Blowing up a planet is no small feat, but the Death Star’s laser manages it easily. But the energy consumed is a bit much. Like a full week’s worth of the sun’s total output.
Yes, in order to blow up a planet the size of earth, you’ll need to harness about 2.2 x 10^32 joules. That’s a ridiculously high amount of energy. And that’s not even enough to really put on a show; if you want to do more than just dissociate the planet into a diffuse cloud, you’ll need way more.
I don’t know about you guys, but the lack of realism in the Star Wars films has really started pissing me off. I’m going to write a strongly-worded letter to George Lucas. [Science Blogs]
MHTSOS
February 10, 2009 at 5:35 PM
You needed more proof than the lightsaber and shotting thunderbolts out of your fingertips?
I am a star wars fan but I watch it for the “science fiction” and not the realism of it. Otherwise just watch any action film where the same magazine fires 32 bullets before needing replacing for more realism.
Report Permalinkcool kid
February 11, 2009 at 5:39 PM
I think he was joking
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