Speed of light in air at 0 °C and 1 atm pressure :about 299704644.53915 metres per second 40,075.16 km circumference of the Earth…time between panel 2 & 4: 0.13601 sec…right?
Nope. The laser beam, assuming there was enough power behind it that it didn’t refract into nothingness as it traveled through the air, would go in a straight line, eventually leaving the atmosphere. It takes something with the gravitational pull of a black hole to bend light, so it wouldn’t follow the curvature of the earth.
You need to get well down into the very-low-frequency-radio range of the EM spectrum before you reach waves that will curve around the globe. Remember the “ELF” antenna system that was supposed to be built in the UP of Michigan—an array of wires in the ground, a couple miles on a side, to emit radio in the single-digit Hz realm? That’s what we’re talking about here..However, knowing Cap, it’s more likely his “lasers” are super-heated tears, created by squeezing Tabasco from his eyeballs. Those things could orbit at ground level, I suppose…
If Negato was literally on the other side of the world, I’m surprised Cap didn’t try lasering straight down at his feet so the beams would come out in the right place…
john.barber over 12 years ago
Refraction? Does that work with atmosphere?
john.barber over 12 years ago
Speed of light in air at 0 °C and 1 atm pressure :about 299704644.53915 metres per second 40,075.16 km circumference of the Earth…time between panel 2 & 4: 0.13601 sec…right?
knight1192a over 12 years ago
Personally I’m more impressed he knows the Earth is round.
King_Shark over 12 years ago
I didn’t know the earth was a black hole with an event horizon round it!
Kaywest over 12 years ago
@F6F5Hellcat
BaZing! (which could also fill in for the sound effect in panel four)
Dampwaffle over 12 years ago
Nope. The laser beam, assuming there was enough power behind it that it didn’t refract into nothingness as it traveled through the air, would go in a straight line, eventually leaving the atmosphere. It takes something with the gravitational pull of a black hole to bend light, so it wouldn’t follow the curvature of the earth.
puddleglum1066 over 12 years ago
You need to get well down into the very-low-frequency-radio range of the EM spectrum before you reach waves that will curve around the globe. Remember the “ELF” antenna system that was supposed to be built in the UP of Michigan—an array of wires in the ground, a couple miles on a side, to emit radio in the single-digit Hz realm? That’s what we’re talking about here..However, knowing Cap, it’s more likely his “lasers” are super-heated tears, created by squeezing Tabasco from his eyeballs. Those things could orbit at ground level, I suppose…
ossiningaling over 12 years ago
Maybe Cap’s laser beam got caught in a probability drive. Actually I’m surprised he wasn’t hit by a tomato.
Mike Blake over 12 years ago
If Negato was literally on the other side of the world, I’m surprised Cap didn’t try lasering straight down at his feet so the beams would come out in the right place…
Tyrnn over 12 years ago
I like to think it’s his own ego that is bending the light around.