Creation of a Real Lightsaber

Creation of a Real Lightsaber Travis Wade Creating real-life sci-fi technology How might technology from popular sci-fi culture â€Å"Star Wars† be created in the near future? Technology comes from the thoughts of scientists and inventors, and imagination of science fiction writers. Throughout the sci-fi universes, whether in books or movies, they all have futuristic or even impossible sounding equipment. These large fandoms have set the bar for the future of technology and science, as their imagination to create these science-fiction pieces of technology, is based on what may be possible in the future. From the massive fandom and universe; such as Star Wars, the technology that could only be dreamed of, could one day become a reality. Many new scientific and technological discoveries and creations were first thought up by a writer, trying to sell a few books or even get a movie deal, and were since theorised by scientists to be possible. In the widely popular and extensively imagined universe of Star Wars, the main protagonists and antagonists, The Jedi and The Sith†, use special weapons known as a Lightsaber. Lightsabers are specially made close combat weapons, imagined as a futuristic sword-like weapon, that have a small hilt and a retractable laser blade, capable of cutting through almost everything. In the Star Wars universe, the Lightsaber was made with a powerful battery cell, a focusing crystal and was imbued with the force, as shown in figure 1: (Figure 1, components of a Lightsaber) In real life, the possibilities of creating a Lightsaber are quite real, should a large jump in current technologies spontaneously happen. To create the blade of the Lightsaber, many a thought would be directed immediately towards a high powered laser, however, a highly charged beam of plasma would be more suitable, and easier to harness. Current technologies, such as a plasma cutter, produce super-heated plasma to cut many materials. To create plasma, a plasma cutter feeds inert gas through an electric arc, which is then sped up and released through a small hole to increase the temperature of the plasma. The plasma would need to be propelled to about 1.2 metres, (average length of a Lightsaber) and then the plasma would need to dissipate, as to not create a beam that continues through space. If the plasma beam were to arc around at the end of the beam, return to the hilt of the Lightsaber, and arc back around through the electric arc, which would repower it, as it goes back out, creating a plasma circuit. The width of the beam, an important area in the eyes of a true Star Wars fan, can be controlled due to a powerful magnetic field would need to be employed, to also ensure that the Lightsaber bounces off other Lightsabers, due to the repulsion of the magnetic field. Magnets would create a magnetic field, via Lorentz forces, that would separate the plasma from the chamber, preventing the plasma from melting the â€Å"hilt†. Lorentz forces are the combination of electric and magneticforceson apoint chargedue to electromagnetic fields. Lorentz forces would come into effect, as the plasma arcs around the and back through the electric arc. The electrically charged magnets would create the electric field, and should the magnets be powerful enough, the electromagnetic forces could extend to a distance great enough to channel the plasma into the specific blade shape. A powerful battery or power cell will be needed to keep the electric arc running and powering the plasma. The current apex of battery technology is the â€Å"aluminium graphite battery†, which has been created by scientists at Stanford University, which can recharge a phone in 60 seconds. If the aluminium graphite battery was used to keep an electric arc inside a Lightsaber hilt running long enough to recharge the plasma. The fuel for creating the plasma is usually nitrogen gas in a plasma cutter. The Nitrogen gas would need to be held in a canister inside the Lightsaber hilt, while also being able to refill it. Nitrogen gas is appropriate as the fuel for the plasma arc, as Nitrogen is sufficiently unstable, and viable to charge from an electric arc, due to nitrogen having only 5 valence electrons. Because Nitrogen only has 5 valence electrons, there is a large electromagnetic force attracting other electrons, and therefore, more energy from the electric arc. The creation of a Lightsaber from the universe of Star Wars; is not currently possible with the level of technology and scientific understandings. However, in the near future, with a leap in the scientific understanding and practical uses of energy and plasma, such as projecting plasma into space or creating an electric field capable of being directed away from magnets, a real Lightsaber may be possible, should a scientist with the required research and funding be adventurous enough to create one. Until then, a Lightsaber will remain as just science fiction, and stay as just a fantasy that could one day be a reality. Bibliography Are lightsabers possible?| Explore | physics.org. 2015. Are lightsabers possible?| Explore | physics.org. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.physics.org/article-questions.asp?id=59. [Accessed 18 May 2015]. Weird Things  » Blog Archive  » 3 Theories On How To Build A Real Life Lightsaber. 2015. Weird Things  » Blog Archive  » 3 Theories On How To Build A Real Life Lightsaber. [ONLINE] Available at: http://weirdthings.com/2011/08/3-theories-on-how-to-build-a-real-life-lightsaber/. [Accessed 18 May 2015]. Fast beam of neutral atoms created using lasers and plasma | Ars Technica. 2015. Fast beam of neutral atoms created using lasers and plasma | Ars Technica. [ONLINE] Available at: http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/01/acceleration-of-neutral-atoms-using-lasers-and-collisions/. [Accessed 18 May 2015]. Dense plasma focus Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2015. Dense plasma focus Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dense_plasma_focus. [Accessed 18 May 2015]. Electric arc Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2015. Electric arc Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_arc. [Accessed 18 May 2015]. Plasma (physics) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2015. Plasma (physics) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_(physics). [Accessed 18 May 2015]. http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/euratom/index_en.cfm?pg=fusionsection=plasma-physics Where Saws Failed – How Plasma Cutters Work. 2015. Where Saws Failed – How Plasma Cutters Work. [ONLINE] Available at: http://home.howstuffworks.com/plasma-cutter1.htm [Accessed 24 May 2015]. An aluminium graphite battery that could charge your smartphone in 60 seconds. ExtremeTech. 2015. An aluminium graphite battery that could charge your smartphone in 60 seconds. ExtremeTech. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.extremetech.com/electronics/202778-an-aluminum-graphite-battery-that-could-charge-your-smartphone-in-60-seconds. [Accessed 24 May 2015]. Lorentz force –Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2015. Lorentz force – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorentz_force. [Accessed 24 May 2015]. http://www.harvardgenerator.com/ Figure 1: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=lightsabersafe=strictbiw=1366bih=673source=lnmstbm=ischsa=Xei=KIBiVdzqDIb28QXny4CIBgsqi=2ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#safe=stricttbm=ischq=lightsaber+insideimgrc=hC7og0Li80fcCM%253A%3BEroRd5B0rUQ__M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.emperorshammer.org%252Fdb%252FDSC%252Fimages%252Fpics%252Fpicture-lightsaber_diagram_interior.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.emperorshammer.org%252Fdb%252FDSC%252Fls.php%3B479%3B200

City Life During The Mid 1800s Essay

Source Two: Taken from the internet site ‘Victorian Web’; 2002 During the first decades of Victoria’s reign, baths were virtually unknown in the poorer districts and uncommon anywhere. Most households of all economic classes still used â€Å"privy-pails†; water closets (flush toilets) were rare. Sewers had flat bottoms, and because drains were made out of stone, seepage was considerable. If, as was often the case in towns, streets were unpaved, they might remain ankle-deep in mud for weeks. Source Three: 1850s cartoon; ‘A Court for King Cholera’ (From Punch Magazine) Source Four: Henry Mayhew, ‘Jouneys through London’; 1849 W e then journeyed on to London Street, down which the tidal ditch continues its course. In No. 1 of this street the cholera first appeared seventeen years ago, and spread up it with fearful speed; but this year it appeared at the opposite end, and ran down it with like severity. As we passed along the reeking banks of the sewer the sun shone upon a narrow slip of the water. In the bright light it appeared the colour of strong green tea, and positively looked as solid as black marble in the shadow – indeed it was more like watery mud than muddy water; and yet we were assured this was the only water the wretched inhabitants had to drink. As we gazed in horror at it, we saw drains and sewers emptying their filthy contents into it; we saw a whole tier of doorless privies in the open road, common to men and women, built over it; we heard bucket after bucket of filth splash into it, and the limbs of the vagrant boys bathing in it seemed by pure force of contrast, white as Parian marble. In this wretched place we were taken to a house where an infant lay dead of the cholera. We asked if they really did drink the water? The answer was, â€Å"They were obliged to drink the ditch, without they could beg or thieve a pailful of water.† But have you spoken to your landlord about having it laid on for you? â€Å"Yes, sir and he says he will do it, and do it, but we know him better than to believe him.† Source Five; Father Thames introducing his offspring (Diptheria, Scrofula and Cholera); A cartoon published in 1858 (From Punch Magazine) [If this image is unclear, use the following summary: This shows a lady with a crown being introduced by a strange kind of man coming out of the river to three deformed creatures, looking horrific as they are pushed forward to greet the lady.] By Mr Jones www.SchoolHistory.co.uk Questions; 1. Study source one carefully – What does it show? (3 marks) – What is the message of the picture? (3 marks) – Skeletons don’t ‘dispense’ water. Therefore the source is useless to a historian of mid 1800s city life. Do you agree? (6 marks) 2. Read source two carefully – Give three threats to health mentioned in the source (3 marks) 3. Study source three carefully. – How can you tell that this ‘court’ is a very unhealthy place? (4 marks) – Do you think this cartoon is likely to be reliable? Explain your answer. (6 marks) 4. Study source four carefully – Do Henry Mayhew’s comments back up the views of the cartoonist in source three? (7 marks) 5. Study source five carefully – ‘Dirty water certainly was the main cause of disease in the 1800s’. Do you agree? Explain with reference to any sources you wish and your own knowledge. (8 marks)

Dead Poets Society †Belonging Essay

I have written some introductory paragraphs for you if you are thinking about using the film Dead Poets Society as a related text. You will need to include a paragraph that examines TWO scenes, with film techniques, and discuss how the concept of Belonging is explored in these scenes if you wish to use this text Q – The challenge to belong may be resisted or embraced. The challenge to belong may be resisted or embraced and this concept is explored in detail in Peter Weir’s film, Dead Poets Society. In this film we go on a journey with the student body of Welton Academy, an exclusive private school, and English teacher John Keating as they re-form the Dead Poets Society in the hope of exloring their own dreams. Eventually though, this act is seen as defying the honour code of belonging to the school and as the boys choose to embrace their individuality they are met with tragic consequences. The â€Å"four pillars† of Welton are established in the beginning of the film and this sets the tone for the expectations of the Welton community. In the opening scenes the headmaster praises the school, its tradition and its performance and the audience is left with no doubt that to belong to Welton means to unquestioningly abide by the â€Å"four pillars† tradition, honour and discipline. To do so, as the rest of the film goes on to show, means to conform at the expense of any individual passions or pursuits, success is measured by adhering to the group expectations rather than individual goals. John Keating does not belong at Welton, not just because of his progressive teaching methods, but because he encourages boys to think and act for themselves, to change, not to conform. He incites them to take risks and break rules in pursuit of individual pleasures. The theme of resisting the challenge to belong is most sharply focused on the relationship between Neil and his father.

Transcendentalism And Its Impact On Society - 1311 Words

He â€Å"taught himself to read and write by forming letters in charcoal on the kitchen floorboards† (Brown). He strove to teach himself so that he could be a teacher to others as his revolutionary ideas on education changed how we look at education even today. He began to dive more and more into the world of Transcendentalism. He was a husband a father and a teacher who created a wave through America that still has rippling effects today. Much more came out of this movement including his effect that he had on his daughter who herself spread transcendental ideas through her writings. This man was Amos Bronson Alcott, and he was a reformer of society looking to abide by Transcendental beliefs. Alcott played one of the biggest roles in causing Transcendentalism to be still present today as he embodies the ideals behind Transcendentalism. Alcott took the philosophies of Thoreau and Emerson and instilled them into the world of the educational system by adding many different activ ities to the curriculum, stressing self-reliance and self-sacrifice to his students and his daughter. Alcott did his best to support his family, but his lecturing and writing were limited in their effectiveness. He understood that what he was doing was an attempt to better society, and he followed the Transcendental ideal of non conformity. The driving force of Transcendentalism was in fact the people that felt these ideals were best for society. Men like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, AmosShow MoreRelatedTranscendentalism And Its Impact On Society964 Words   |  4 PagesTranscendentalism began around 1836 in New England. The transcendentalist believed that society and its organized institutions were corrupting the purity of individuals. 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