21–30 of 71 posts
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/Physics/comments/5ewj86/so_nasas_em...
As always, the relevant XKCD: https://xkcd.com/955/ While I don't really believe it, I am intrigued by the possibility. It has been a long time since we learned anything truly new in physics. The recent breakthroughs (Higgs boson, gravitational waves, for example) were satisfying, but not surprising. I would desperately like to be surprised.
In case you missed it, the theory behind the EM Drive is also being used to explain galaxy rotation: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313580454_Low-accel...
Is there a consensus on this interpretation v. "just adding more dark matter"?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
In case you missed it, the theory behind the EM Drive is also being used to explain galaxy rotation: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313580454_Low-accel...
I don't know anything about this field but the language seems sound to me. Is there a consensus on this interpretation v. "just adding more dark matter"?
This reminded me of https://xkcd.com/1758/
The quote of interest (being able to be tested in months) references another article where nothing has been committed but could be done in 6 months. On one hand it's great that this is being reviewed and tested. The other hand, that it's not getting properly tested in space where it really can make a difference is somewhat saddening. Can anyone point to a committed space trial?
Why would you test it in space? I'm not sure I understand the reasoning.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
In case you missed it, the theory behind the EM Drive is also being used to explain galaxy rotation: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313580454_Low-accel...
I don't know anything about this field but the language seems sound to me. Is there a consensus on this interpretation v. "just adding more dark matter"?
The quote of interest (being able to be tested in months) references another article where nothing has been committed but could be done in 6 months. On one hand it's great that this is being reviewed and tested. The other hand, that it's not getting properly tested in space where it really can make a difference is somewhat saddening. Can anyone point to a committed space trial?
Why would you test it in space? I'm not sure I understand the reasoning.
As always, the relevant XKCD: https://xkcd.com/955/ While I don't really believe it, I am intrigued by the possibility. It has been a long time since we learned anything truly new in physics. The recent breakthroughs (Higgs boson, gravitational waves, for example) were satisfying, but not surprising. I would desperately like to be surprised.
1. studies consistently are showing that this seems to produce thrust without expelling any matter 2. we know that can't be possible I think most people are excited about this not because they think we just proved 2 to be wrong, but instead because we know 2 must be true, so what the hell is going on with 1??? Most likely we will find out that we are NOT violating the known laws of the universe, but we're "not violat…
Nope, others have been unable to reproduce their results. As for Eagle Works ... their data is crap. The paper consists of 18 data points and large amounts of variance. The largest thrust measurement comes from the middle power setting.
Furthermore, they are measuring (at most!) 120 micro-newtons of thrust. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but that's ~1/100 the weight of a penny[0]. Even if they can produce these tiny amounts of of thrust reliably, they still need to eliminate other sources of error.
Other false-positive results of similar devices have either generated thrust in the null condition or were later retracted after correcting for measurement error.
>I think most people are excited about this not because they think we just proved 2 to be wrong, but instead because we know 2 must be true, so what the hell is going on with 1???
The EM drive literally entails perpetual motion. We know that's impossible, yet someone always manages to sell a new version of it every few years.
>Most likely we will find out that we are NOT violating the known laws of the universe, but we're "not violating" them in a very interesting way.
There is a reason this is in a journal dedicated to publishing experimental results from aerospace engineers and not a physics journal. Peer review isn't magic, it just means two out of three people signed off on a paper being published.
[0]: Seems crazy small, math may be wacky off due to lack of sleep.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why would you test it in space? I'm not sure I understand the reasoning.
The effects are small enough that there's some possibility that it's just measurement error. If you produce a drive that actually moves something in space, you have a real effect.
Seems like the previously leaked 1.2 ± 0.1 mN/kW is true. I look forward to seeing it tested in space to finally see if its real or not.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't know anything about this field but the language seems sound to me. Is there a consensus on this interpretation v. "just adding more dark matter"?
It is unfortunate that the theory of Dark Matter doesn't have a cute parlor trick like the EM Drive.