Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
From <@yonge.cs.toronto.edu:wayne@cs.toronto.edu> Wed Jan 11 02:48:15 1995
From: wayne@cs.toronto.edu (Wayne Hayes)
Subject: Re: plasma gravity

markcln@on-ramp.ior.com writes:
> A friend of mine recently told me that ducts beneath the floor
>of a space station filled with particular types of plasma similar to what
>is used in flourescent lights connected to an enormously large power source
>could create a gravitational pull. I don't really see how this could happen.
>Could anyone enlighten me?

1) If the power source is sufficiently large, say, the size of our Moon,
you can get rid of the plasma entirely and use the power source as the
gravity source.

2) If not the above, then possibly the Enormously Large Power
Source(tm) could generate enough power to energize the plasma to such a
high temperature that the energy density would be sufficiently great to
induce gravity via the inherent mass present due to E=mc^2.
Unfortunately, this energy would probably be hard to contain, and
result in the quick vapourization & ionization of the entire station
and the surrounding cubic parsec, give or take.

Now, using the Enormously Large Power Source(tm) to remove my tongue
from firmly in my cheek, I think your friend is either pulling your
leg, or is in need of some serious anti-star-trek rehabilitation.

Maybe, just *maybe*, he may have been referring to some sort of
magnetic or electric field generated, which would probably require
us to wear spiffy shoes like in the movie 2001.
--
"There's more to see than can ever ||>> Wayne Hayes wayne@cs.utoronto.ca <<
be seen, More to do than can ever be || Astrophysics, Computer Science, Non-
done." -- from ``The Circle of Life'', || Linear Systems & Chaos & Shadowing,
in Walt Disney's _The Lion King_ || Thinking, Hiking, Biking, and Sex.