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From: raiche@dartvax.UUCP (George A. Raiche)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: A new question
Message-ID: <2604@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 1-Dec-84 00:14:36 EST
Article-I.D.: dartvax.2604
Posted: Sat Dec  1 00:14:36 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 4-Dec-84 06:08:53 EST
References: <140@nybcb.UUCP> <2556@dartvax.UUCP> <423@wlcrjs.UUCP>
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 38

> In order to fire thru the deflectors one of two conditions must exist:
> 
> 1)	The deflector sheilds are one way force fields, kind of an 
> electronic (gravitic) half-silvered mirror.
> 

                   ***************************


This might be a good time for a "Phasers vs Deflectors and Interstellar
Multidimensional Warfare" review article.  Unfortunately this is finals
time at Dartmouth.  Maybe in a few days...

But I couldn't let this pass.  A one-way mirror is only one-way if you're
on the dark side of the mirror.  Picture a one-way mirror separating
witnesses from suspects on any police show.  Recall that the witness is
always sitting in the dark, while the crooks are well-lighted.  Now if suddenly
the lights in the crook's room went out and the lights in the witness' room
came on, the witness would fimd him/herself staring at his/her own reflection
in that mirror, while the crook would be memorizing the stoolie's face.

Now imagine that instead of a crook, it's a Klingon battle cruiser.  He'd be
firing at you (sitting behind the one-way mirror) but his photons are
just bouncing off your mirror. (But what happens to the momentum of the
photons?)  Then with a smile on your face you'd lift your zillion-watt phaser
to your shoulder, aim at the Klingon through the mirror, and fire.

Ten nanoseconds later, you'd wish you hadn't done that.


				George Raiche
				Dept. of Chemistry
				Dartmouth

				"I believe that is the recommended
				 amount, Captain."