Star Trek: Generations

Factual error: A bottle of champagne in space rotates around its centre of mass, not the midpoint of its axis of symmetry.

Factual error: According to the laws of physics, a massive point source should exert the same amount of gravity on an object X distance away as a spherical object of constant density with radius less than X. It is stated in the movie that Soren's weapon uses "Trilithium," a substance described as a "Nuclear Inhibitor." Stars generate energy and light by way of Nuclear Fusion. That fusion is possible because the intense gravity causes the gasses in a star to compress and heat up. This is essentially fusion by friction. If Trilithium stops the fusion from occurring, all that would be left is a very large body of hydrogen and helium - That is to say, an oversized Brown Dwarf. It shouldn't have been able to alter the gravitational pull of anything since gravity is a function of mass and all the star's mass is still there.

Factual error: For the shock wave from the Veridian star to engulf Veridian III so quickly it would have reached the remains of the Enterprise-D (and survivors) so fast they would have no time to think about running.

Factual error: When the champagne bottle hits the ship, the liquid droplets change directions and drip off the ship, despite the ship being in a zero-gravity environment.

Deliberate mistake: After the trilithium missile hits the sun, it is shown going out in real time from Veridian III. As the planet is relatively earth-like, it is several light-minutes away from the sun. The filmmakers wanted it to be obvious that the missile was successful, so they ignored the speed of light. (01:20:35)

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Picard: Look! The control pad. It's still on the other side.
Kirk: I'll get it. You go for the launcher.
Picard: No...you'll never make that by yourself. We have to work together.
Kirk: We ARE working together. Trust me. Go!
Picard: Good luck, Captain!
Kirk: Call me Jim.

Movie Nut

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Trivia: Tim Russ, who plays Tuvok in Voyager, has a small role in this movie as the Tactical Officer on Enterprise-B. In the credits he is cast as "Lieutenant".

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Question: Tim Russ' (brief appearance) is listed on IMDB as "Enterprise-B Tactical Lieutenant". I'm not enough of a Trekkie to know - would it be feasible for him to be Tuvok? How long is it supposed to be in the Star Trek universe between this film and Voyager? Do Vulcans live that long?

Answer: Vulcans do live that long (300+ years), but it is not Tuvok. For one, his ears and eyebrows are human, not Vulcan, for another, Voyager tells us he left Starfleet for over 40 years shortly after the Khitomer conference, which was before Enterprise-B entered service.

Grumpy Scot

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