Crafting Your Own Tractor Beam: An Affordable Guide
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Introduction to Tractor Beams
The future is now, and it's reminiscent of Star Trek. Recently, I stumbled upon a guide that reveals how to construct your own functional tractor beam. This device can actually move objects without physical contact, and the materials needed are surprisingly affordable—less than $100. That's significantly cheaper than a tuba! If you don't believe me, just check eBay. Tubas can be quite pricey, even second-hand.
Comparing Tubas and Tractor Beams
Interestingly, tubas and tractor beams share more than just their price range and the letter "T." Both rely on sound waves: tubas attract music enthusiasts, while tractor beams can repel the indifferent.
The Pioneer Behind the Technology
Professor Drinkwater from Bristol University pioneered this type of tractor beam nearly eight years ago. While other scientists contributed, none have a name quite as memorable. His design employs multiple tiny speakers to craft an acoustic hologram, allowing manipulation of objects placed at its center without any physical interaction. During a demonstration, I observed him guiding a small styrofoam pellet. You might think this is trivial, but manipulating small objects is incredibly advantageous.
Practical Applications
Instead of constructing a massive tractor beam intended to capture enemy vessels as originally imagined, the goal is to build a miniature version to manipulate tiny entities like cells, potentially leading to medical advancements or even the creation of superhumans. But how does this remarkable device function?
The Science Behind It
The short answer is "magic"; the longer explanation involves "rock and roll." There’s an even more intricate explanation, but it includes a hefty dose of math that neither of us has the time to delve into right now.
As anyone who has attended a Deep Purple concert can attest, music possesses tangible power. Sound travels in waves, and if you align these waves properly, you can create a wall of sound. By generating multiple walls of sound, you essentially form a sound container.
This is the essence of how a tractor beam operates. You encase the object you wish to manipulate within these sound walls and then shift those walls around, compelling the object to follow. Whether you're drawing a cow into your UFO for research or injecting a nanobot into a super-soldier's bloodstream, the principle remains unchanged.
Theoretical Possibilities
Theoretically, with enough tubas, one could engineer a tractor beam. However, this would require a substantial number of synchronized tuba players. Achieving such precision might necessitate cloning a tuba player multiple times. Plus, these musicians would need ample lederhosen and bratwurst. So, perhaps this is not the most feasible method. Honestly, who would want to increase the number of tuba players in the world? Let’s stick to Professor Drinkwater’s blueprints instead.
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The first video title is Can You Make a Tractor Beam? - YouTube, which explores the concept behind creating a tractor beam in an entertaining and informative manner.
The second video title is Installing A Massive Structural Beam Using Only Our Tractor - YouTube, showcasing the practical application of beam technology in a humorous way.