The Science of the Lightsaber 197
Smartcowboy writes "Chances are that you have seen a lightsaber at one time or another, whether on the evening news or down at the local cantina. Therefore you know that a lightsaber is an amazing and versatile device that is able to cut through nearly anything in a matter of milliseconds.
Have you ever wondered how these remarkable weapons work? Where does the energy come from, and how are they able to contain that energy in a rod-like column of glowing power?
In this article, you will have a chance to look inside a lightsaber and discover the source of its incredible characteristics." I was sure the blade was made from the focused hate and disappointment of the last three movies.
Every-Day uses of the lightsaber (Score:4, Interesting)
Well, at least they didn't show any household uses for the lightsaber that I've already covered. :)
Lightsaber Uses for the Everyday Dark Lord [youtube.com]
Re:Welcome to the Internet (Score:3, Interesting)
On the other hand, you'd probably have a sonic boom as elements expand in disintegration, so...
I've always rationalized it in my mind as a conversion to neutrinos or some other particle that doesn't really interact with normal matter and which would allow the disintegration of objects as people stand right next to them with little to no ill effects.
Re:Welcome to the Internet (Score:3, Interesting)
Well, at least it's not as bad as the "Zat" guns from Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis.
The writers got themselves stuck into a corner really early on when they introduced the "One shot stuns, two shots kills, three shots VAPORIZES" mechanic on that weapon. The first two make sense for a weapon that shoots something akin to lightning bolts, but the third mechanic is just DUMB.
I remember watching the 10 year anniversary show and the producers and actors talking about how much they hated putting that into the show, and how the writers realized it was a dumb mistake almost immediately. (But not fast enough to prevent it becoming canon. DOH!)
Oh well, I guess if we all had to wait until every single sci-fi weapon was completely vetted for scientific accuracy before it could be used in a show we would NEVER get any shows!
Re:You know... (Score:3, Interesting)
...I don't know why everyone wonders how a fictional lightsaber could work.
Neither do I. Lasers? Plasma? Mechanical core? Containment? Lenses and gyrsoscopes?
THERE WAS NONE OF THAT. There was a guy and his typewriter and a bunch of words that, while compelling, were not true. There is no technology of the lightsaber. There is no "how it works". It doesn't work. It doesn't exist. The same is true of teleporters, holodecks, warp speed, etc.
If someone wants to have some fun writing or reading this kind of stuff that's fine. But it's just fanfic. People seem to ascribe to it some sort of weight it doesn't have b/c of the science tone.
Now get off my lawn!
Average Joe much more capable with lethal arms... (Score:3, Interesting)
...than you give him credit for.
We're able to give fairly unexceptional 16 year olds sticks which weigh about 12 ounces, fit in the palm of your hand, have exactly one button on them, and have the rule "anything extending in a ray from this hole to the horizon when the button is depressed dies". The overwhelming majority of them understand the safety precautions -- there are only four.
1) Never point the stick at anything you do not intend to kill
2) The stick has two states. In one, the ray coming out when the button is pressed is lethal. In the other, no ray will come out. Always assume the stick is in the lethal state.
3) Anyone capable of pressing a button is capable of operating the stick. Accordingly, never let anyone who you don't trust to not kill someone touch your stick.
4) You should receive additional instruction to use your stick in an effective manner.
And we didn't need a High Holy Cult of Gun Safety to accomplish that, now did we?
Although it might be kind of fun. You look like you have the makings of a great marksman, young one. For your first lesson, I'm going to hand you a lethal weapon and blindfold you, then put you within arm's reach of six people. You're going to learn to use that lethal weapon safely and effectively. Did I mention that you're under attack by a practice drone? *zap* Well, what are you waiting for, shoot him already. We can talk about the basic properties of your lethal weapon later, for now, either you'll have the right instincts or we'll all die horribly.