Sjmarf@sh.itjust.works to Science Memes@mander.xyzEnglish · 5 months agoI can whistle at the speed of soundsh.itjust.worksimagemessage-square131fedilinkarrow-up11.15Karrow-down19
arrow-up11.14Karrow-down1imageI can whistle at the speed of soundsh.itjust.worksSjmarf@sh.itjust.works to Science Memes@mander.xyzEnglish · 5 months agomessage-square131fedilink
minus-squaremarcos@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up7·5 months agoA laser strong enough to be used as a weapon will probably not leave a lot of medium on its path. But the front-most part will still travel at less than c. It will just speed-up after a while.
minus-squaresinkingship@mander.xyzlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up1·5 months agoI’m curious. What happens to the medium? Does it simply get pushed aside? Or pushed along? Or will it eat up some energy and react to something else?
minus-squareTlaloc_Temporal@lemmy.calinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up6·5 months agoMuch like lightning, a powerful enough laser will ionize the air. That ionized air is hot and rises, just like the ionized gasses from combustion. A powerful laser will look like a beam of fire.
A laser strong enough to be used as a weapon will probably not leave a lot of medium on its path.
But the front-most part will still travel at less than c. It will just speed-up after a while.
I’m curious. What happens to the medium? Does it simply get pushed aside? Or pushed along? Or will it eat up some energy and react to something else?
Much like lightning, a powerful enough laser will ionize the air. That ionized air is hot and rises, just like the ionized gasses from combustion.
A powerful laser will look like a beam of fire.