Nasa validates 'impossible' reactionless space drive [Wired]
110 replies, posted
It'd probably just have to run on an automated system.
[QUOTE=TheWindow;45578196]It'd probably just have to run on an automated system.[/QUOTE]
So it'd be the same as planes, but hovering?
Just imagine what would be new on the market in 10 years if that theory is real and can be optimized easily.
Well no, I imagine that all of the traffic, acceleration, turns, braking, all that would be controlled by computers or something to make it safer.
[QUOTE=TheWindow;45578237]Well no, I imagine that all of the traffic, acceleration, turns, braking, all that would be controlled by computers or something to make it safer.[/QUOTE]
i'll call google
[QUOTE=TheWindow;45578237]Well no, I imagine that all of the traffic, acceleration, turns, braking, all that would be controlled by computers or something to make it safer.[/QUOTE]
So, hover buses? Mass transit is the only way to approach this without people killing themselves over their lack of freedom.
[QUOTE=DohEntertainmen;45578243]So, hover buses? Mass transit is the only way to approach this without people killing themselves over their lack of freedom.[/QUOTE]
Yeah that sounds a lot more likely than any flying cars without heavy restriction.
I am skeptical. Ofc it would be groundbreaking if it actually turned out to work, but so far I dont think it is really something that will.
[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;45563736][URL]http://www.reddit.com/r/Physics/comments/2c96ls/emdrive_tested_by_nasa/[/URL]
The /r/physics thread has a good amount of healthy skepticism as well as coherent reasons to not get excited:
1. The guy who wrote the theory paper is terrible. Plenty of outright falsehoods and poor review.
2. Very small thrust produced, so susceptible to experimental error.
3. Unequivocal violation of conservation of momentum, which is well-tested.[/QUOTE]
Sorry if I'm going on my engineer's gut feeling, but could we potentially eliminate #2 by scaling it up?
Flip side, the experiments may have been screwed up. (i.e. The 'vacuum chamber' they tested it in may have momentum, if that is the case, transferred to what little air there is)
[QUOTE=hexpunK;45573952]idk...the laws of physics? You'll struggle to get anything close to C, even with this engine working perfectly.[/QUOTE]
And that's not to forget the effects of drag, not only concerning air but also the star-spewed hard vacuum of weak low density plasma that permeates the cosmos.
Reactionless drives still have to fall in line with physics for them to work, unless you make them in some strange nonstandard plane of existence where physics is different compared to our slice of reality, and even then they'd only function according to the physics of their respective realities. If you build a magickal focus in a universe where the fabric of the cosmos can easily be shaped by thoughtforms, it won't really work in our universe because our reality isn't so soft it can be plied by brainwaves alone.
[editline]3rd August 2014[/editline]
[QUOTE=LoneWolf_Recon;45578313]Sorry if I'm going on my engineer's gut feeling, but could we potentially eliminate #2 by scaling it up?[/QUOTE]
Theoretically yes, though the engine size could hamper implementation into common devices, and further research would be required for the appropriate miniaturizations so you could actually make a hoverboard like alt-universe Mattel.
So basically the explention for this is:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY_Ry8J_jdw[/media]
[QUOTE=Firefox42;45573918]It could also be the most destructive weapon in the history of humanity. If it can be made as efficient as they claim, what's stopping someone from accelerating something to light speed and aiming it at someone they don't like?[/QUOTE]
Well according to the man who designed it, this magic engine somehow does not violate conservation so no, light speed would not be possible.
[QUOTE=FlakAttack;45579247]Well according to the man who designed it, this magic engine somehow does not violate conservation so no, light speed would not be possible.[/QUOTE]
It's never possible for massive particles even if nonconservative forces (ones that violate conservation laws) come into play.
Conversely, conservation laws don't actually say anything about how close you can come to that speed given enough time. (Obviously there are other limitations.)
The only way for some thing to actually "go" that fast is to warp space because the speed limits don't apply there. We have no idea whether that's possible though.
[QUOTE=Tamschi;45579588]It's never possible for massive particles even if nonconservative forces (ones that violate conservation laws) come into play.
Conversely, conservation laws don't actually say anything about how close you can come to that speed given enough time. (Obviously there are other limitations.)
The only way for some thing to actually "go" that fast is to warp space because the speed limits don't apply there. We have no idea whether that's possible though.[/QUOTE]
Of course if you warp space you're still not technically going faster than light, and that's why it works at all. The speed of light is a local constraint and whereas warping space is a global effect.
Something tells me that, much like the faster-than-light neutrinos "discovery", somebody will dig a little deeper and find a thoroughly boring and disappointing reason why this doesn't actually work.
AMBAC system.
Pleeeease?
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;45580286]Something tells me that, much like the faster-than-light neutrinos "discovery", somebody will dig a little deeper and find a thoroughly boring and disappointing reason why this doesn't actually work.[/QUOTE]
now you're getting it.
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;45580286]Something tells me that, much like the faster-than-light neutrinos "discovery", somebody will dig a little deeper and find a thoroughly boring and disappointing reason why this doesn't actually work.[/QUOTE]
Except this isn't just nasa doing the tests on this kind of "engine"
Chinese scientists did similar testings, though their design was somewhat different it still worked.
So does this mean space travel soon or just flying cars?
Clearly the next step is to build a force field over every city to protect them from falling flying car debris.
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