Thread: Tesla's Particle Cannon

Why has not the military of the US or the UK utilised Nikola Teslas particle cannon idea? And moreso why has no one ever utilised his idea of harnessing the Earth's lightning using those towers to power the world? Why has he been forgotten? Why would the US create such a weapon to be used to destroy incoming meteorites or comets, asteroids etc.

Errr... Perhaps coz it is all bunkum.

I think you will find that shooting particles is ok in a vacuum (like the old glass TV tubes) but in the atmosphere they would collide with atmospheric gas molecules cause a local corona and fizzle out within a few centimetres of the barrel, then there's the nuclear power station required to power this thing.... Easier to build a light saber!

As for harnessing the power of lightning it is impractical. Tesla was a good scientist but later in life he dreamt up all these cruddy ideas to try and keep his name in the limelight. There are many examples of this from the gimboids who proposed space elevators to to the chap who proposes Hawking radiation.

----Tesla managed to light 200 lamps, without wires, from 40 kilometres (25 miles) away.---

If you believe that you will believe anything!

Originally Posted by Pumblechook

----Tesla managed to light 200 lamps, without wires, from 40 kilometres (25 miles) away.---

If you believe that you will believe anything!

Bollocks!

all you need is a radio transmitter, a reciever, Thyrister some bulbs a power supply and bingo! remote controlled lights!

Tesla was greater than any other scientist. Everything that the world runs on is from his genius and you're just now as then believing what they want you to believe.

Yes I second Svwillmer's comments, Tesla was an outstanding albeit eccentric scientist who dedicated his life to his revolutionary work. Every bit of electronic equipment you can mention will more than likely be patented under his name so don't to too quick to bash him.

Megabrain, I suggest you treat the space elevator with a little more enthusiasm. It will be the most important factor in getting into space. It is possible to do it on the moon with current technology but getting the carbon nanorod's there is the problem... It's a very very good concept in my opinion.
These far out ideas are what will shape the future.

Barry

This, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_fountain, is an even better concept that is possible now. It could even be bult on earth. No nead for nanotubes and such.

KALSTER,

Many thanks for that link, I had not heard of it. It looks very very intriguing.
Thanks again!

Barry

Originally Posted by Barry Flannery

Yes I second Svwillmer's comments, Tesla was an outstanding albeit eccentric scientist who dedicated his life to his revolutionary work. Every bit of electronic equipment you can mention will more than likely be patented under his name so don't to too quick to bash him.

Megabrain, I suggest you treat the space elevator with a little more enthusiasm. It will be the most important factor in getting into space. It is possible to do it on the moon with current technology but getting the carbon nanorod's there is the problem... It's a very very good concept in my opinion.
These far out ideas are what will shape the future.

Barry

GGRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!

Have any of you guys done the maths for this??? - a space elevator IS a possible concept BUT as an efficient means of getting stuff into space it really stinks!


First the energy needed to capture and place into (the correct) orbit the 'anchor' ie a half bilion ton mass and then the energy to keep it precisely in orbit will be more fuel than is saved by it's ability to get other stuff up there. Then to keep this thing in it's correct orbit will also require a great deal of energy (yes even geostationary 50Kilogram satelittes require adjustment every few days due to the effect of the moon and sun gravity.

And then when you want to escape geostationary orbit there's the little question of more fuel....

So unless you can move a half billion ton asteroid across 7 billion miles of space and plonk it into a perfect orbit using no more than mind over matter (terlekinesis) forget it! - Appy new year to you all

Megabrain, I have no response you're right!

Happy New Year! :P

I'll concede the possibility that some passing alien might lend a hand at some time, IF you can convince me that intelligent space hopping critters exist...

Originally Posted by Megabrain

I'll concede the possibility that some passing alien might lend a hand at some time, IF you can convince me that intelligent space hopping critters exist...

I'm a Time Lord, does that help?