The Physics of Space Battles

While some of the greatest scenes in the history of science fiction have been in the form of space battles, one has to wonder just how scientifically accurate these epic fights would be if they played out in real life. The guys at It’s Okay to Be Smart have taken it upon themselves to explore the physics of space fighting sequences.

From the way engines work to whether or not explosions could happen in a vacuum, to whether or not lasers and Death Stars would even work in space, watch the clip and all questions will be answered. Sure, the information presented is fairly superficial, but you can dive much deeper through some of the source articles cited below:

• Quantum Rocketry: Thoughts on Space Battles
• Quantum Rocketry: Projecting Space Battle Physics
• The Escapist: Is Space Warfare Practical?
• Citizen Star News: Zero-G Dogfighting for Dummies
• Journal of Special Topics: That’s No Moon
• Gate World Forum: Projectile Weapons vs. Directed Energy Weapons
• Atomic Rockets: Conventional Space Weapons

Does it matter to you that science fiction space battles have so many inaccuracies, or is that just part of the fun?