One long-running continuity problem in Star Trek is the on-screen use of warp factors. There doesn't seem to be a reliable relationship between the stated warp factor and the apparent distance traveled. Similarly, ships appear able to get places faster than the warp capability of the ship in question would indicate, especially with Starfleet ships traveling within Federation space.
I believe many—not all—of the on-screen warp factor discrepancies can be resolved by making a few plausible assumptions.
1.) Subspace is affected by warp drive. This is in fact stated on-screen in TNG: "Force of Nature".
2.) Repeated warping can make a region of space/subspace more "elastic" and thus easier to warp. Speeds sometimes given as corresponding to a particular warp factor (for example, warp 4 is 64 times the speed of light) refers to the speed that warp factor achieves in pristine space/subspace.
3.) The Federation (and possibly other governments) coordinate warp travel so that ships generally use specific paths, forming a network rather like a highway system such as the Interstate. Ensuring most traffic uses the same pathway when going from one particular place to another means that that pathway will consist of especially flexible space/subspace, and greater speeds can be achieved with a given warp factor.
So in this way, the trip from Earth to, say, Risa, or Vulcan, could take less time than a trip from Earth to Planet Podunk, even if the distances are the same.
I believe many—not all—of the on-screen warp factor discrepancies can be resolved by making a few plausible assumptions.
1.) Subspace is affected by warp drive. This is in fact stated on-screen in TNG: "Force of Nature".
2.) Repeated warping can make a region of space/subspace more "elastic" and thus easier to warp. Speeds sometimes given as corresponding to a particular warp factor (for example, warp 4 is 64 times the speed of light) refers to the speed that warp factor achieves in pristine space/subspace.
3.) The Federation (and possibly other governments) coordinate warp travel so that ships generally use specific paths, forming a network rather like a highway system such as the Interstate. Ensuring most traffic uses the same pathway when going from one particular place to another means that that pathway will consist of especially flexible space/subspace, and greater speeds can be achieved with a given warp factor.
So in this way, the trip from Earth to, say, Risa, or Vulcan, could take less time than a trip from Earth to Planet Podunk, even if the distances are the same.
