Interesting problem. Kinetic energy is E~k~ = kv^2^, where k = 1/2 for Newtonian physics. To double your speed, you need to apply four times the energy. Momentum is p = mv, so doubling your speed doubles your momentum. When you're in a vehicle collision, it's your momentum that hurts you as you collide with the car frame around you. Small particles don't have much mass, but at relativistic speeds they have a lot of momentum.

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 9 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (2 children)

Light? I mean they're light sails, right? 😆

(I'll see myself out)

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 3 points 13 hours ago

Is lobster sauce made out of lobsters, or is it made of something else and you put it on lobsters?

[–] astrozoli@linux.community 2 points 17 hours ago

Oh man you’ve beat me to it

[–] BonerMan@ani.social 2 points 15 hours ago

Gigantic lenses to burn away bad people.

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 3 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

What do Space Pirates use? Let's use that.

[–] TachyonTele@lemm.ee 2 points 18 hours ago

I would guess that the solution is in the name. Why else would they be light sails if they weren't made of light? Who's running this program?