Comments on: The Laser Elevator http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/ The blag of the webcomic Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:35:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Thomas http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19716 Thomas Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:36:40 +0000 http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19716 You are a genius! Your idea for the death ray completely explains dark matter! All the aliens have decided to nuke [nuke doesn't begin to cover it] the heck out of each other. The sun being covered by reflective material explains why we can't see them! And since nobody's figured out how to move beyond the speed of light, but everybody's afraid that the other one is going to figure it out first, there are billions of solar systems out there which aren't being inhabited. [everyone's wiped out] And if anybody's been wondering why we haven't received any transmissions from other solar systems, it's because nobody really wants to shout "shoot at me". Of course, we're genius's enough to do it. You are a genius! Your idea for the death ray completely explains dark matter! All the aliens have decided to nuke [nuke doesn't begin to cover it] the heck out of each other. The sun being covered by reflective material explains why we can’t see them! And since nobody’s figured out how to move beyond the speed of light, but everybody’s afraid that the other one is going to figure it out first, there are billions of solar systems out there which aren’t being inhabited. [everyone's wiped out]

And if anybody’s been wondering why we haven’t received any transmissions from other solar systems, it’s because nobody really wants to shout “shoot at me”.

Of course, we’re genius’s enough to do it.

]]> By: robb's celebrities http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19633 robb's celebrities Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:01:38 +0000 http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19633 <strong>robb's celebrities...</strong> I Googled for something completely different, but found your page...and have to say thanks. nice read.... robb’s celebrities…

I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read….

]]> By: laser for paint guns http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19331 laser for paint guns Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:07:04 +0000 http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19331 <strong>laser for paint guns...</strong> How does the rss feed work so I can get updated on your blog?... laser for paint guns…

How does the rss feed work so I can get updated on your blog?…

]]> By: Goriath http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19286 Goriath Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:39:14 +0000 http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19286 Quote cjk: "In the normal setup (i.e. Earth, mirror and the sail, marked with 9P and 8P), there is at least one problem. After starting a number of sails this way, Earth will gain momentum and may be kicked out of orbit, and that?s then how to meet our doom :-)" Nah we'll meet our doom because some other intelligent race will beat us to making an interstellar deathray like the one proposed here (that I've affectionately come to call "The Eye of Ra") and destroy us. Quote cjk:
“In the normal setup (i.e. Earth, mirror and the sail, marked with 9P and 8P), there is at least one problem. After starting a number of sails this way, Earth will gain momentum and may be kicked out of orbit, and that?s then how to meet our doom :-)”

Nah we’ll meet our doom because some other intelligent race will beat us to making an interstellar deathray like the one proposed here (that I’ve affectionately come to call “The Eye of Ra”) and destroy us.

]]> By: cjk http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19256 cjk Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:52:46 +0000 http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19256 In the normal setup (i.e. Earth, mirror and the sail, marked with 9P and 8P), there is at least one problem. After starting a number of sails this way, Earth will gain momentum and may be kicked out of orbit, and that's then how to meet our doom :-) In the normal setup (i.e. Earth, mirror and the sail, marked with 9P and 8P), there is at least one problem. After starting a number of sails this way, Earth will gain momentum and may be kicked out of orbit, and that’s then how to meet our doom :-)

]]> By: Kaleb Fenoir http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19111 Kaleb Fenoir Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:36:44 +0000 http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19111 [Isaac Newton says: According to Newton?s third law, the sphere around the sun would also begin accelerating at the same rate as the light it emits. The ?normal? sun emits light in all directions, however if this new system of the sphere and the sun emits lazed light in just one direction, it will move in the opposite direction. ] So if the lens of the 'cannon' was fixed solid into the hull of the Dyson sphere, you'd have two forces against it wouldn't you? You'd have the internal pressure of the focused energy pressing outward against it, as it passes through the lens, thus pushing it away... and at the same time, the 'kick' effect on the outside of the lens thanks to the actual emitted blast. I can only assume the ratio wouldn't be 1:1, otherwise the lens (and by proxy, the rest of the sphere, since it's solidly built into it) would be stock still. So, if the ratio isn't 1:1, then one of the forces is probably stronger... Probably the kick effect, actually now that I think about it. It'd be somewhat like a regular gun then, with pressure built up inside, then released. The pressure inside doesn't push it, but once released it does. Huh... Would love to see this on freakin' Discovery. I can just see it. "Can we build a Mega Laser Cannon? Recent theories suggest we can!" [Isaac Newton says: According to Newton?s third law, the sphere around the sun would also begin accelerating at the same rate as the light it emits. The ?normal? sun emits light in all directions, however if this new system of the sphere and the sun emits lazed light in just one direction, it will move in the opposite direction. ]

So if the lens of the ‘cannon’ was fixed solid into the hull of the Dyson sphere, you’d have two forces against it wouldn’t you? You’d have the internal pressure of the focused energy pressing outward against it, as it passes through the lens, thus pushing it away… and at the same time, the ‘kick’ effect on the outside of the lens thanks to the actual emitted blast. I can only assume the ratio wouldn’t be 1:1, otherwise the lens (and by proxy, the rest of the sphere, since it’s solidly built into it) would be stock still. So, if the ratio isn’t 1:1, then one of the forces is probably stronger… Probably the kick effect, actually now that I think about it. It’d be somewhat like a regular gun then, with pressure built up inside, then released. The pressure inside doesn’t push it, but once released it does.

Huh… Would love to see this on freakin’ Discovery. I can just see it. “Can we build a Mega Laser Cannon? Recent theories suggest we can!”

]]> By: Isaac Newton http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19032 Isaac Newton Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:29:34 +0000 http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19032 According to Newton's third law, the sphere around the sun would also begin accelerating at the same rate as the light it emits. The "normal" sun emits light in all directions, however if this new system of the sphere and the sun emits lazed light in just one direction, it will move in the opposite direction. According to Newton’s third law, the sphere around the sun would also begin accelerating at the same rate as the light it emits. The “normal” sun emits light in all directions, however if this new system of the sphere and the sun emits lazed light in just one direction, it will move in the opposite direction.

]]> By: Kaleb Fenoir http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19004 Kaleb Fenoir Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:03:24 +0000 http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-19004 [Patrick says: Also as Seb pointed out you would need a counter balance laser to handle the death ray’s kick back.] Considering the weapon in question is a laser (or high energy particle beam/plasma beam), would there even BE a kickback? To my knowledge, whenever I've seen a laser used in experiments, there's never been a kick back or recoil. Would the sheer scale of the device in question actually end up producing this kick? Or would there be a kick at all? I'd be more concerned with the lens or focusing device melting under the heat of its own projected blast. I mean, if it's a real Dyson sphere, wouldn't the lens (I use that word for whatever would focus the energy in the direction of a rival system) be incredibly large? Even a small lens would be immense. (personally, I'm picturing a lens the diameter of jupiter, or larger.) I'm not sure on the mathematics or physics of something so large... is there someone well versed enough in theoretical particle physics who could comment on it? Would there be a kick from such a laser/particle beam? Or no? [Patrick says: Also as Seb pointed out you would need a counter balance laser to handle the death ray’s kick back.]

Considering the weapon in question is a laser (or high energy particle beam/plasma beam), would there even BE a kickback? To my knowledge, whenever I’ve seen a laser used in experiments, there’s never been a kick back or recoil.

Would the sheer scale of the device in question actually end up producing this kick? Or would there be a kick at all? I’d be more concerned with the lens or focusing device melting under the heat of its own projected blast. I mean, if it’s a real Dyson sphere, wouldn’t the lens (I use that word for whatever would focus the energy in the direction of a rival system) be incredibly large? Even a small lens would be immense. (personally, I’m picturing a lens the diameter of jupiter, or larger.)

I’m not sure on the mathematics or physics of something so large… is there someone well versed enough in theoretical particle physics who could comment on it? Would there be a kick from such a laser/particle beam? Or no?

]]> By: THE HOBO BIZ » Armed Hobo Revolution! http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-18757 THE HOBO BIZ » Armed Hobo Revolution! Mon, 26 May 2008 04:46:35 +0000 http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-18757 [...] drive. For an example of other hobos using lasers for practical purposes, I suggest you read over this article on the subject of [...] [...] drive. For an example of other hobos using lasers for practical purposes, I suggest you read over this article on the subject of [...]

]]> By: Ryo http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-18197 Ryo Mon, 19 May 2008 14:26:57 +0000 http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/#comment-18197 I'll sign the petition for the XKDC Physics Comic/Textbook :) It would be really great. I would get it even I'm from Paraguay. :D I’ll sign the petition for the XKDC Physics Comic/Textbook :)

It would be really great. I would get it even I’m from Paraguay. :D

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