Those ships from Independence Day...

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2002-12-05 02:45pm

I was watching Independence day on DVD, and wondered how powerful they were.

The explosion seems to have imploded buildings after engulfing them, and did not lose much power while moving away from the orgin. Judging by the aftermath of NYC blast, the radius of the destruction is at least as long from the Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty.

If anyone else has seen the movie, and knows more, can anyone derive lower limit for the main weapon's power level?

Zaku-chan · Post by **Zaku-chan** » 2002-12-05 02:46pm

Tough. It shattered buildings, but didn't seem to vaporize them.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2002-12-05 02:49pm

The beam weapon known as the "Schism" is either a very powerful laser that used thermal expansion in the form of overpressure waves to blow stuff up (the hull of the ship helping keep the pressure wave in and concentrated beneath it) or it was a beam that emitted a small A/M stream that helped start a slow chain reaction.

Either way, it is too highly specialised to be used for anything other than light and fairly concentrated urban areas.

Post by **weemadando** » 2002-12-05 04:34pm

These are from ASVS earlier this year after I asked similar questions...

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&l ... 26rnum%3D2

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&l ... &frame=off

And from mid-2000///

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&l ... 26rnum%3D4
[/quote]

nightmare · Post by **nightmare** » 2002-12-05 08:55pm

The aliens are really from the Unknown Regions and they fired a light turbolaser.