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About Us & RulesPhysicists make 'tractor beam' in water
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Physicists make 'tractor beam' in water
by Guest Mon Aug 11, 2014 5:41 pm
Scientists in Australia have produced a "tractor beam" in a water tank.
They can control the movement of a floating ping-pong ball just by making a specific pattern of waves.
By changing the pattern, they moved the ball around the tank in various ways, including pulling it closer like the famous beam from science fiction.
The findings, published in the journal Nature Physics, have the potential to help contain oil spills or control and retrieve other floating debris.
"No one could have guessed this result," said Dr Horst Punzmann, who led the project at the Australian National University in Canberra.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28739368
They can control the movement of a floating ping-pong ball just by making a specific pattern of waves.
By changing the pattern, they moved the ball around the tank in various ways, including pulling it closer like the famous beam from science fiction.
The findings, published in the journal Nature Physics, have the potential to help contain oil spills or control and retrieve other floating debris.
"No one could have guessed this result," said Dr Horst Punzmann, who led the project at the Australian National University in Canberra.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28739368
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Re: Physicists make 'tractor beam' in water
by Ben Reilly Mon Aug 11, 2014 6:45 pm
Hmmm ... I wonder how big or energetic the wave-creators would have to be to tractor-beam a ship, or even floating debris? Still, quite interesting.
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Re: Physicists make 'tractor beam' in water
by eddie Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:06 pm
I wish I understood even half of what you both just posted. 
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Re: Physicists make 'tractor beam' in water
by harvesmom Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:17 pm
I wonder if it would work in the sea though, it seems to only affect the surface of the water, what about taking into account undercurrents, tides etc. I'm really thinking in the case of an oil spill or similar.
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Re: Physicists make 'tractor beam' in water
by Guest Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:35 pm
You need to watch more sci fi edd`seddie wrote:I wish I understood even half of what you both just posted.
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Re: Physicists make 'tractor beam' in water
by eddie Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:45 pm
harvesmom wrote:I wonder if it would work in the sea though, it seems to only affect the surface of the water, what about taking into account undercurrents, tides etc. I'm really thinking in the case of an oil spill or similar.
Oh shut up,harves you brainbox! :asboredas:
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Re: Physicists make 'tractor beam' in water
by Guest Mon Aug 11, 2014 11:56 pm
you would be better watching all star trek and Stargate they often explain things like time and space ,blackholes ,tractor beamseddie wrote:harvesmom wrote:I wonder if it would work in the sea though, it seems to only affect the surface of the water, what about taking into account undercurrents, tides etc. I'm really thinking in the case of an oil spill or similar.
Oh shut up,harves you brainbox! :asboredas:
@KD, I do!! I watched all the Star Wars films when my son was young
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Re: Physicists make 'tractor beam' in water
by Ben Reilly Mon Aug 11, 2014 11:59 pm
eddie wrote:I wish I understood even half of what you both just posted.
Did you ever do that thing as a kid, where you're in the tub or pool and you wave your hands under the water and make your toys float to you? If not, go fill up the kiddie pool, get a rubber ducky and do it, it's so freakin' awesome! ::D:: ::D:: ::D::
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Re: Physicists make 'tractor beam' in water
by eddie Tue Aug 12, 2014 12:02 am
Ben_Reilly wrote:eddie wrote:I wish I understood even half of what you both just posted.
Did you ever do that thing as a kid, where you're in the tub or pool and you wave your hands under the water and make your toys float to you? If not, go fill up the kiddie pool, get a rubber ducky and do it, it's so freakin' awesome! ::D:: ::D:: ::D::
What the hell has that got to do with tractor headlights Ben???
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Re: Physicists make 'tractor beam' in water
by eddie Tue Aug 12, 2014 12:03 am
Korben_Dallas wrote:you would be better watching all star trek and Stargate they often explain things like time and space ,blackholes ,tractor beamseddie wrote:harvesmom wrote:I wonder if it would work in the sea though, it seems to only affect the surface of the water, what about taking into account undercurrents, tides etc. I'm really thinking in the case of an oil spill or similar.
Oh shut up,harves you brainbox! :asboredas:
@KD, I do!! I watched all the Star Wars films when my son was young
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Re: Physicists make 'tractor beam' in water
by Original Quill Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:07 pm
harvesmom wrote:I wonder if it would work in the sea though, it seems to only affect the surface of the water, what about taking into account undercurrents, tides etc. I'm really thinking in the case of an oil spill or similar.
I was thinking the same thing, until it dawned on me that they are using wave theory. Those are modifications, HM, that merely depend on advancements in the technology. Wave theory pretty much works in any medium, against any odd anomaly.
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