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Is it possible to create light that imparts a greater proportion of its energy as momentum rather than heat?
The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are InHow to avoid objects when traveling at greater than .75 light speed. or How Not to Go SPLAT?Is it theoretically possible to use electromagnetic, RF or heat energy to produce a ship forcefield?Would it be viable to have a pre-wired brain rather than one that is soft-wired or hard-wired?What conditions could create a planet that has higher amounts of antimatter in its radiation belt?Can a dragon who can heat parts of its body at will use that to fly?How would a tree that can create its own wind work and look like?My magic system “pays the price” by drawing its energy from the future: should that affect luck, heat, or life?Localized manipulation of the speed of lightCould it be feasible that a medieval fantasy city in the desert be carved into rock rather than made with lumber?Is it possible to create light emitting creatures using selective breeding?
$begingroup$
This is yet another question concerning lasers as employed by sorcerers in a particular fantasy setting, but this one pertains to the momentum that photons possess and whether it's possible to generate light that imparts a higher proportion of its energy to an object in the form of momentum, rather than say an increase in temperature. Particularly, I'm concerned with something I read on Physics Stack Exchange:
And here we have it: photons have 'mass' inversely proportional to
their wavelength!
This post is more detailed and is worth reading, but relying on the sentence above, have I completely misunderstood the author by concluding that in order to increase the "momentum imparting" aspect of light, we need light with increasingly shorter wavelengths? In other words, does light with a short wavelength cause less heating, or will that aspect remain constant?
I would like to repeat the question: Is it possible to create light that imparts a greater proportion of its energy as momentum rather than heat?
science-based magic light
edited Apr 4 at 14:18
Cyn
11.2k12453
asked Apr 4 at 13:44
Red RobinRed Robin
1616
New contributor
Red Robin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
This is yet another question concerning lasers as employed by sorcerers in a particular fantasy setting, but this one pertains to the momentum that photons possess and whether it's possible to generate light that imparts a higher proportion of its energy to an object in the form of momentum, rather than say an increase in temperature. Particularly, I'm concerned with something I read on Physics Stack Exchange:
And here we have it: photons have 'mass' inversely proportional to
their wavelength!
This post is more detailed and is worth reading, but relying on the sentence above, have I completely misunderstood the author by concluding that in order to increase the "momentum imparting" aspect of light, we need light with increasingly shorter wavelengths? In other words, does light with a short wavelength cause less heating, or will that aspect remain constant?
I would like to repeat the question: Is it possible to create light that imparts a greater proportion of its energy as momentum rather than heat?
science-based magic light
edited Apr 4 at 14:18
Cyn
11.2k12453
asked Apr 4 at 13:44
Red RobinRed Robin
1616
New contributor
Red Robin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
6
$begingroup$
Momentum is momentum and energy is energy and the two are not the same. You cannot impart not even a tiny little bit of energy as momentum, because the two physical quantities do not have the same dimensionality.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 4 at 16:52
2
$begingroup$
@Jasper: Angular momentum is $M cdot L^2 cdot T^-1$, for example kg·m²/(s·rad). Energy is $M cdot L^2 cdot T^-2$, for example kg·m²/s². Not dimensionally equivalent. Fun factoid: in languages such as French, Italian, Romanian or Russian, linear momentum and angular momentum are named with dissimilar words, usually something like impulse or quantity of motion vs. kinetic moment or moment of impulse.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 4 at 22:31
1
$begingroup$
AlexP --- Oops. Thank you. Torque has the same units as energy.
$endgroup$
– Jasper
Apr 4 at 23:03
add a comment |
$begingroup$
This is yet another question concerning lasers as employed by sorcerers in a particular fantasy setting, but this one pertains to the momentum that photons possess and whether it's possible to generate light that imparts a higher proportion of its energy to an object in the form of momentum, rather than say an increase in temperature. Particularly, I'm concerned with something I read on Physics Stack Exchange:
And here we have it: photons have 'mass' inversely proportional to
their wavelength!
This post is more detailed and is worth reading, but relying on the sentence above, have I completely misunderstood the author by concluding that in order to increase the "momentum imparting" aspect of light, we need light with increasingly shorter wavelengths? In other words, does light with a short wavelength cause less heating, or will that aspect remain constant?
I would like to repeat the question: Is it possible to create light that imparts a greater proportion of its energy as momentum rather than heat?
science-based magic light
edited Apr 4 at 14:18
Cyn
11.2k12453
asked Apr 4 at 13:44
Red RobinRed Robin
1616
New contributor
Red Robin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
This is yet another question concerning lasers as employed by sorcerers in a particular fantasy setting, but this one pertains to the momentum that photons possess and whether it's possible to generate light that imparts a higher proportion of its energy to an object in the form of momentum, rather than say an increase in temperature. Particularly, I'm concerned with something I read on Physics Stack Exchange:
And here we have it: photons have 'mass' inversely proportional to
their wavelength!
This post is more detailed and is worth reading, but relying on the sentence above, have I completely misunderstood the author by concluding that in order to increase the "momentum imparting" aspect of light, we need light with increasingly shorter wavelengths? In other words, does light with a short wavelength cause less heating, or will that aspect remain constant?
I would like to repeat the question: Is it possible to create light that imparts a greater proportion of its energy as momentum rather than heat?
science-based magic light
science-based magic light
edited Apr 4 at 14:18
Cyn
11.2k12453
asked Apr 4 at 13:44
Red RobinRed Robin
1616
New contributor
Red Robin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Apr 4 at 14:18
Cyn
11.2k12453
asked Apr 4 at 13:44
Red RobinRed Robin
1616
New contributor
Red Robin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Apr 4 at 14:18
Cyn
11.2k12453
edited Apr 4 at 14:18
Cyn
11.2k12453
edited Apr 4 at 14:18
Cyn
11.2k12453
11.2k12453
asked Apr 4 at 13:44
Red RobinRed Robin
1616
New contributor
Red Robin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Apr 4 at 13:44
Red RobinRed Robin
1616
asked Apr 4 at 13:44
Red RobinRed Robin
1616
1616
New contributor
Red Robin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Red Robin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Red Robin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
6
$begingroup$
Momentum is momentum and energy is energy and the two are not the same. You cannot impart not even a tiny little bit of energy as momentum, because the two physical quantities do not have the same dimensionality.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 4 at 16:52
2
$begingroup$
@Jasper: Angular momentum is $M cdot L^2 cdot T^-1$, for example kg·m²/(s·rad). Energy is $M cdot L^2 cdot T^-2$, for example kg·m²/s². Not dimensionally equivalent. Fun factoid: in languages such as French, Italian, Romanian or Russian, linear momentum and angular momentum are named with dissimilar words, usually something like impulse or quantity of motion vs. kinetic moment or moment of impulse.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 4 at 22:31
1
$begingroup$
AlexP --- Oops. Thank you. Torque has the same units as energy.
$endgroup$
– Jasper
Apr 4 at 23:03
add a comment |
6
$begingroup$
Momentum is momentum and energy is energy and the two are not the same. You cannot impart not even a tiny little bit of energy as momentum, because the two physical quantities do not have the same dimensionality.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 4 at 16:52
2
$begingroup$
@Jasper: Angular momentum is $M cdot L^2 cdot T^-1$, for example kg·m²/(s·rad). Energy is $M cdot L^2 cdot T^-2$, for example kg·m²/s². Not dimensionally equivalent. Fun factoid: in languages such as French, Italian, Romanian or Russian, linear momentum and angular momentum are named with dissimilar words, usually something like impulse or quantity of motion vs. kinetic moment or moment of impulse.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 4 at 22:31
1
$begingroup$
AlexP --- Oops. Thank you. Torque has the same units as energy.
$endgroup$
– Jasper
Apr 4 at 23:03
6
6
$begingroup$
Momentum is momentum and energy is energy and the two are not the same. You cannot impart not even a tiny little bit of energy as momentum, because the two physical quantities do not have the same dimensionality.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 4 at 16:52
$begingroup$
Momentum is momentum and energy is energy and the two are not the same. You cannot impart not even a tiny little bit of energy as momentum, because the two physical quantities do not have the same dimensionality.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 4 at 16:52
2
2
$begingroup$
@Jasper: Angular momentum is $M cdot L^2 cdot T^-1$, for example kg·m²/(s·rad). Energy is $M cdot L^2 cdot T^-2$, for example kg·m²/s². Not dimensionally equivalent. Fun factoid: in languages such as French, Italian, Romanian or Russian, linear momentum and angular momentum are named with dissimilar words, usually something like impulse or quantity of motion vs. kinetic moment or moment of impulse.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 4 at 22:31
$begingroup$
@Jasper: Angular momentum is $M cdot L^2 cdot T^-1$, for example kg·m²/(s·rad). Energy is $M cdot L^2 cdot T^-2$, for example kg·m²/s². Not dimensionally equivalent. Fun factoid: in languages such as French, Italian, Romanian or Russian, linear momentum and angular momentum are named with dissimilar words, usually something like impulse or quantity of motion vs. kinetic moment or moment of impulse.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 4 at 22:31
1
1
$begingroup$
AlexP --- Oops. Thank you. Torque has the same units as energy.
$endgroup$
– Jasper
Apr 4 at 23:03
$begingroup$
AlexP --- Oops. Thank you. Torque has the same units as energy.
$endgroup$
– Jasper
Apr 4 at 23:03
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
No. The momentum of a photon is in direct proportion to its energy. A shorter wavelength of light has both more energy and more momentum in equal proportions.
If you want to maximize imparted momentum while minimizing heating, you need to change not the light, but what it is hitting. A perfect blackbody will absorb all of the momentum of a beam of light, and all of the energy as heat. A perfect mirror, on the other hand, will absorb no energy and experience no heating, but will absorb double the momentum.
answered Apr 4 at 13:49
Logan R. KearsleyLogan R. Kearsley
11.8k13258
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
Good, concise answer. As an added note, it's possible to measure the force exerted by light if you have a sensitive enough setup. See this video for an example of the type of setup you need. It's maybe also worth noting that decreasing the wavelength isn't the only way to increase the energy you're imparting in a given unit of time (the power), you can also increase the number of photons. In general: $E_tot = hbar omega N_gamma$ for some pulse of given duration.
$endgroup$
– realityChemist
Apr 4 at 14:22
1
$begingroup$
@Hearth- the energy does change direction. If it is in one direction then there is a change in net momentum. If it randomly changes the motion of part(icle)s then the momentum is heat (net zero).
$endgroup$
– amI
Apr 4 at 17:04
1
$begingroup$
@Hearth If the mirror moves away from the light, then yes. However, it is entirely possible for light to exert a force, and thus transfer momentum, while doing no work and thus transferring no energy. If the mirror is moving towards the light source, it will actually do work on the light, and thus lose energy.
$endgroup$
– Logan R. Kearsley
Apr 4 at 19:20
4
$begingroup$
@aml Energy doesn't have any direction, or more accurately , the energy component of an energy-momentum 4 vector is orthogonal to all of the momentum components.
$endgroup$
– Aron
Apr 4 at 19:27
1
$begingroup$
It will do no work in the reference frame of the object being hit, but from an observer on Earth, or orbiting in space (or wherever you consider "stationary") the photon should be redshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy imparted to the object. (Or blueshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy taken from the object, if it's slowing down)
$endgroup$
– immibis
Apr 4 at 23:15
|
show 3 more comments
$begingroup$
As Logan has pointed out. "Light" has some very concrete and specific properties to it.
However. Since we are in World Building and you tagged "magic", I think straying away from the Standard Model would be allowed.
First, a bit of history about the Standard Model. It is filled with "particles" which we have very concrete properties and numbers and mathematical formulae for (plus field equations).
However, in the beginning, these properties weren't known, the formulae and maths was not invented. Even particles weren't a concept. We figured them out from the shadows that they cast into our cave.
Each new effect we gave a new name to; like "Light", "Magnetism", "Heat", "Energy", "Strangeness", "Charmness", "Topness", "Bottomness", "Anti-Red Quantum ChromoDynamics-ness".
Quite simply your world can have all the different effects you want and those effects can be explained away with a new set of fields/particles/equations.
TLDR: Invent a new magical particle called "Qi", make your sorcerers fire "Qi" based "beams" that radiate cherenkov radiation when fired in the atmosphere when they cast the Haduken spell.
answered Apr 4 at 16:22
AronAron
943611
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
That certainly helps, not that I was ever going to go into an explanation of the mechanics. I simply wanted to know if it was possible to explain in our universe.
$endgroup$
– Red Robin
Apr 4 at 16:40
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
oldest
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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active
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active
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$begingroup$
No. The momentum of a photon is in direct proportion to its energy. A shorter wavelength of light has both more energy and more momentum in equal proportions.
If you want to maximize imparted momentum while minimizing heating, you need to change not the light, but what it is hitting. A perfect blackbody will absorb all of the momentum of a beam of light, and all of the energy as heat. A perfect mirror, on the other hand, will absorb no energy and experience no heating, but will absorb double the momentum.
answered Apr 4 at 13:49
Logan R. KearsleyLogan R. Kearsley
11.8k13258
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
Good, concise answer. As an added note, it's possible to measure the force exerted by light if you have a sensitive enough setup. See this video for an example of the type of setup you need. It's maybe also worth noting that decreasing the wavelength isn't the only way to increase the energy you're imparting in a given unit of time (the power), you can also increase the number of photons. In general: $E_tot = hbar omega N_gamma$ for some pulse of given duration.
$endgroup$
– realityChemist
Apr 4 at 14:22
1
$begingroup$
@Hearth- the energy does change direction. If it is in one direction then there is a change in net momentum. If it randomly changes the motion of part(icle)s then the momentum is heat (net zero).
$endgroup$
– amI
Apr 4 at 17:04
1
$begingroup$
@Hearth If the mirror moves away from the light, then yes. However, it is entirely possible for light to exert a force, and thus transfer momentum, while doing no work and thus transferring no energy. If the mirror is moving towards the light source, it will actually do work on the light, and thus lose energy.
$endgroup$
– Logan R. Kearsley
Apr 4 at 19:20
4
$begingroup$
@aml Energy doesn't have any direction, or more accurately , the energy component of an energy-momentum 4 vector is orthogonal to all of the momentum components.
$endgroup$
– Aron
Apr 4 at 19:27
1
$begingroup$
It will do no work in the reference frame of the object being hit, but from an observer on Earth, or orbiting in space (or wherever you consider "stationary") the photon should be redshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy imparted to the object. (Or blueshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy taken from the object, if it's slowing down)
$endgroup$
– immibis
Apr 4 at 23:15
|
show 3 more comments
$begingroup$
No. The momentum of a photon is in direct proportion to its energy. A shorter wavelength of light has both more energy and more momentum in equal proportions.
If you want to maximize imparted momentum while minimizing heating, you need to change not the light, but what it is hitting. A perfect blackbody will absorb all of the momentum of a beam of light, and all of the energy as heat. A perfect mirror, on the other hand, will absorb no energy and experience no heating, but will absorb double the momentum.
answered Apr 4 at 13:49
Logan R. KearsleyLogan R. Kearsley
11.8k13258
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
Good, concise answer. As an added note, it's possible to measure the force exerted by light if you have a sensitive enough setup. See this video for an example of the type of setup you need. It's maybe also worth noting that decreasing the wavelength isn't the only way to increase the energy you're imparting in a given unit of time (the power), you can also increase the number of photons. In general: $E_tot = hbar omega N_gamma$ for some pulse of given duration.
$endgroup$
– realityChemist
Apr 4 at 14:22
1
$begingroup$
@Hearth- the energy does change direction. If it is in one direction then there is a change in net momentum. If it randomly changes the motion of part(icle)s then the momentum is heat (net zero).
$endgroup$
– amI
Apr 4 at 17:04
1
$begingroup$
@Hearth If the mirror moves away from the light, then yes. However, it is entirely possible for light to exert a force, and thus transfer momentum, while doing no work and thus transferring no energy. If the mirror is moving towards the light source, it will actually do work on the light, and thus lose energy.
$endgroup$
– Logan R. Kearsley
Apr 4 at 19:20
4
$begingroup$
@aml Energy doesn't have any direction, or more accurately , the energy component of an energy-momentum 4 vector is orthogonal to all of the momentum components.
$endgroup$
– Aron
Apr 4 at 19:27
1
$begingroup$
It will do no work in the reference frame of the object being hit, but from an observer on Earth, or orbiting in space (or wherever you consider "stationary") the photon should be redshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy imparted to the object. (Or blueshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy taken from the object, if it's slowing down)
$endgroup$
– immibis
Apr 4 at 23:15
|
show 3 more comments
$begingroup$
No. The momentum of a photon is in direct proportion to its energy. A shorter wavelength of light has both more energy and more momentum in equal proportions.
If you want to maximize imparted momentum while minimizing heating, you need to change not the light, but what it is hitting. A perfect blackbody will absorb all of the momentum of a beam of light, and all of the energy as heat. A perfect mirror, on the other hand, will absorb no energy and experience no heating, but will absorb double the momentum.
answered Apr 4 at 13:49
Logan R. KearsleyLogan R. Kearsley
11.8k13258
$endgroup$
No. The momentum of a photon is in direct proportion to its energy. A shorter wavelength of light has both more energy and more momentum in equal proportions.
If you want to maximize imparted momentum while minimizing heating, you need to change not the light, but what it is hitting. A perfect blackbody will absorb all of the momentum of a beam of light, and all of the energy as heat. A perfect mirror, on the other hand, will absorb no energy and experience no heating, but will absorb double the momentum.
answered Apr 4 at 13:49
Logan R. KearsleyLogan R. Kearsley
11.8k13258
answered Apr 4 at 13:49
Logan R. KearsleyLogan R. Kearsley
11.8k13258
answered Apr 4 at 13:49
Logan R. KearsleyLogan R. Kearsley
11.8k13258
answered Apr 4 at 13:49
Logan R. KearsleyLogan R. Kearsley
11.8k13258
11.8k13258
2
$begingroup$
Good, concise answer. As an added note, it's possible to measure the force exerted by light if you have a sensitive enough setup. See this video for an example of the type of setup you need. It's maybe also worth noting that decreasing the wavelength isn't the only way to increase the energy you're imparting in a given unit of time (the power), you can also increase the number of photons. In general: $E_tot = hbar omega N_gamma$ for some pulse of given duration.
$endgroup$
– realityChemist
Apr 4 at 14:22
1
$begingroup$
@Hearth- the energy does change direction. If it is in one direction then there is a change in net momentum. If it randomly changes the motion of part(icle)s then the momentum is heat (net zero).
$endgroup$
– amI
Apr 4 at 17:04
1
$begingroup$
@Hearth If the mirror moves away from the light, then yes. However, it is entirely possible for light to exert a force, and thus transfer momentum, while doing no work and thus transferring no energy. If the mirror is moving towards the light source, it will actually do work on the light, and thus lose energy.
$endgroup$
– Logan R. Kearsley
Apr 4 at 19:20
4
$begingroup$
@aml Energy doesn't have any direction, or more accurately , the energy component of an energy-momentum 4 vector is orthogonal to all of the momentum components.
$endgroup$
– Aron
Apr 4 at 19:27
1
$begingroup$
It will do no work in the reference frame of the object being hit, but from an observer on Earth, or orbiting in space (or wherever you consider "stationary") the photon should be redshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy imparted to the object. (Or blueshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy taken from the object, if it's slowing down)
$endgroup$
– immibis
Apr 4 at 23:15
|
show 3 more comments
2
$begingroup$
Good, concise answer. As an added note, it's possible to measure the force exerted by light if you have a sensitive enough setup. See this video for an example of the type of setup you need. It's maybe also worth noting that decreasing the wavelength isn't the only way to increase the energy you're imparting in a given unit of time (the power), you can also increase the number of photons. In general: $E_tot = hbar omega N_gamma$ for some pulse of given duration.
$endgroup$
– realityChemist
Apr 4 at 14:22
1
$begingroup$
@Hearth- the energy does change direction. If it is in one direction then there is a change in net momentum. If it randomly changes the motion of part(icle)s then the momentum is heat (net zero).
$endgroup$
– amI
Apr 4 at 17:04
1
$begingroup$
@Hearth If the mirror moves away from the light, then yes. However, it is entirely possible for light to exert a force, and thus transfer momentum, while doing no work and thus transferring no energy. If the mirror is moving towards the light source, it will actually do work on the light, and thus lose energy.
$endgroup$
– Logan R. Kearsley
Apr 4 at 19:20
4
$begingroup$
@aml Energy doesn't have any direction, or more accurately , the energy component of an energy-momentum 4 vector is orthogonal to all of the momentum components.
$endgroup$
– Aron
Apr 4 at 19:27
1
$begingroup$
It will do no work in the reference frame of the object being hit, but from an observer on Earth, or orbiting in space (or wherever you consider "stationary") the photon should be redshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy imparted to the object. (Or blueshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy taken from the object, if it's slowing down)
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– immibis
Apr 4 at 23:15
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Good, concise answer. As an added note, it's possible to measure the force exerted by light if you have a sensitive enough setup. See this video for an example of the type of setup you need. It's maybe also worth noting that decreasing the wavelength isn't the only way to increase the energy you're imparting in a given unit of time (the power), you can also increase the number of photons. In general: $E_tot = hbar omega N_gamma$ for some pulse of given duration.
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– realityChemist
Apr 4 at 14:22
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Good, concise answer. As an added note, it's possible to measure the force exerted by light if you have a sensitive enough setup. See this video for an example of the type of setup you need. It's maybe also worth noting that decreasing the wavelength isn't the only way to increase the energy you're imparting in a given unit of time (the power), you can also increase the number of photons. In general: $E_tot = hbar omega N_gamma$ for some pulse of given duration.
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– realityChemist
Apr 4 at 14:22
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@Hearth- the energy does change direction. If it is in one direction then there is a change in net momentum. If it randomly changes the motion of part(icle)s then the momentum is heat (net zero).
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– amI
Apr 4 at 17:04
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@Hearth- the energy does change direction. If it is in one direction then there is a change in net momentum. If it randomly changes the motion of part(icle)s then the momentum is heat (net zero).
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– amI
Apr 4 at 17:04
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@Hearth If the mirror moves away from the light, then yes. However, it is entirely possible for light to exert a force, and thus transfer momentum, while doing no work and thus transferring no energy. If the mirror is moving towards the light source, it will actually do work on the light, and thus lose energy.
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– Logan R. Kearsley
Apr 4 at 19:20
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@Hearth If the mirror moves away from the light, then yes. However, it is entirely possible for light to exert a force, and thus transfer momentum, while doing no work and thus transferring no energy. If the mirror is moving towards the light source, it will actually do work on the light, and thus lose energy.
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– Logan R. Kearsley
Apr 4 at 19:20
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@aml Energy doesn't have any direction, or more accurately , the energy component of an energy-momentum 4 vector is orthogonal to all of the momentum components.
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– Aron
Apr 4 at 19:27
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@aml Energy doesn't have any direction, or more accurately , the energy component of an energy-momentum 4 vector is orthogonal to all of the momentum components.
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– Aron
Apr 4 at 19:27
1
1
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It will do no work in the reference frame of the object being hit, but from an observer on Earth, or orbiting in space (or wherever you consider "stationary") the photon should be redshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy imparted to the object. (Or blueshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy taken from the object, if it's slowing down)
$endgroup$
– immibis
Apr 4 at 23:15
$begingroup$
It will do no work in the reference frame of the object being hit, but from an observer on Earth, or orbiting in space (or wherever you consider "stationary") the photon should be redshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy imparted to the object. (Or blueshifted to compensate for the kinetic energy taken from the object, if it's slowing down)
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– immibis
Apr 4 at 23:15
|
show 3 more comments
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As Logan has pointed out. "Light" has some very concrete and specific properties to it.
However. Since we are in World Building and you tagged "magic", I think straying away from the Standard Model would be allowed.
First, a bit of history about the Standard Model. It is filled with "particles" which we have very concrete properties and numbers and mathematical formulae for (plus field equations).
However, in the beginning, these properties weren't known, the formulae and maths was not invented. Even particles weren't a concept. We figured them out from the shadows that they cast into our cave.
Each new effect we gave a new name to; like "Light", "Magnetism", "Heat", "Energy", "Strangeness", "Charmness", "Topness", "Bottomness", "Anti-Red Quantum ChromoDynamics-ness".
Quite simply your world can have all the different effects you want and those effects can be explained away with a new set of fields/particles/equations.
TLDR: Invent a new magical particle called "Qi", make your sorcerers fire "Qi" based "beams" that radiate cherenkov radiation when fired in the atmosphere when they cast the Haduken spell.
answered Apr 4 at 16:22
AronAron
943611
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That certainly helps, not that I was ever going to go into an explanation of the mechanics. I simply wanted to know if it was possible to explain in our universe.
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– Red Robin
Apr 4 at 16:40
add a comment |
$begingroup$
As Logan has pointed out. "Light" has some very concrete and specific properties to it.
However. Since we are in World Building and you tagged "magic", I think straying away from the Standard Model would be allowed.
First, a bit of history about the Standard Model. It is filled with "particles" which we have very concrete properties and numbers and mathematical formulae for (plus field equations).
However, in the beginning, these properties weren't known, the formulae and maths was not invented. Even particles weren't a concept. We figured them out from the shadows that they cast into our cave.
Each new effect we gave a new name to; like "Light", "Magnetism", "Heat", "Energy", "Strangeness", "Charmness", "Topness", "Bottomness", "Anti-Red Quantum ChromoDynamics-ness".
Quite simply your world can have all the different effects you want and those effects can be explained away with a new set of fields/particles/equations.
TLDR: Invent a new magical particle called "Qi", make your sorcerers fire "Qi" based "beams" that radiate cherenkov radiation when fired in the atmosphere when they cast the Haduken spell.
answered Apr 4 at 16:22
AronAron
943611
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
That certainly helps, not that I was ever going to go into an explanation of the mechanics. I simply wanted to know if it was possible to explain in our universe.
$endgroup$
– Red Robin
Apr 4 at 16:40
add a comment |
$begingroup$
As Logan has pointed out. "Light" has some very concrete and specific properties to it.
However. Since we are in World Building and you tagged "magic", I think straying away from the Standard Model would be allowed.
First, a bit of history about the Standard Model. It is filled with "particles" which we have very concrete properties and numbers and mathematical formulae for (plus field equations).
However, in the beginning, these properties weren't known, the formulae and maths was not invented. Even particles weren't a concept. We figured them out from the shadows that they cast into our cave.
Each new effect we gave a new name to; like "Light", "Magnetism", "Heat", "Energy", "Strangeness", "Charmness", "Topness", "Bottomness", "Anti-Red Quantum ChromoDynamics-ness".
Quite simply your world can have all the different effects you want and those effects can be explained away with a new set of fields/particles/equations.
TLDR: Invent a new magical particle called "Qi", make your sorcerers fire "Qi" based "beams" that radiate cherenkov radiation when fired in the atmosphere when they cast the Haduken spell.
answered Apr 4 at 16:22
AronAron
943611
$endgroup$
As Logan has pointed out. "Light" has some very concrete and specific properties to it.
However. Since we are in World Building and you tagged "magic", I think straying away from the Standard Model would be allowed.
First, a bit of history about the Standard Model. It is filled with "particles" which we have very concrete properties and numbers and mathematical formulae for (plus field equations).
However, in the beginning, these properties weren't known, the formulae and maths was not invented. Even particles weren't a concept. We figured them out from the shadows that they cast into our cave.
Each new effect we gave a new name to; like "Light", "Magnetism", "Heat", "Energy", "Strangeness", "Charmness", "Topness", "Bottomness", "Anti-Red Quantum ChromoDynamics-ness".
Quite simply your world can have all the different effects you want and those effects can be explained away with a new set of fields/particles/equations.
TLDR: Invent a new magical particle called "Qi", make your sorcerers fire "Qi" based "beams" that radiate cherenkov radiation when fired in the atmosphere when they cast the Haduken spell.
answered Apr 4 at 16:22
AronAron
943611
answered Apr 4 at 16:22
AronAron
943611
answered Apr 4 at 16:22
AronAron
943611
answered Apr 4 at 16:22
AronAron
943611
943611
$begingroup$
That certainly helps, not that I was ever going to go into an explanation of the mechanics. I simply wanted to know if it was possible to explain in our universe.
$endgroup$
– Red Robin
Apr 4 at 16:40
add a comment |
$begingroup$
That certainly helps, not that I was ever going to go into an explanation of the mechanics. I simply wanted to know if it was possible to explain in our universe.
$endgroup$
– Red Robin
Apr 4 at 16:40
$begingroup$
That certainly helps, not that I was ever going to go into an explanation of the mechanics. I simply wanted to know if it was possible to explain in our universe.
$endgroup$
– Red Robin
Apr 4 at 16:40
$begingroup$
That certainly helps, not that I was ever going to go into an explanation of the mechanics. I simply wanted to know if it was possible to explain in our universe.
$endgroup$
– Red Robin
Apr 4 at 16:40
add a comment |
Red Robin is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Red Robin is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Red Robin is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Red Robin is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Momentum is momentum and energy is energy and the two are not the same. You cannot impart not even a tiny little bit of energy as momentum, because the two physical quantities do not have the same dimensionality.
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– AlexP
Apr 4 at 16:52
2
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@Jasper: Angular momentum is $M cdot L^2 cdot T^-1$, for example kg·m²/(s·rad). Energy is $M cdot L^2 cdot T^-2$, for example kg·m²/s². Not dimensionally equivalent. Fun factoid: in languages such as French, Italian, Romanian or Russian, linear momentum and angular momentum are named with dissimilar words, usually something like impulse or quantity of motion vs. kinetic moment or moment of impulse.
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– AlexP
Apr 4 at 22:31
1
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AlexP --- Oops. Thank you. Torque has the same units as energy.
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– Jasper
Apr 4 at 23:03