Autcsrgv.314
net.sf-lovers
utzoo!utcsrgv!donald
Fri Apr 23 13:24:21 1982
Ringworld inconsistency
After reading Niven's "Ringworld Engineers" I was wondering about
the effectiveness of the ringworld's defense mechanism, which consists
of a solar flare which acts as a giant laser. Assuming that the
ringworld surface is 1 A.U. from its sun, it would take ~8 minutes
for the laser beam to reach an object approaching the ringworld.
Now this may be fine for asteroids and such things, but a hostile
fleet would have ample time to maneuver out of the way of the beam
after detecting the beginnings of a flare. Also, hostile ships
approaching in the exact plane of the ringworld would be shielded
from the laser by the ringworld itself. Thus, the laser defense
does not seem to be that great at repelling boarders, quite surprising
because Pak protectors would be worried about this very thing.
Did Larry goof?
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