Are there any chances whereby the Archimedes deathray invention could ignite gas tanks or flammable objects from a distance?
2006-09-08 05:34:07 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It didn't work well on mythbusters, but I wonder if 10,000 trained soldiers with shields could do better.
2006-09-08 05:41:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it can start wood on fire, then presumably it could also start gasoline on fire if there was some wood or something else with a low ignition temperature nearby to start it. However, the weapon isn't very easy to use; you need a lot of mirror surface area, and if there's even a thin bit of cloud over the sun it stops it from working properly.
2006-09-08 05:38:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you scare me...
Mythbusters had a show about Archimedes' "deathray" (really a series of mirrors focused onto a single point). They managed to catch things on fire at a close distance.
I think they used several hundered pollished brass mirrors to try to catch a wooden boat on fire. I don't remember if it worked.
2006-09-08 05:39:19 · answer #3 · answered by MadScientist 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They tried multiple versions on Mythbusters and even had a contest for viewers to try. Couldn't get one that worked
2006-09-08 05:41:01 · answer #4 · answered by me 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely, if enough mirrors were focused on the same spot. If you're planning on some kind of terrorist act, you just turned yourself in to the FBI.
2006-09-08 05:42:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This question is worth everyone's attention
2016-08-23 06:23:55 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's definitely possible, that's for sure
2016-08-08 14:32:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of insightful answers here
2016-09-20 07:58:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They tried this on myth busters. It didn't work very well.
2006-09-08 05:36:38 · answer #9 · answered by strider89406 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋