Physics of the Impossible - building a light sabre.
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alissa_rivaloro (student)
Frank Fairechio Physics of the Impossible In Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel, Kaku explains the real science behind some of our favorite technologies in science fiction, including time travel, teleportation, invisibility, alternate worlds, and more. He explains that some of the technologies we consider commonplace now, would have been considered impossible 150 years ago. And in the same sense many of the things we consider impossible today may become common place in the future. One topic he covers is light sabers, Aside from the sheer impracticality of this weapon and not to mention how hazardous it would be to wave one of these around the Star Wars light saber will almost certainly never come to be. The first engineering challenge would be in figuring out a way to stop the beam of light about two feet from the source. Light simply does not work in this way, unless there's something to obstruct or absorb it. A physicists Slow Speed of Light what can be a break threw on
stoping light at a point (4) Light, which normally travels the 240,000 miles from the Moon to Earth in less than two seconds, has been slowed to the speed of a minivan in rush-hour traffic -- 38 miles an hour. An entirely new state of matter, first observed four years ago, has made this possible. When atoms become packed super-closely together at super-low temperatures and super-high vacuum, they lose their identity as individual particles and act like a single super- atom with characteristics similar to a laser. We are still far away from stoping light at one point.Similarly, a highly ...
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stoping light at a point (4) Light, which normally travels the 240,000 miles from the Moon to Earth in less than two seconds, has been slowed to the speed of a minivan in rush-hour traffic -- 38 miles an hour. An entirely new state of matter, first observed four years ago, has made this possible. When atoms become packed super-closely together at super-low temperatures and super-high vacuum, they lose their identity as individual particles and act like a single super- atom with characteristics similar to a laser. We are still far away from stoping light at one point.Similarly, a highly concentrated beam of light wouldn't be able to cut through materials, or face resistance when striking another light saber. Assuming, therefore, that it's not actually a "light" saber, but rather some kind of plasma-beam saber . (1) Kaku says a there is a way to construct a kind of light saber using plasmas,or super hot ionized gas. To understand this better lets take a look on how a plasmas cutters works. (2)Plasma cutters come in all shapes and sizes. There are monstrous plasma cutters that use robotic arms to make precise incisions. There are also compact, handheld units that you might find in a handyman's shop. Regardless of size, all plasma cutters function on the same principle and are constructed around roughly the same design. Plasma cutters work by sending a pressurized gas, such as nitrogen, argon, or oxygen, through a small channel. In the center of this channel, you'll find a negatively charged electrode. When you apply power to the negative electrode, and you touch the tip of the nozzle to the metal, the connection creates a circuit. A powerful spark is generated between the electrode and the metal. As the inert gas passes through the channel, the spark heats the gas until it reaches the fourth state of matter. (2)This reaction creates a stream of directed plasma, approximately 30,000 F (16,649 C) and moving at 20,000 feet per second (6,096 m/sec), that reduces metal to molten slag.The plasma itself conducts electrical current. The cycle of creating the arc is continuous as long as power is supplied to the electrode and the plasma stays in contact with the metal that is being cut. In order to ensure this contact, protect the cut from oxidation and regulate the unpredictable nature of plasma, the cutter nozzle has a second set of channels. These channels release a constant flow of shielding gas around the cutting area. The pressure of this gas flow effectively controls the radius of the plasma beam. Your main problem would be a power supply the handle (base) would have to contain a plasma generator (an electric ark is plasma) and a separate device to form a magnetic field to the specific height you want the 'saber' to be. To prevent the magnetic field from expanding beyond the handle, there is a material that it used to constrain magnetic fields - this would be used to form the shape. Now that you can set up your magnetic field, your going to need plasma, which is attracted to magnetic fields (this is also the same technology behind plasma shields). Depending on how strong you want your beam to be is relative to the amount of plasma you supply, as well as the amount of power you have. You also have to take in consideration that once your beam interacts with an object its going to lose power, and new plasma will have to be supplied to 'recharge' it. Look at how a plasma cutter works, its the same principle - the only difference is that your bonding the plasma to the magnetic field that is your saber constantly, rather then using that energy at the point of contact, which is what a plasma cutter does. while yes, the technology is there, its completely impractical. I seriously doubt you will be able to provide the device with a sufficient power supply. More likely you will have to hook it up to an external supply, like a plasma cutter has to, in order to power it, and even then, you still have to supply energy to that (2)a plasma cutter that can cut through 1/2" steel needs 5KW+ power just to operate) Reference page 1 .Kaku, M. (2008). Physics of the impossible. New York: Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group. 2 .Eddie Paul (2011) Plasma Cutting Handbook Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated 3. http://home.howstuffworks.com/plasma-cutter.htm 4 http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/1999/02.18/light.html
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alissa_rivaloro (student)
