I have a couple of concerns:
- The utility of a traditional firearm comes from the fact a large amount of kinetic energy is contained in a small volume, creating a near - ideal combination of penetration and stopping power in the same round. The density of the fluid in a bupple - wand gun is much lower, reducing the effect of the round impact. However, it might be an interesting way to deliver a chemical weapon into the body, so it could be used as a stun weapon if the result of the reaction somehow ended up being a fast - acting tranquilizer...
- The three - trigger system may be fine for larger scale weapons but for small arms in the heat of battle it might prove unpopular as it would reduce the rate of fire available. Of course, you could have multiple trigger options available.
- The lower density will cause the rounds to be slowed much more rapidly in an atmosphere than a conventional bullet. At ranges beyond point blank, the rounds will be harmless, assuming the bubble survives the G-forces.
So here's a thought:
- The bubble gun system could be an effective crowd control device as a substitute for rubber bullets. The low density reduces penetration, reducing the possibility the round will penetrate such things as spacecraft walls. If the gas that inflates the bubble from a traditional rubber bullet into a mini-punching bag is the same as the gas used for thrust, it simplifies the design and ammo requirements. The round might be adjustable electronically somehow so that it only reaches maximum inflation near the target to minimize rounds falling short because of drag. However, unless you truly don't care about the survivability of whatever you're shooting at, you'll want to use a gas that's not particularly dangerous.
edited 22nd Mar '11 12:24:23 PM by FrodoGoofballCoTV
The Vacuum effect would occur both in space and on a planet's surface. Space is essentially something trying to fill itself, and air is more than happy to oblige. Furthermore, the weapon would have to be tweaked for both altitude and how many atmospheres of pressure there are at sea level on that world, etc.
How about this: "Watenium" is a material that can easily reach a plasma state. Once heated and pressurized, the plasma is released (it's not very hot plasma) and dispersed in a "straight" line, contained by a some-how directed magnetic field. Once close to the target, a hell of a lot of positive electric charge is introduced to the negatively-charged plasma-line, causing a massive (or however much you need) bolt of electricity to hit the target. Yes, it's a lightning gun. It would (probably not) work because plasma conducts electricity extraordinarily well.
edited 22nd Mar '11 12:27:27 PM by Pyroninja42
"Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person that doesn't get it."Perhaps adjusting the mass of the projectile instead? Some kind of substance that could be packed into the bubble, but getting denser with each "pump" instead of adding volume?
@ Yej: Huh. The way I understood it was that it'd take the signal 4 years to get here, and instantly popping over there would make the traveler show up 4 years after it was first sent. This isn't the case?
edited 22nd Mar '11 2:37:50 PM by RTaco
edited 22nd Mar '11 10:05:48 PM by MattII
^^ In relativity, there is no absolute notion of time or distance. You can only meaningfully talk about time and space in the context of a particular frame of reference.
Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's PlayIt will be four years later by your clock, but by the clock of the people who sent the signal, it can be anywhere from 0 to 4 years later.
Remember, there's no absolute notion of time in relativity.
edited 25th Mar '11 2:50:16 PM by storyyeller
Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's PlayYou can't arrive as the signal is sent without FTL, if you launch because of the signal. You could only do that if you set out, by coincidence, 4 years before the signal arrives at your starting position.
I don't suppose we could get a lightcone diagram? My brain hurts.
edited 25th Mar '11 2:45:21 PM by Yej
You can't arrive exactly as the signal is sent, but you could arrive any positive amount of time afterwards. You could arrive a microsecond after the signal was sent, if the relative velocity is high enough.
edited 25th Mar '11 2:51:02 PM by storyyeller
Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's PlayNo, from their perspective. I thought we were working off the assumption that you teleport yourself instantly, after exactly four years from your perspective.
So it's four years for you and anywhere from 0-4 years for them.
edited 25th Mar '11 3:48:12 PM by storyyeller
Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play^ That's the scenario I was talking about also. You arrive four years later from your perspective, and anywhere from 0 to 4 years later by their perspective.
Remember, in relativity, different observers will see time pass at different rates.
edited 26th Mar '11 8:26:39 AM by storyyeller
Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's PlayNo, you've got it backwards there.
edited 26th Mar '11 11:09:22 AM by storyyeller
Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play^ Actually, that's the one thing that is impossible. You may arrive at any time after they send the signal, but it's impossible to arrive exactly as they send the signal.
I'd draw a diagram if I knew how to post pictures here.
edited 26th Mar '11 1:48:17 PM by storyyeller
Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's PlayObviously, this is with colloquial tolerances on "immediately." Since no clock is infinitely accurate, they may well record you arriving before they sent the signal.
(And the image uploader
is your friend. Stick the URL here and it auto-embeds.)
^^ The important part of the Pulsor Rifle isn't the air bullet (which I've ditched) but the adjustable power. The thing is meant to be a non-lethal weapon, but due to the variety of sapient species in the setting what will barely hurt one guy can be lethal to another. After thinking about it some more, I've come up with (yet another) revision, this one being rather low-tech:
Instead of controlling the evaporation, the ultra-dense material (be it Watenium or a real-world substance) just continually evaporates inside a chamber. There's a valve on the weapon that can be adjusted to let the gas leak out at different speeds (or not at all), so that the amount of pressure that builds up can be controlled. This lets the user determine how much force the projectile (which is solid) is fired with.
edited 27th Mar '11 8:13:03 AM by RTaco
Evaporation inside a closed container will increase the vapor pressure inside that container. Increasing vapor pressure will then increase the transition temperatures of everything in the container.
No matter what, it'll stop evaporating at some point, and you can't put any more power behind the projectile that way.
edited 27th Mar '11 8:55:21 AM by Yej

You could do the same thing with a regular gun by adjusting the amount of propellant used.
Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play