2 ms·
The difference is that a laser applies nearly 100% of its energy to the target (the rest being lost to atmospheric effects). A bullet loses energy quickly as it
by blackguardx 18y ago
The difference is that a laser applies nearly 100% of its energy to the target (the rest being lost to atmospheric effects). A bullet loses energy quickly as it travels through the atmosphere.
A laser also travels "at the speed of light," making targeting much simpler.
A laser also travels in a straight line. A bullet is affected by gravity and wind, all of deflect it from its path and must be accounted for.
- electromagnetic 18y agoHah, read up on the Navy's railgun tests. They're expecting accuracy of 5 meters at 370km's. A bullet loses no energy to gravity, it just gets converted into potential energy. It also loses little energy to the atmosphere, it retains about 90% to impact.
- blackguardx 18y agoI didn't say a bullet loses energy to gravity. I said it affects the flight path. And if you think beyond high school physics for a second, you will realize that gravity does take away energy away from the collision if the target is at a higher elevation than the gun. The potential energy is useless in that situation. All that matters is kinetic energy.
- blackguardx 18y ago1. The application is question is shooting down missiles. Accuracy to a static target is moot. 2. 90% to impact? That is a useless statistic. At what range? What if the target is at a significantly higher elevation as in the case of a missile?