone.

 

[mizzou]

the same reason I never utilize the top speed on my car or a submarine never utilizes its maximum depth ability


only use them when drama is needed

 

[Evadman]

Nerd Alert!

 

[Newbian]

Yes, the one where the idiot initiates a warp core breach to prove her theory, then almost kills everyone.

That episode was just on yesterday on spike tv and last I checked those limits were only in that special area because of all the radiation or such there.

 

[Jeff7]

Higher speeds are less efficient, and stress the engines and structural integrity field more, like in a car.
If you'd always drive at the highest speed your engine could handle, sure you'd get to your destination quick - assuming the engine could survive the trip.

 

[Raduque]

wtf they did warp 11? they did 10 in voyager and everyone turned into salamanders

fixed. also, Warp Drive damages subspace. thats why voyager had the movable nacelles

 

[silverpig]

You're probably thinking of the TNG episode where a certain area of space was suseptible to being damaged by warp speed. The inhabitants eventually proved it to Picard and now the Federation avoids using warp speed there.

Close. My wife and I just finished going through TNG again

There was a region of space that caused ships to all travel the same route. It was suspected that over time warp travel would rip apart subspace or something. No one believed it was true until some science chick blew up her ship with a warp core overload and ripped space apart, proving that warp travel damages space.

This caused a Federation wide speed limit of warp 5 unless in an emergency.

 

[Engineer]

Because the extra emissions from running higher warps causes galactic warming. Everyone knows this.

 

[vshah]

No, I think he is.
I seem to recall an episode where they discussed their "warp trail" and how it fucked up the space time continuum and caused problems all over the galaxy. They were supposed to be careful when and how they used warp speed.

yes, exactly. newer ships such as Voyager have the folding nacelles to counteract this effect

 

[james1701]

There is the warp 13 rule. Once you hit warp 13, it only takes a week to cross the universe. Gene Roddenberry touched on this in one of his interviews. TNG only did this speed once in the final episode. That is they keep the speed down. The subspace rift was something the TNG brought up, but max warp was set back on TOS.

 

[zinfamous]

out of fear of going plaid.


doesn't everyone know this?

 

[zinfamous]

To avoid this

yes! beat me to it

 

[TheVrolok]

As the answers have already been covered, can we now discuss Jerri Ryan's spandex suit + heels worn during her time on Voyager? I mean damn, it must have been rough putting that skin tight thing on. Mmm.

<edit> After doing a quick image search, I never realized how much hotter she is with long hair.</edit>

 

[Sluggo]

Because the higher warp speeds damage the treadmill and make future take-offs nearly impossible.

 

[Jeff7]

As the answers have already been covered, can we now discuss Jerri Ryan's spandex suit + heels worn during her time on Voyager? I mean damn, it must have been rough putting that skin tight thing on. Mmm.

And come on, a Borg, obsessed with efficiency, wearing high-heels?

<edit> After doing a quick image search, I never realized how much hotter she is with long hair.</edit>

Verily, tis good stuff.

 

[SZLiao214]

There is the warp 13 rule. Once you hit warp 13, it only takes a week to cross the universe. Gene Roddenberry touched on this in one of his interviews. TNG only did this speed once in the final episode. That is they keep the speed down. The subspace rift was something the TNG brought up, but max warp was set back on TOS.

In an episode of Voyager they got the Delta Flyer to hit warp 10. They said that at that point you would be going so fast you would be everywhere in the universe at once. *shrug*

From what i understood, warp speed went up exponentially till you hit 10.

 

[guyver01]

Because for the most part... The Enterprise is a vessel of Space Exploration. She isn't a warship and isn't designed to handle sustained high warp speeds.

Yes... there may be an emergency, but "emergency" is relative.

Just because something bad is happening on your planet, doesn't mean it's a major priority to us. If i can get there is 19 hours at warp 5... have enough time to prepare and study up on the situation.. so be it. If i get there in 2 hours.. what good is it if my ship is messed up/damaged, and i don't know anything about what's going on.

 

[lxskllr]

In the TNG episode "Where No One Has Gone Before", the first one with the Traveler, They surpassed warp 10 by a long shot, but the only "number" given, was that the speed was "off the charts".

Edit:
they went 2,700,000 light years in a few minutes. If anyone wants to do the warp calculations on that :^D

 

[guyver01]

Warp speed is also relative to the series.

TOS Warp was "slower" than TNG Warp, due to Subspace Engine technology becoming more efficient.

What was Warp 8 in TOS, would have been Warp 3 in TNG.


The Enterprise-D could travel at warp 9.8 at "extreme risk", while normal maximum operating velocity was warp 9.6 and maximum rated cruise was warp 9.2. The Intrepid-class starship Voyager has a maximum sustainable cruising velocity of warp 9.975, the Enterprise-E can go even faster at Warp 9.985.

 

[SSSnail]

Warp speed is for noobs, ludicrous speed is where it's at.

 

[ShawnD1]

Wait...you guys don't [hammer on the gas]?

I do. It's a Toyota

Running equipment at maximum output is very hard on it. Can you imagine flooring it nonstop every time you were on the highway? Going 150 mph is hard on every part of the vehicle, even the non-moving parts. The same thing applies to running a boat at full speed, a generator at full load, or an induction motor at full load.

 

[guyver01]

Warp speed is for noobs, ludicrous speed is where it's at.

bah.

Everyone knows Hyperspace Travel is where it's at.

All the cool civilizations use jumpgates.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Because the higher warp speeds damage the treadmill and make future take-offs nearly impossible.

lmao :awe:

 

[rockyct]

This question is a nerd trap. I see many here fell for it.