• werefreeatlast@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Yeah this is completely wrong. Square law, the atmosphere absorption, non-coherence are all right on. You need a laser based in space to deliver real usable power.

    The ruzzians are probably going to fly a space based sealed CO2 laser powered by radioactive generator.

    Even if you took the entire face of the earth and converted it to mirrors, you would probably not have enough power to burn satellites. Simple demonstration…get a lens that is good for burning ants outside…now go inside your house and turn on your powerful TV. Focus it’s light on paper and see if you can burn it. Repeat with fire and with a projector.

    • mozz@mbin.grits.dev
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      9 months ago

      Bet you $100 that the inverse square law doesn’t apply in the way you think it does to sunlight reflected off a flat mirror

      Step up, step up, you can’t win if you don’t play

    • SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      get a lens that is good for burning ants outside…now go inside your house and turn on your powerful TV. Focus it’s light on paper and see if you can burn it. Repeat with fire and with a projector.

      The light from the sun has traveled millions of km already, the fraction it has to travel from the earth back up the satellite is mathematically insignificant.

      Your tv isn’t powerful… use something that has a similar function, like an actual light and it can work, but it will be affected by the inverse square law since the source is right there, unlike the sun.

        • SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          What’s that got to do with your comment? A lightbulb is hot enough to start a fire, a tv isn’t… so using that instead of the other asinine examples you provided would absolutely work…