Laser Weapons

[Nod]

I never understood why in SciFi movies when they fire laser guns you can see the lasers heading for their targets. Wouldn't laser fire move at the speed of light and be invisible unless there was smoke or something in the air? Why can you see the blast travel through the air?

[Zazen]

I knew a guy who was a humongous star wars nerd. He told me that the guns actually shoot bolts of hot gas, which is why they look like that and why the guns have recoil and can knock people over. They can't use laser weapons because those are banned by the geneva convention.

[Magus]

I knew a guy who was a humongous star wars nerd. He told me that the guns actually shoot bolts of hot gas, which is why they look like that and why the guns have recoil and can knock people over. They can't use laser weapons because those are banned by the geneva convention.

I suppose he also thinks Creedo shot first, amiright?

[rbcp]

I never understood why in SciFi movies when they fire laser guns you can see the lasers heading for their targets. Wouldn't laser fire move at the speed of light and be invisible unless there was smoke or something in the air? Why can you see the blast travel through the air?

Good question.  It's not like we need the visual of bullets traveling from a gun to the target.  We're happy with just seeing bullet holes appear around the actors.  It sure made Star Wars more fun to watch though.

[Nod]

I knew a guy who was a humongous star wars nerd. He told me that the guns actually shoot bolts of hot gas, which is why they look like that and why the guns have recoil and can knock people over. They can't use laser weapons because those are banned by the geneva convention.

That explains blasters but not laser guns. Remember GI Joes cartoons? They had laser guns and you could always see the "lasers" as they travelled towards their targets.

[Zazen]

they really are banned by the geneva convention. GI joe is a war criminal

[ravenmaddox]

In GI Joe perhaps the laser-blasts were burning up all the smog in the air and that's what gives off the visible light? So they were actually helping to fight pollution. Now we know... and knowing is half the battle.

[MattGSX]

They obviously meant to say phaser, not laser. The true names of our secret weapons were kept secret to keep them out of the hands of the Red Menace. Who else would GI Joe have fought?

[ravenmaddox]

I always thought Cobra was an Iraqi leader... now it just seems that GI Joe was prophetic

[Beni Hendrix]

because kids like to see laser beams, And Toys R Us and the Cartoon Studios wanted to make a profit.

[Magus]

This is just like asking,
"In movies, when something blows up in space, why does it make a noise?"

I'm pretty sure it's just for effect. Either that or a bunch of third-graders are running Hollywood. You decide.

[ravenmaddox]

My vote is that it's the third graders... why else would they remake (and screw up) Indiana Jones?

[Beni Hendrix]

My vote is that it's the third graders... why else would they remake (and screw up) Indiana Jones?

Ha ha did anyone see the South Park episode about that? Its pretty awesome

[jammie]

I knew a guy who was a humongous star wars nerd. He told me that the guns actually shoot bolts of hot gas, which is why they look like that and why the guns have recoil and can knock people over. They can't use laser weapons because those are banned by the geneva convention.

I know I am usually answering... but I have to ask.  How the hell did you even get on that topic?  And it scares me that you remember what he said. 

I don't think my answers can compete with star wars nerds.  I am only Lord of the Rings geeky. 

[jammie]

I never understood why in SciFi movies when they fire laser guns you can see the lasers heading for their targets. Wouldn't laser fire move at the speed of light and be invisible unless there was smoke or something in the air? Why can you see the blast travel through the air?

Dear LordNod,

As I mentioned before.... I'm more Lord of the Rings geeky.  For you though, I did some research on this whole laser business thing.  Also, I apologize if I'm repeating anything that Zazen's friend said.  That reply was so damn geeky that my brain's "coolness" filter immediately made me forget it as soon as I'd read it. 

So from what I can tell... in the Star Wars universe:
A laser blast does not move at the speed of light.  A laser blast is a packet of coherent light mixed with tibiana gas to give it its destructive power.  This does not apply to real life because tibiana gas only exists in Star Wars.

There you have it... tibiana gas!  Maybe GI Joe had some of that too.

If you feel like reading up on it more... I actually almost got through 50% of this wikipedia article before my brain filter kicked in again:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_gun

So... those other worlds just have different laws of physics or this crazy tibiana stuff that makes lasers more entertaining for people like rbcp.

Love,
jammie