Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!decvax!microsof!fluke!ssc-vax!uw-beaver!tektronix!tekecs!orca!andrew From: andrew@orca.UUCP Newsgroups: net.startrek Subject: Phaser phunctionality: the ophicial word Message-ID: <1326@orca.UUCP> Date: Tue, 21-Jun-83 22:22:53 EDT Article-I.D.: orca.1326 Posted: Tue Jun 21 22:22:53 1983 Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jun-83 00:19:00 EDT Lines: 28 It's been fifteen years since I read "The Making of Star Trek", but, what the hell, my soapbox is as good as anyone's ... According to this officially sanctioned guide (they got Paramount's permission to use the trademark), the function of a phaser is to "phase" objects; that is, to cause their constituent molecules to become more excited. Sort of like microwaves? The four settings are: -- stun: "disrupt" the target's nervous system, causing temporary loss of consciousness -- kill: *really* disrupt the target's nervous system, causing death -- heat: get those molecules excited enough that a rise in temperature is observed -- distintegrate: those molecules are dancing around so much that they separate (vaporize?) Remember, this is TV science fiction; don't let modern physics obscure your perception of celluloid reality. Of course, they invented the settings first, then did their best to fit a single cause to the variety of effects. It made all great sense when I was thirteen years old. -- Andrew Klossner (decvax!teklabs!tekecs!andrew) [UUCP] (andrew.tektronix@rand-relay) [ARPA]