4 ms·
Lasers are EM energy, not kinetic energy.
by metalliqaz 10y ago
Lasers are EM energy, not kinetic energy.
- throwanem 10y agoWhat happens when a photon interacts with something that has mass?
- RugnirViking 10y agoMostly, thermal energy
- throwanem 10y agoWhat happens when you dump thermal energy into bulk matter at a rate exceeding that at which that matter can dissipate heat?
- marcosdumay 10y agoThe matter's temperature increases.
- throwanem 10y agoWhat happens when its temperature increases past the melting point?
- marcosdumay 10y agoIt melts. I'm really not getting your point on the context here. The actual effects of this on a real target will depend on a huge number of variables (I bet it's great against stealth things, but cheap drones will start using aluminum paint).
- lkbm 10y agoLet me abbreviate this discussion: > > > So, is now when everyone starts to put mirrors on their missiles, tanks, and aircraft? > > ... > It melts. That's their point: mirrors don't magic away lasers. Dismissing this weapon with a simple "but mirrors!" is foolish.
- marcosdumay 10y ago> mirrors don't magic away lasers They do. That's exactly the point. Or, more specifically, if your laser is so strong that mirrors can't handle it, you can't also generate it because you need mirrors for that too. It's just that you can't use them everywhere. It may be useful to ask where mirrors can viably go, and where they can't, but discussing the effects on mirrors won't lead anywhere.
- strictnein 10y agoAnd thermal energy is mostly kinetic energy.
- RickSahchez 10y agoWrong again, retard. Go learn some physics.
- RickSahchez 10y agoShut up, retard
- AnimalMuppet 10y agoIf the mirroring is perfect, the photon transfers a bit of momentum as it reflects. If the mirroring isn't perfect, it has some probability of being absorbed, transferring half the momentum that it would if reflected, but transferring all its energy...
- throwanem 10y agoAnd since the mirror isn't perfect, and becomes less so for every photon it absorbs...