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NASA's "impossible" EM Drive actually works though in violation of physics

Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:18 am
Posted by mizzoukills
Member since Aug 2011
40686 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:18 am


quote:

The results of NASA’s tests on the ‘impossible’ EM Drive have been leaked, and they reveal that the controversial propulsion system really does work, and is capable of generating impressive thrust in a vacuum, even after error measurements have been accounted for.

The EM Drive has made headlines over the past year, because it offers the incredible possibility of a fuel-free propulsion system that could potentially get us to Mars in just 70 days. But there’s one major problem: according to the current laws of physics, it shouldn’t work.

The issue is the fact that the EM Drive defies Newton’s third law, which states that everything must have an equal and opposite reaction. So, according to Newton and our current understanding of the world around us, for a system to produce propulsion, it has to push something out the other way (in space, that’s usually combusted rocket fuel).

But the EM Drive works without any fuel or propellants at all. It works by simply bouncing microwave photons back and forth inside a cone-shaped closed metal cavity. That motion causes the ‘pointy end’ of the EM Drive to generate thrust, and propel the drive in the opposite direction.

Despite years of testing and debate, the drive remains controversial. The bottom line is that, on paper, it shouldn’t work, according to the laws of physics. And yet, in test after test, the EM Drive just keeps on working.


(article with video) New Round of Successful Tests

Forbes

Digital Trends article

This post was edited on 11/10/16 at 9:19 am
Posted by Hu_Flung_Pu
Central, LA
Member since Jan 2013
22159 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:20 am to
Science is awesome
Posted by StarkRebel
Member since Sep 2014
2175 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:21 am to
Although this is really cool I'm going to give you a downvote because of who you are.
Posted by Hu_Flung_Pu
Central, LA
Member since Jan 2013
22159 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:21 am to
We should have test pilots and I know of a few that want to leave the United States
Posted by noonan
Nassau Bay, TX
Member since Aug 2005
36898 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:22 am to
Something tells me that it's not actually violating the laws of physics.
Posted by Tigeralum2008
Yankees Fan
Member since Apr 2012
17129 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:22 am to
quote:

The thrust-to-power ratio observed is 1.2 ± 0.1 Newtons per Megawatt, where 1.2 Newtons is the equivalent of the weight of an iPhone 6, while a Megawatt is enough energy to power everything in your entire house… and 649 others, all at once. Which is to say, it’s an incredibly large amount of power required for an incredibly tiny amount of thrust.
Posted by mizzoukills
Member since Aug 2011
40686 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:24 am to
If the EmDrive violates Newton's 3rd Law of Physics it must imply that Newton (and what we've been taught) was wrong. It also implies that scientists know Newton's 3rd Law is wrong because why would they build a machine which is in direct violation of physical laws?

Question is: Why would scientists lie to us? Is it because they're learning a new realm of physics from FAR more advanced alien beings and feel the need to keep it quiet? Seriously, how do you explain scientists spending millions of dollars (perhaps billions) on a technology which shouldn't work?
Posted by shawnlsu
Member since Nov 2011
23682 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:24 am to
quote:

That motion causes the ‘pointy end’ of the EM Drive to generate thrust, and propel the drive in the opposite direction.



I'm no scientist but isn't this your action/reation?
This post was edited on 11/10/16 at 9:24 am
Posted by mizzoukills
Member since Aug 2011
40686 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:25 am to
quote:

The thrust-to-power ratio observed is 1.2 ± 0.1 Newtons per Megawatt, where 1.2 Newtons is the equivalent of the weight of an iPhone 6, while a Megawatt is enough energy to power everything in your entire house… and 649 others, all at once. Which is to say, it’s an incredibly large amount of power required for an incredibly tiny amount of thrust.


I don't think you're getting it...
Posted by Hu_Flung_Pu
Central, LA
Member since Jan 2013
22159 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:25 am to
The key is equal reaction
Posted by bmy
Nashville
Member since Oct 2007
48203 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:25 am to
It doesn't violate the laws of physics. But yeah, it's pretty cool.
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
115495 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:26 am to
If they could get it to work on a larger scale with less power required, it would completely change the course of human history.
Posted by Yellerhammer5
Member since Oct 2012
10850 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:26 am to
quote:

Question is: Why would scientists lie to us? Is it because they're learning a new realm of physics from FAR more advanced alien beings and feel the need to keep it quiet? Seriously, how do you explain scientists spending millions of dollars (perhaps billions) on a technology which shouldn't work?



That's the mizzoukills we all know and hate.
Posted by mizzoukills
Member since Aug 2011
40686 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:27 am to
quote:

I'm no scientist but isn't this your action/reation?



I see what you're saying, but think of it like this: Imagine you're sitting in your car and push against your steering wheel. Will that motion cause your car to move forward?

That's what's going on here.
Posted by mizzoukills
Member since Aug 2011
40686 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:28 am to
quote:

That's the mizzoukills we all know and hate.





Did I jump the shark?
Posted by Spaceman Spiff
Savannah
Member since Sep 2012
17463 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:28 am to
Sweet! Baby steps. Baby steps.

Now, they need to release the functional Terminators on the thugs.
Posted by dyslexic
Left field
Member since Nov 2010
6490 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:28 am to
Thanks Trump
Posted by bmy
Nashville
Member since Oct 2007
48203 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:30 am to
The important thing to realize is that this is tremendously useful once youre in space.. and useless trying to leave earth
Posted by Tigeralum2008
Yankees Fan
Member since Apr 2012
17129 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:30 am to
quote:

I don't think you're getting it...


Violating the third law by pumping insane ratios of energy would seem to be expected if you ask me.

Posted by mizzoukills
Member since Aug 2011
40686 posts
Posted on 11/10/16 at 9:32 am to
Tigeralum2008

Look at the post directly above your post. That's why this is useful.
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