Quote:
Originally posted by The One
I would think that the same principle would apply to a misfiring of a laser bolt...meaning missing the target and firing off into space...into infinitiy just like a star giving off it's illuminating glow...thousands of years into the vast reaches of space...until it hits...well, whatever is in it's path...
Wouldn't that happen to?
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Actually, no. Yes, the light would travel forever, but the beam of light gradually broadens, just like a flashlight beam only less rapidly. The more the beam spreads out, the less destruction it does. The laser beam that they first used to get an exact range to the moon lit up a circle about ten miles across on the moon's surface (which was far, far more focused than a searchlight beam would have been). I assume the Capricans would have a better-focused laser if they chose to use one, but even a super-focused laser would be extremely spread out after only a few seconds, or perhaps minutes, of travel. A spaceship pilot millions of miles away, looking directly into the path of the laser beam, would see a pinpoint of bright light, but it wouldn't hurt him/her any. Depending on the exact range, of course. A few more millions of miles and he/she wouldn't even notice the light.
