Student Recreates the Archimedes Death Ray

AI Thread Summary
A student successfully recreated the Archimedes Death Ray using mirrors to focus sunlight and raise the temperature of a target. Previous attempts to validate the concept, including experiments by architects and the Mythbusters, suggested that the device would not work effectively due to ignition time and wood moisture content. Notably, a 2003 building in California demonstrated similar principles by using curved glass to concentrate heat. The discussion also referenced earlier experiments by individuals like Ioannis Sakkas and MIT professor David Wallace that indicated some feasibility of the concept. Overall, the recreation adds to the ongoing fascination with Archimedes' legendary invention.
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jedishrfu said:
TL;DR Summary: Student Recreates the Archimedes Death Ray using mirrors and testing the temperature rise in the target

Student Recreates the Archimedes Death Ray

https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/sci/ancient-death-ray-recreated.html

Um, that looks an awful lot like a B-25 bomber aircraft flying above those primitive warships from 213BC...

1708033616518.png
 
An architect beat the student to this achievement by several years.

 
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There was one Disney building even earlier in California in 2003 where a building's curved glass raised the temperature of nearby buildings by many degrees:



Mythbusters also had an episode on it that said it couldn't have worked well due to the length of time needed for ignition and the increased moisture content of boat wood.

Season 4 episode 7: revisiting the Archimedes Death Ray


Season 3 episode 30:
https://iview.abc.net.au/video/ZW3765A030S00

https://web.mit.edu/2.009_gallery/www/2005_other/archimedes/10_Mythbusters.html

More on the London Walkie-Talkie building:

https://www.nbcnews.com/sciencemain/london-skyscraper-can-melt-cars-set-buildings-fire-8c11069092
 
I think the first successful attempt I heard of to recrate this was in an old Usenet post by Henry Spencer but it had no reference. I think he could have been referring to an experiment by Ioannis Sakkas in 1973. When the Mythbusters failed MIT professor David Wallace and some students did a test that suggested it was at least somewhat feasible.

berkeman said:
Um, that looks an awful lot like a B-25 bomber aircraft flying above those primitive warships from 213BC...

View attachment 340388
Nah, that is a Heinkel-111.

Spoiler for a 2023 movie.
The image is from the latest Indiana Jones movie.
 
Last edited:
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I fought the Ray and the Ray won.

Closing this thread so we'll be done.

Jedi
 

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