How long would it take to reach Earth (if shined from he Moon for example) and what would happen?
2007-08-20 01:31:51 · 4 answers · asked by USAROX 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
No one yet has answered what would happen if it DID manage to reach the surface.
2007-08-20 04:15:40 · update #1
Would the laser cause DAMAGE though? Kinda like Dr. Evil's laser in Austin Powers?
2007-08-21 04:09:38 · update #2
Lasers on earth are routinely used for rangefinding of the moon. A laser beam from space would affect the earth in much the same way as sunlight, or a laser beam from a building. It would be attenuated, scattered, and may decohere slightly.
From the moon it would take about 380,000 km / 300,000 km/sec or about 1.25 seconds.
2007-08-20 16:35:49 · answer #1 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would take approximately 1.5 seconds for some of the laser light (somewhat dispersed) to reach the Earth's surface.
2007-08-20 09:18:30 · answer #2 · answered by Tom S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, the SUN is about 94 million miles away and it takes light about 8 minutes to get here from there, so you can compare that for the moon.
The laser light would do nothing. There would be so much divergence (beam-spread) that it would essentially be ineffectual by the time it got here, if you could pick up any signal at all. Not to mention all the atmospheric interference.
2007-08-20 09:42:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
some photons of light would hit the surface of the earth. some would scatter due to the atmosphere.
the time it would take could be approximated by.....
1) distance from earth to moon â 3.85 x 10^5 km
2) speed of light = 3 x 10^5 km/s
and velocity = distance / time ---> t = d/v
t = (3.85 x 10^5 km)/(3 x 10^5 km/s) = 1.28 s
2007-08-20 08:56:30 · answer #4 · answered by Dr W 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋