Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Vermont Lt
Or am I missing something?

No, photons carry both energy and mass. This particular effects seems to be due to the energy they contain. But their momemtum can have large scale effects as well.

For example, if you had a really powerfull laser on a spaceship, it could be used to propel the ship. Shine it in one directoin and you accellerate in the other direction. Not very quickly unless it's really honking big laser, but move you will. Of course such a laser could be used as a weapon as well. Or for signaling over very very long distances.

The momentum of a photon, like it's energy, is only dependent on it's wavelength. (or color if it happens to fall in the visible spectrum).

26 posted on 03/25/2010 3:40:05 PM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies ]


To: El Gato

OK.

So the other direction, lasers can now blast an incoming missile by heat and energy input ..... 8<)


27 posted on 03/25/2010 4:10:06 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson