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

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In summary, Roger Shawyer's EmDrive, a controversial propulsion system that supposedly violates the conservation of momentum, has been claimed to be validated by a university in China. However, skeptics have pointed out the flaws in this claim and question the effectiveness and accuracy of the system. To debunk the EmDrive, a definitive proof is needed to determine whether it truly works or not. The controversy lies in the fact that while photons do carry momentum, the EmDrive is claiming a net thrust of 85 milliNewtons with only a 300-watt input, which seems unlikely and fishy. This topic has sparked debates and discussions, but it may not be a suitable topic for the BTSM forum as it falls under the purview of physics
  • #1
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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  • #2
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.
 
  • #3
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.
 
  • #4
Now we know why Acta Physica Sinica has an impact factor of 0.3.
 
  • #5
This is also not a BTSM topic.

Zz.
 

1. What is the EmDrive and how does it work?

The EmDrive is a proposed propulsion system that claims to produce thrust without the need for traditional propellant. It works by bouncing microwaves within a closed, cone-shaped chamber, supposedly resulting in a net force in the direction of the narrower end.

2. What was the controversy surrounding Roger Shawyer's EmDrive?

Roger Shawyer first proposed the EmDrive in 2001, but it was met with skepticism from the scientific community due to the lack of a theoretical explanation for how it could produce thrust. Despite this, Shawyer continued to develop and test the EmDrive, eventually claiming to have validated its functionality and receiving a patent in 2006.

3. Has the EmDrive been debunked or proven to work?

The debate over the validity of the EmDrive continues, with some scientists claiming it violates the laws of physics and others arguing that it has been proven to produce thrust in several independent tests. However, there is still no widely accepted explanation for how it could function without violating the laws of physics.

4. What are the potential implications of the EmDrive?

If the EmDrive is proven to work, it could revolutionize space travel by eliminating the need for traditional propellant and allowing for faster and more efficient spacecraft. It could also have implications for other areas of technology, such as renewable energy and telecommunications.

5. What further research is needed to determine the validity of the EmDrive?

In order to conclusively prove or debunk the EmDrive, further research is needed. This includes more rigorous and independently verified experiments, as well as a better understanding of the underlying physics behind the device. Only with more research can we determine the true potential of the EmDrive.

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