Laser vs Missile

[Seeker]

I was just thinking how odd it is that in most Sci Fi space combat, lasers are the short-range weapon and missiles are the long range weapon.

How the heck did that start? You'd think that the laser, which move at the speed of light and have no fuel limitation, would be the long range weapon of choice.

[SlowwHand]

Right. Perfect for short range emergency. Also, there's less debris using laser against missle, as opposed to 2 missles.

[Apocalypse]

Probably because of aiming. You have to aim a laser but a missile can just lock on. In wars now, missiles are long range weapons compared to lasers too.

[Kuciwalker]

Lasers attenuate.

[snoopy369]

Lasers certainly lose power over distance - more specifically they lose coherence. Otherwise all those stars out there would be keeping us pretty much in daylight all night

[Kuciwalker]

Starlight isn't laser light.

Sorry! The administrator has specified that users can only post one message every 0 seconds.

[Serb]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Lasers attenuate.

Bingo!

[snoopy369]

Star light and laser light are different only in that laser light is more focused and only in one wavelength. Lasers still get wider over distance, just start from a rather more narrow width

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by snoopy369
Star light and laser light are different only in that laser light is more focused and only in one wavelength.

Except for the little fact that starlight isn't coherent. Laser light is, by definition, coherent. (That's what makes it a laser!)

Lasers still get wider over distance, just start from a rather more narrow width

I said that in fewer words

[Sandman]

In long ranged space combat, a laser could miss, because it would be aiming at where the target was guessed to be. A sufficiently maneuverable target would have a good chance of avoiding it. Whereas a missile could correct itself as it approached.

If you had enough lasers, you could try and trap the target in a 'net' of lasers, by aiming at everywhere that it could possibly be. You'd need to be quite close, and also need to know the exact specifications of the enemy craft.

[Serb]

Originally posted by Sandman
In long ranged space combat, a laser could miss, because it would be aiming at where the target was guessed to be. A sufficiently maneuverable target would have a good chance of avoiding it. Whereas a missile could correct itself as it approached.

If you had enough lasers, you could try and trap the target in a 'net' of lasers, by aiming at everywhere that it could possibly be. You'd need to be quite close, and also need to know the exact specifications of the enemy craft.

BS.

[BeBMan]

Don't forget photon torpedoes.

[Riesstiu IV]

Lazers!

[Whoha]

Re: Laser vs Missile

Originally posted by Seeker
I was just thinking how odd it is that in most Sci Fi space combat, lasers are the short-range weapon and missiles are the long range weapon.

How the heck did that start? You'd think that the laser, which move at the speed of light and have no fuel limitation, would be the long range weapon of choice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse-square_law

[Q Classic]

Lasers PEW PEW PEW! Missles FWOOSH!