thoughts - the source of all problems and disbalances

[Wanderer]

A photon in a laser-bLast (for example) may not have any mass but it still has momentum. Beacuse of conservation of momentum you'll get recoil.

EDIT: For example, consider how a comet's tail always faces away from the sun because of the solar wind (i.e. light) pushing the recently-melted ice particles directly away from the sun.

This page might or might not help:
Link

[ December 08, 2002, 01:31: Message edited by: Wanderer ]

[capnq]

consider how a comet's tail always faces away from the sun because of the solar wind (i.e. light) pushing the recently-melted ice particles directly away from the sun

The solar wind is made up of charged particles, not photons.

Momentum transfer from photons is how solar sails work.

[oleg]

Originally posted by Suicide Junkie:
Oleg, your gun could fire two shells in opposite directions and end up recoilless.

Or it could have a really quick-acting thruster on the back to counteract the recoil, maybe along with a sliding mount to give the thruster more time to complete its job.

The trick is to dump the recoil force into some throwaway matter.

Wow ! You can also tie two AK-47 to fire in opposite dirrections. That will make very handy weapon. I think we should patent it and sell for big $$ to Osama.

[oleg]

Originally posted by capnq:

quote:

---

consider how a comet's tail always faces away from the sun because of the solar wind (i.e. light) pushing the recently-melted ice particles directly away from the sun

The solar wind is made up of charged particles, not photons.

Momentum transfer from photons is how solar sails work.

---

The fact that a beam of light has a momentum which is transfered to solid objects upon reflection/absorbtion of light has been established by Russian scientist Lebedev in the end of 19th centuary. The discovery ressurected Newton's theory of particle nature of light and ultimately led to the modern quantum theory.

[Gryphin]

Kamog,
Ok, I will accept your statement that there is an opposite and equal reaction in a Linear Induction Motor. Where is the "Opposite" energy being applyed. What is assorbing it? In my mind it is hard to imagine it is working in such a fasion that it generates a Recoil. I also admit that I have no concept of the ammount of energy being used or the mass of the object.
Sidebar: I do know that Linear Induction is used to move Hanger Doors which are masive but very slow.
Here is a link to a site that might explain them. I have to admit I don't follow the explanation of the motors. I guess I have a much more abstract understanding (or lack there of).
Can anybody translate this for me?
http://www.theproductfinder.com/motors/linind.htm
< hmm, I thought I was more technical than this >

[ December 08, 2002, 12:40: Message edited by: Gryphin ]

[Suicide Junkie]

LIM is essentially a circular motor opened out flat. The magnetic field, instead of rotating, now sweeps across the flat motor face.

And magnetism works both ways

In my mind it is hard to imagine it is working in such a fasion that it generates a Recoil

I find it hard to believe anything is recoilless, due to the laws of physics

[ December 08, 2002, 14:45: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

[geoschmo]

The main consideration with recoil isn't going to be it moving the ship around anyway. The vast differences in mass between the projectile and the ship says that the counter force isn't going to move the ship all that much. Certainly nothing that thrusters designed to move the ship around to begin with can't handle.

The main problem is the stresses that are placed on whatever mounting points you have for the gun. Before the force is applied to the mass of the ship as a whole it has to be transfered through the mounting hardware, and it would be very dificult to design a rigid system that could handle those level of loads.

That is the reason the 15in guns on the WWII battle ship recoil like they do. Not because the ship would roll over or anything, but because the counter force would break stuff the first time you shot it if you tried to mount it rigidly.

Geoschmo