Roger Shawyer's EmDrive Validated: Debunking or Proving it Works?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the claims regarding Roger Shawyer's EmDrive, particularly a recent validation by a university in China. Participants explore the implications of these claims in relation to the conservation of momentum, questioning the validity of the reported thrust measurements and the overall credibility of the research.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference a validation of the EmDrive by a Chinese university, raising questions about its implications for established physics, particularly the conservation of momentum.
  • One participant argues that photons carry momentum, suggesting that the controversy may stem from the magnitude of the thrust claimed rather than the principle itself.
  • Another participant points out the discrepancy between the thrust produced by 300 watts of light and the claimed thrust of 85 milliNewtons, expressing skepticism about the validity of the claims.
  • A comment is made regarding the low impact factor of the journal publishing the research, implying concerns about the quality of the publication.
  • One participant notes that the topic may not fit within the boundaries of the current forum's focus.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express skepticism about the validity of the EmDrive claims, particularly regarding the thrust measurements. There is no consensus on whether the EmDrive works or can be debunked, as differing viewpoints on the implications of the research and its credibility are presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight potential issues with the magnitude of thrust claims and the credibility of the publication, but do not resolve the underlying scientific questions or assumptions regarding the EmDrive's operation.

sanman
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Roger Shawyer's EmDrive is claimed to have been validated by a university in China:


http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_11_05_2012_p84-495380.xml

http://wulixb.iphy.ac.cn/EN/abstract/abstract47295.shtml


These claims seem to fly in the face of skeptics who have pointed out that the EmDrive violates the conservation of momentum. What would be the most effective way to de-bunk EmDrive, or definitively prove whether it works or not?
 
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I don't understand what's controversial. Photons carry momentum, don't they? That's how a solar sail works...

Is the controversial part not that they are claiming some net thrust, but that they are claiming too much?

a thrust of 85 milliNewtons (mN) with a 300-watt input.
 
berkeman said:
I don't understand what's controversial. Photons carry momentum, don't they? That's how a solar sail works...

Is the controversial part not that they are claiming some net thrust, but that they are claiming too much?

300 watts of light represents 1.0007 microNewtons of thrust. As you quote, they claim 85 milliNewtons of thrust. Fishy.
Maybe belongs in the debunking forum.
 
Now we know why Acta Physica Sinica has an impact factor of 0.3.
 
This is also not a BTSM topic.

Zz.
 

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