Tractor Beam Created Using Water Waves 71
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samzenpus
from the get-over-here dept.
from the get-over-here dept.
KentuckyFC writes The idea that light waves can push a physical object is far from new. But a much more recent idea is that a laser beam can also pull objects like a tractor beam. Now a team of Australian physicists has used a similar idea to create a tractor beam with water waves that pulls floating objects rather than pushes them. Their technique is to use an elongated block vibrating on the surface of water to create a train of regular plane waves. When the amplitude of these waves is small, they gradually push the surface of the water along, creating a flow that pushes floating objects with it. However, when the amplitude increases, the waves become non-linear and begin to interact with each other in a complex way. This sets up a flow of water on the surface in the opposite direction to the movement of the waves. The result is that floating objects--ping pong balls in the experiment--are pulled towards the vibrating block, like a tractor beam.
Re:I see immediate practical applications. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Won't work (Score:2, Funny)
That's no pool...
Re:Won't work (Score:2, Funny)
Re:agree (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah, with a video, you have a reliable proof for every theory [youtube.com].
Re:Won't work (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Won't work (Score:4, Funny)
Gravity bends space, although always in the same basic way. (I think)
So lets imagine there may be some other way of bending space...
What?!?! Next you are going to tell me that gravity can somehow draw one object towards another. Preposterous!