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{{first pic|Emperor Rels Speed.jpg|Rels as a measurement of [[speed]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|The Emissaries of Jevo (comic story)}})}} | |||
A '''rel''' was a [[Dalek]] unit of measurement, principally of time. | A '''rel''' was a [[Dalek]] [[unit of measurement]], principally of [[time]]. | ||
== Definition == | |||
One account specified that a rel was slightly longer than a [[second]] but shorter than a second and a half. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Buyer's Remorse (short story)}}) Another account, the [[reconnaissance scout]]'s countdown, implied rels to be longer, however. Both the [[Thirteenth Doctor|Thirteenth]] ([[TV]]: {{cs|Resolution (TV story)}}) and [[Tenth Doctor]]s expressed confusion at how long a rel actually was. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Triumph of Davros (audio story)}}) | |||
In other contexts, it was a unit of speed. ([[ | The [[Dalek]]s used rels for time measurement, ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Genocide Machine (audio story)}}, {{cs|The Mutant Phase (audio story)}}, {{cs|The Four Doctors (audio story)}}, {{cs|Blood of the Daleks (audio story)}}, [[TV]]: {{cs|Doomsday (TV story)}}, [[COMIC]]: {{cs|The Dalek Project (comic story)}}) having inherited it from the [[Kaled]]s before them. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Guilt (audio story)}}, {{cs|The Master's Dalek Plan (audio story)}}) The [[Unbound Master]] described rels as a "non-decimal time unit". ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Shockwave (TWM audio story)}}) | ||
When the [[New Dalek Empire]] tried to destroy the [[omniverse]] with a [[reality bomb]] powered by an arrangement of planets in the [[Medusa Cascade]], they launched a [[countdown]] from [[200 (number)|two hundred]] rels until they would attempt to use it. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Journey's End (TV story)}}) | |||
In other contexts, it was a unit of [[speed]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Plague of Death (comic story)}}, {{cs|The Emissaries of Jevo (comic story)}} | |||
In yet another account, it was used to measure [[hydro-electricity]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Dalek Dictionary (feature)}}) | |||
== Usage == | |||
Within the [[sphere chamber]] of [[Torchwood Tower]] in [[2007]], [[Dalek Jast]] ordered that the [[communications barrier]] be rewinded by [[9 (number)|nine]] rels, having spotted the image of the [[Tenth Doctor]] during the contact with [[Cyber-Leader One]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Doomsday (TV story)}}) | |||
In [[1930]], [[Dalek Caan]], after reporting in [[minute]]s, called out a countdown of [[40 (number)|forty]] rels before a [[gamma strike]] hit the [[Empire State Building]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Evolution of the Daleks (TV story)}}) | |||
Aboard the ''[[Crucible]]'', a Dalek called out a countdown of [[10 (number)|ten]] rels before [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] was seemingly destroyed by the [[Z-Neutrino core]]. Later, the [[Supreme Dalek (The Stolen Earth)|Supreme Dalek]] called a countdown of ten rels prior to testing the calibration of the [[reality bomb]]. Once the [[planetary alignment field]] was activated, the Supreme Dalek began a countdown of [[200 (number)|two hundred]] rels to [[universal reality detonation]]. Finally, the Supreme Dalek called down the last [[20 (number)|twenty]] rels only for the bomb to be stopped at the last moment by the [[DoctorDonna]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Journey's End (TV story)}}) | |||
Aboard a [[Dalek flying saucer]] in [[1941]], the first [[Strategist Dalek]] of the [[New Dalek Paradigm]] reported that a [[time jump]] would be performed in [[30 (number)|thirty]] rels. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Victory of the Daleks (TV story)}}) | |||
The [[Twelfth Doctor]] found that one corner of [[the galaxy]] had adopted the Dalek time measurement of rels after a series of wars and other struggles. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Buyer's Remorse (short story)}}) | |||
When the [[Reconnaissance Dalek]] predicted conquest of [[Earth]] in [[9376 (number)|9376]] rels, the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] had trouble remembering how long a rel was. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Resolution (TV story)}}) | |||
During a [[time loop]] in the last few [[minute]]s of [[New Year's Eve]] [[2020]], a newly-arrived [[Dalek Executioner]] informed [[Dan Lewis]] that it had arrived "[[1.93 (number)|1.93]] rels ago". ([[TV]]: {{cs|Eve of the Daleks (TV story)}}) | |||
== Other uses == | |||
A Rel counter was in use within [[Zaroff|Professor Zaroff]]'s laboratory. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Underwater Menace (TV story)}}) | |||
"Rel" was also used in an idiomatic sense. When [[Rose Tyler]] revealed she had been on a [[Lect]] ship, [[Glom]] said, "Wait a rel," before declaring she was with the "[[Unon|Riders]]". ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Weapons of Past Destruction (comic story)}}) | |||
== Behind the scenes == | == Behind the scenes == | ||
[[File:Rel counter.jpg|thumb|left| | [[File:Rel counter.jpg|thumb|left|A rel counter, appearing to show one Earth minute as equal to 50 rels. ([[TV]]: ''[[Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (theatrical film)|Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.]]'')]] | ||
Before appearing in early ''Doctor Who'' comics, the word ''rel'' originated in one of the non-narrative pieces of fiction in ''[[The Dalek Book]]'', namely ''[[The Dalek Dictionary (feature)|The Dalek Dictionary]]''. There, they were defined as a unit of measurement of [[hydro-electricity]], not [[time]]. | |||
It would then appear in the early Dalek comic strips of [[TV Century 21]] through 1965, now depicted as a velocity measurement. | |||
The film ''[[Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (theatrical film)|Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.]]'', meanwhile, was the first source to use the term as a Dalek measurement of time, prominently displaying a countdown in rels. (It is unknown exactly why there was such a disparity across these sources regarding what a ''rel'' was. | |||
Given that the 50 rels on the counter in ''Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.'' are arranged similar to a typical clock, it is generally said by fans that rels are equal to 1.2 seconds. If this was true, then the 9376 rels mentioned in [[TV]]: ''[[Resolution (TV story)|Resolution]]'' would be approximately equivalent to 3 [[hour]]s, 7 [[minute]]s and 31 [[second]]s. | |||
However, ''Terry Nation Army'' Episode 4 points out that the timer prop existed '''prior''' to ''Doctor Who'' by at least three years - appearing in shows as early as 1960 and even making a brief appearance during an episode of ''The Underwater Menace'' (with the Rel label still attached). Another prop of the same design also appeared in ''The War Machines''. Thus, the prop was not designed to make any specific intention as to the length of a rel. | |||
It is not unheard of for units in physics to be denoted by the same dimension even though in "standard" systems of measurement they're considered to refer to different dimensions. For example, mass, momentum, and energy in [https://www.seas.upenn.edu/~amyers/NaturalUnits.pdf natural units]. This is generally accomplished by defining certain physical constants as being fixed and dimensionless, such as [[Planck's quantum of action|Planck's constant]] and the [[Speed of light]]. However, natural units treat velocity as dimensionless (per treating the speed of light as dimensionless), and have energy and time as inverses of the other (per treating Planck's constant as dimensionless), so if this is how the Daleks interpret Rels, neither of these physical constants will be dimensionless in their scheme. | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Dalek units of measurement]] | ||
[[Category:Units of time]] | [[Category:Units of time]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:58, 12 September 2024
A rel was a Dalek unit of measurement, principally of time.
Definition[[edit] | [edit source]]
One account specified that a rel was slightly longer than a second but shorter than a second and a half. (PROSE: Buyer's Remorse [+]Loading...["Buyer's Remorse (short story)"]) Another account, the reconnaissance scout's countdown, implied rels to be longer, however. Both the Thirteenth (TV: Resolution [+]Loading...["Resolution (TV story)"]) and Tenth Doctors expressed confusion at how long a rel actually was. (AUDIO: The Triumph of Davros [+]Loading...["The Triumph of Davros (audio story)"])
The Daleks used rels for time measurement, (AUDIO: The Genocide Machine [+]Loading...["The Genocide Machine (audio story)"], The Mutant Phase [+]Loading...["The Mutant Phase (audio story)"], The Four Doctors [+]Loading...["The Four Doctors (audio story)"], Blood of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Blood of the Daleks (audio story)"], TV: Doomsday [+]Loading...["Doomsday (TV story)"], COMIC: The Dalek Project [+]Loading...["The Dalek Project (comic story)"]) having inherited it from the Kaleds before them. (AUDIO: Guilt [+]Loading...["Guilt (audio story)"], The Master's Dalek Plan [+]Loading...["The Master's Dalek Plan (audio story)"]) The Unbound Master described rels as a "non-decimal time unit". (AUDIO: Shockwave [+]Loading...["Shockwave (TWM audio story)"])
When the New Dalek Empire tried to destroy the omniverse with a reality bomb powered by an arrangement of planets in the Medusa Cascade, they launched a countdown from two hundred rels until they would attempt to use it. (TV: Journey's End [+]Loading...["Journey's End (TV story)"])
In other contexts, it was a unit of speed. (COMIC: Plague of Death [+]Loading...["Plague of Death (comic story)"], The Emissaries of Jevo [+]Loading...["The Emissaries of Jevo (comic story)"]
In yet another account, it was used to measure hydro-electricity. (PROSE: The Dalek Dictionary [+]Loading...["The Dalek Dictionary (feature)"])
Usage[[edit] | [edit source]]
Within the sphere chamber of Torchwood Tower in 2007, Dalek Jast ordered that the communications barrier be rewinded by nine rels, having spotted the image of the Tenth Doctor during the contact with Cyber-Leader One. (TV: Doomsday [+]Loading...["Doomsday (TV story)"])
In 1930, Dalek Caan, after reporting in minutes, called out a countdown of forty rels before a gamma strike hit the Empire State Building. (TV: Evolution of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Evolution of the Daleks (TV story)"])
Aboard the Crucible, a Dalek called out a countdown of ten rels before the Doctor's TARDIS was seemingly destroyed by the Z-Neutrino core. Later, the Supreme Dalek called a countdown of ten rels prior to testing the calibration of the reality bomb. Once the planetary alignment field was activated, the Supreme Dalek began a countdown of two hundred rels to universal reality detonation. Finally, the Supreme Dalek called down the last twenty rels only for the bomb to be stopped at the last moment by the DoctorDonna. (TV: Journey's End [+]Loading...["Journey's End (TV story)"])
Aboard a Dalek flying saucer in 1941, the first Strategist Dalek of the New Dalek Paradigm reported that a time jump would be performed in thirty rels. (TV: Victory of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Victory of the Daleks (TV story)"])
The Twelfth Doctor found that one corner of the galaxy had adopted the Dalek time measurement of rels after a series of wars and other struggles. (PROSE: Buyer's Remorse [+]Loading...["Buyer's Remorse (short story)"])
When the Reconnaissance Dalek predicted conquest of Earth in 9376 rels, the Thirteenth Doctor had trouble remembering how long a rel was. (TV: Resolution [+]Loading...["Resolution (TV story)"])
During a time loop in the last few minutes of New Year's Eve 2020, a newly-arrived Dalek Executioner informed Dan Lewis that it had arrived "1.93 rels ago". (TV: Eve of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Eve of the Daleks (TV story)"])
Other uses[[edit] | [edit source]]
A Rel counter was in use within Professor Zaroff's laboratory. (TV: The Underwater Menace [+]Loading...["The Underwater Menace (TV story)"])
"Rel" was also used in an idiomatic sense. When Rose Tyler revealed she had been on a Lect ship, Glom said, "Wait a rel," before declaring she was with the "Riders". (COMIC: Weapons of Past Destruction [+]Loading...["Weapons of Past Destruction (comic story)"])
Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]
Before appearing in early Doctor Who comics, the word rel originated in one of the non-narrative pieces of fiction in The Dalek Book, namely The Dalek Dictionary. There, they were defined as a unit of measurement of hydro-electricity, not time.
It would then appear in the early Dalek comic strips of TV Century 21 through 1965, now depicted as a velocity measurement.
The film Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., meanwhile, was the first source to use the term as a Dalek measurement of time, prominently displaying a countdown in rels. (It is unknown exactly why there was such a disparity across these sources regarding what a rel was.
Given that the 50 rels on the counter in Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. are arranged similar to a typical clock, it is generally said by fans that rels are equal to 1.2 seconds. If this was true, then the 9376 rels mentioned in TV: Resolution would be approximately equivalent to 3 hours, 7 minutes and 31 seconds.
However, Terry Nation Army Episode 4 points out that the timer prop existed prior to Doctor Who by at least three years - appearing in shows as early as 1960 and even making a brief appearance during an episode of The Underwater Menace (with the Rel label still attached). Another prop of the same design also appeared in The War Machines. Thus, the prop was not designed to make any specific intention as to the length of a rel.
It is not unheard of for units in physics to be denoted by the same dimension even though in "standard" systems of measurement they're considered to refer to different dimensions. For example, mass, momentum, and energy in natural units. This is generally accomplished by defining certain physical constants as being fixed and dimensionless, such as Planck's constant and the Speed of light. However, natural units treat velocity as dimensionless (per treating the speed of light as dimensionless), and have energy and time as inverses of the other (per treating Planck's constant as dimensionless), so if this is how the Daleks interpret Rels, neither of these physical constants will be dimensionless in their scheme.
