EMrocket Engine: Does it Violate Newton's Law?

[duordi134]

Recently there has been much discussion about an EM rocket engine China has built which
clams to give propulsion without ejecting mass, violating Newtons conservation of momentum.

Does Einsteins General relativity equations require conservation of momentum?
Does this claim violate General or special relativity also?

Thanks

Duordi

 

[PAllen]

Recently there has been much discussion about an EM rocket engine China has built which
clams to give propulsion without ejecting mass, violating Newtons conservation of momentum.

Does Einsteins General relativity equations require conservation of momentum?
Does this claim violate General or special relativity also?

Thanks

Duordi

Please provide a ling to what you are discussing. Light is oscillating EM field, light propulsion is well known and non-controversial (though not very practical so far). Without a link, I have no idea if what you refer is speculative or just garbage.

 

[duordi134]

This is a wiki which give a good over view.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EmDrive
Here is an article about the specific equipment.
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-02/06/emdrive-and-cold-fusion

Thanks

Duordi

 

[Drakkith]

Does Einsteins General relativity equations require conservation of momentum?

Conservation of momentum applies in GR just as in Newtonian physics.

Does this claim violate General or special relativity also?

No, it will still obey all of GR/SR rules. The key question is how does it work, which may or may not require quantum theories to explain it. There doesn't seem to be a consensus as to how it works at this time.

 

[PAllen]

I don't think there can be meaningful discussion of this here. At present, there is no peer reviewed theory or reliable independent studies. It is not necessary to say there is definitely nothing here to be able to say this is well outside what can be discussed on physics forums.

 

[Astronuc]

The key question is how does it work, which may or may not require quantum theories to explain it. There doesn't seem to be a consensus as to how it works at this time.

There is no consensus that it works.

From the Wikipedia article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EmDrive#New_Scientist_article - Shawyer submitted a theory paper to New Scientist, a weekly popular science magazine. That ain't the way to do it.

Linking EmDrive with cold fusion is a non-starter.

 

[Drakkith]

There is no consensus that it works.

After re-reading the wiki article I'm inclined to agree. I just skimmed over the replication claims section the first time.

 

[Drakkith]

I don't think there can be meaningful discussion of this here. At present, there is no peer reviewed theory or reliable independent studies. It is not necessary to say there is definitely nothing here to be able to say this is well outside what can be discussed on physics forums.

I didn't see your post until just now, but I'm inclined to agree. There's not enough data for us to discuss the details of the engine, and I already answered the specific questions the OP had. Thread locked.