Seismic Wave Propulsion

[Columbia42]

Just a few seconds ago I read that seismic waves travel at about 8 km/s and wondered if you could somehow propel a spaceship with that energy. No idea if it's possible but just thought I'd post this in the spur of the moment, as it were. Any input would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[fireballs619]

I think this would be highly, highly improbable. One of the key things about rockets, and why they are so effective in achieving orbit is that all of the energy and thrust that is being outputted is directed. Seismic waves, not so much-they propagate outward, and their energy is not directed. Aside from that, I also do not see how you would harness this energy, let alone transfer it to a rocket without completely shattering it. Rocket fuel is essentially potential energy (please do not kill me if that analogy is not completely correct), and is therefore relatively easy to direct once it is released.

 

[Urwumpe]

Just a few seconds ago I read that seismic waves travel at about 8 km/s and wondered if you could somehow propel a spaceship with that energy. No idea if it's possible but just thought I'd post this in the spur of the moment, as it were. Any input would be appreciated! Thanks!

Short: No.

Long: Seismic waves travel at 8 km/s inside solid carriers. They are just sound. Of course you can propel a spacecraft on sound waves. That is then called a rocket engine - nothing but a change in pressure and temperature propagating through a medium.

 

[Columbia42]

I think this would be highly, highly improbable. One of the key things about rockets, and why they are so effective in achieving orbit is that all of the energy and thrust that is being outputted is directed. Seismic waves, not so much-they propagate outward, and their energy is not directed. Aside from that, I also do not see how you would harness this energy, let alone transfer it to a rocket without completely shattering it. Rocket fuel is essentially potential energy (please do not kill me if that analogy is not completely correct), and is therefore relatively easy to direct once it is released.

I was thinking less along the lines of a rocket engine and more along the lines of a solar sail kind of thing. I have no idea how to harness the energy but I still think it could be possible. If seismic waves are just sound waves maybe some sort of material that would repel sound.

 

[fireballs619]

I was thinking less along the lines of a rocket engine and more along the lines of a solar sail kind of thing. I have no idea how to harness the energy but I still think it could be possible. If seismic waves are just sound waves maybe some sort of material that would repel sound.

And how would this work when it breaks the speed of sound?

 

[Izack]

I think you need to read up on longitudinal waves. The energy is being transferred through rock and soil at 8km/s...the rocks themselves attain no such speed. You can't just put something hard in front of the wave and expect Newton's third law to send it flying off into space.