Johnny Pneumatic
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- Oct 15, 2003
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Magic Motion: How Nothing Propels Things
Unlike hard-working humans on Earth, objects in space may be able to get something from nothing, propelling themselves through the universe with the inherent energy of emptiness.
While such motion has not been observed directly it is theoretically possible thanks to the characteristics of quantum mechanics, according to a recent study from Israel.
The study, by physicist Alexander Feigel of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, states that objects in space could reach speeds of several centimeters an hour from nothing more but the vacuum around them.
The seemingly magic motion stems from the uncertainty principle, a pillar of quantum mechanics theory that allows particles to pop and out of existence. The constant creation and destruction of these "virtual particles" imparts energy into the vacuum around them, writes Philip Ball in a news article in the web site of the science journal Nature. The research appeared in the Jan. 16 issue of the journal Physical Review Letters.
In theory, the momentum from "virtual particles" could transfer into the vacuum they pop into, with the direction depending on the area's prevalent electric and magnetic fields. Any matter sitting in that region of space would then be affected by that momentum and react in the opposite direction in accordance with the conservation laws of physics.
According to Ball, Feigel's theory could be tested on Earth using current technology to generate powerful electric and magnetic fields. Such a set up should be able to push an object with the density of water along at about 18 centimeters an hour.
-- Tariq Malik
credit (Space.com)
Unlike hard-working humans on Earth, objects in space may be able to get something from nothing, propelling themselves through the universe with the inherent energy of emptiness.
While such motion has not been observed directly it is theoretically possible thanks to the characteristics of quantum mechanics, according to a recent study from Israel.
The study, by physicist Alexander Feigel of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, states that objects in space could reach speeds of several centimeters an hour from nothing more but the vacuum around them.
The seemingly magic motion stems from the uncertainty principle, a pillar of quantum mechanics theory that allows particles to pop and out of existence. The constant creation and destruction of these "virtual particles" imparts energy into the vacuum around them, writes Philip Ball in a news article in the web site of the science journal Nature. The research appeared in the Jan. 16 issue of the journal Physical Review Letters.
In theory, the momentum from "virtual particles" could transfer into the vacuum they pop into, with the direction depending on the area's prevalent electric and magnetic fields. Any matter sitting in that region of space would then be affected by that momentum and react in the opposite direction in accordance with the conservation laws of physics.
According to Ball, Feigel's theory could be tested on Earth using current technology to generate powerful electric and magnetic fields. Such a set up should be able to push an object with the density of water along at about 18 centimeters an hour.
-- Tariq Malik
credit (Space.com)
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