The Physics of Lightsabers | StarTalk
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Neil deGrasse Tyson and physicist Brian Cox debate whether the fictional weapon could ever exist. ➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe ➡ Watch all clips of StarTalk here: http://bit.ly/WatchStarTalk ➡ Get More StarTalk: http://bit.ly/NGStartalk ➡ StarTalk airs Mondays 11/10c About StarTalk: Host Neil deGrasse Tyson brings together celebrities, scientists and comedians to explore a variety of cosmic topics and collide pop culture with science in a way that late-night television has never seen before. Weekly topics range from popular science fiction, space travel, extraterrestrial life, the Big Bang, to the future of Earth and the environment. Tyson is an astrophysicist with a gifted ability to connect with everyone, inspiring us all to to "keep looking up." Get More National Geographic: Official Site: http://bit.ly/NatGeoOfficialSite Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBNatGeo Twitter: http://bit.ly/NatGeoTwitter Instagram: http://bit.ly/NatGeoInsta About National Geographic: National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible. The Physics of Lightsabers | StarTalk https://youtu.be/J6Y_r29mp3Y National Geographic https://www.youtube.com/natgeo
Comments
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but the photons are detached from the lightsaber so even if they hit each other and bounce what does that have to do with the lightsaber itself? why is the lightsaber affected and acts like a sword?
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When you activate a lightsaber, it reaches a certain length, like a sword. If lightsabers are made of light, why doesn't it keep going, like torch light?
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One of the best Physics explinations was that the blades were not really light, but plasma.
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say the photons do collide, the lightsaber interaction still isn't explained, if the photons do collide, since the mass of two photons are the same, using the conservation of momentum, at least of one them must still be in motion in some direction.
I.e at least one light saber would get twisted into weird contorted shapes -
My theory is that lightsabers create a magnetic field what locks incredibly hot plasma in, and that would explain why they interact with each other. That also explains why the "bullets" from a pistol and lasercannon don't travel at lightspeed.
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Wouldn't the beam of the lightsaber just bend when they hit each other then, instead of locking in contact like metal swords?
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Light sabers are actually a focused resonance field of energy. If you could think of a plastic bottle of water, the water is the resonating energy and the plastic bottle is the focused field. We do not currently have technology to focus a resonance field of energy, or even really form one, in the fashion of a light saber. The light blade is a symptom of the energy field. The focus of the field is also why it doesn't super heat the air around it. The current ideology is that light sabers are a form of plasma torches, because some of the symptoms are similar. These symptoms are the light emissions, the cutting ability, the burning, the short length.
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Yeah, but you wouldn't feel it on the actual hilt. Maybe some of the photons that came out of your saber would collide with the photons that the other saber emitted, but there's nothing to translate that force to your hand. Imagine watersabers. Sure, the water streams would interact, but there's nothing stopping you from crossing streams.
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i was hoping to hear something on how the light sabres beam would come to an abrupt halt after just a few feet. what technology would be needed to contain a high energy laser and not allow it to keep going on and on?
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Is he saying the actual hilt of the lightsaber would BOUNCE because of photons shooting out of it?
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these two guys should have a podcast together... just talk about regular everyday shit like lightsabers...and movies ..etc.etc..and break it down scientifically.. I would watch every day
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Served!
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Delightful. The intensity and enthusiasm ar palpable.
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Wait, that's the guy from Shots of Awe?
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wow this brian cox guy is a fucking idiot. no mattet what that idiot says two beams of light will never "clash". try it with two 1 watt lasers i have and nothing happened at all.
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Brian Cox is a mega nerd. Love that guy. Really enjoy his lectures.
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or you can go with the well established concept that lightsabers are plasma swords
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in my opinion it's more likly light sabers are made of plasma (super heated gas)because it shows more of the same properties as lightsaber blades like being able to collide as shown in the movies
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My theory is that light Sabres are plasm that are shaped by a magnetic field to keep it the way it is.
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