Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-34954086-20120922085545/@comment-34954086-20120923054630

Hokkaidomaster wrote: I'm thinking I'm going to love this thread already. I love physics, and thinking about the implications of how it should work in fiction is really cool.

1) Does shapeshifting defy the law of conservation of mass?

2) Assume that shapeshifting does not defy the law of conservation of mass. How does that work in relation to mass when Beast Boy turns into a gorrilla or Miss Martian gains extra arms? Thanks.

1. Depends on whether density is maintained. By lowering density, can attain a larger "amount" of body which could easily go into extra arms etc.

2. Well have the ability of "Density Shifting", which I believe may be partially psionic energy when increasing density, energy=mass:mass/volume=density. With Beast Boy, it's tricker, typically dc explain it with extra dimensional mass obtained by connection to the Red, but i dislike using extra dimensions as explanation cause it'd just way too cheaterly. However his origin incorporating Miss Martian gives a way to bypass that. A subconsscious activation of density shifting enabling him to increase the desnity of larger forms to counteract the density he lost in gaining additional volume, the reverse in case of smaller creatures such as birds where minimal mass is required. Density shift tranfers mass to psionic energy for storage until he later reverts.