Is a "shrink ray" theoretically possible?

Question

What principle would allow such a device to work?

What about a "grow ray"?

Answer 1

When you consider the nature of the photons that compose radiation, it's not very likely that a 'shrink ray' would be possible without violating what we already know about the physics of radiation. This also includes a 'growth ray'

Atoms do indeed contain vast empty space in terms of volume vs substance, but that space is actually quite small when compared to the size of light particles. Visible light rays cannot penetrate into the nuclear region of an atom and the higher radiation energies that can do so (e.g. x-rays, gamma rays) usually have a destructive effect on the substance.

You simply cannot 'push' the atomic components of atoms together to shrink them. It's not quite that simple. If you could, the moment the 'shrink ray' was turned off, the mass would rapidly expand again with an explosive rebound and the release of a lot of energy in the process.

A nuclear reaction would result if you pushed the atoms together too much.

It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature!

Answer 2

Shrink Ray

Answer 3

There is a lot of relative space in an atom. But there are limits to just how close the fundamental particle of the universe, the super string, can come to another particle. That limit is the Plank Distance, 10^-33 cm.

But there are physical considerations outside quantum physics. For example, just how far can we shrink something before it ceases to function as it's supposed to? Electrons have mass and size for example. When we shrink a system down to their size, how would the electrons flow through it...presuming the electrons are not also shrunk.

This is the stuff of science fiction, like UFO's from outer space, but has no basis in real science.

Answer 4

Yes, but ONLY in "other dimensions." Sorry.

In this dimension, its just not possible. What I mean by this is that according to "Science Fiction Theory" shrink rays operate by eliminating or "shrinking" the amount of "empty" space in and around the atom and other masses that have LOTS of empty spaces. The problem with this is that atoms have this empty space for a reason, much like shrinking the space around the planets would place them "much to close to the sun" the same for the "elctron's and neutron's around the atom."

Also, in the Many World Theory it states that any idea or theory you have or are working on here, becomes fact in another reality. Everytime you do a Geiger Test and the "counter" doesn't click, the "reality of this world" splits and it clicks in THAT Universe, etc. So, by this, yes, in an alternate reality the Shrink Ray does exist, but thankfully, not in ours. Talk about an EASY way to get a nuclear stockpile into a country! ::shudder::

Answer 5

Actually yes it should be possible. The wasted space between atoms is very large and it is this space that creates scale. Think about this: at one point in time every piece of matter in the universe was compressed into a single point. In fact, all of the mass of the Earth is compressed to the size of a square centimeter in the center of the sun; that's just how densely packed the atoms are. A ray to make things smaller would simply have to push atoms closer without damaging them. This could be an electromagnetic force.

Answer 6

Someone needs to make Shrink Ray happen with Kickstarter to help them

Answer 7

Not really mate I don't think nature could just....Grow you. And how would it work If you pointed it at your skin would only that part of your skin grow? How would it make a entire object grow? How would it know to do this?

Answer 8

principle of science ficiton. is the size shrinks, then either mass has to be destroyed or it remains and is made more dense.

if mass destroyed, tremendous energy release on the order of nuclear bombs.

if density increases, atoms must be compressed AKA black hole and neutron stars

Answer 9

in my opinion no. but im aming to be a astonomer. but you never know . with a little imagination and good know how you might.

Answer 10

Probably not, but, I suppose there is a small chance