The Physics of

Lightsabers
Nick, Alex, Cameron
Light Sabers

● What?
○ Calculate certain aspects from 2 scenes of the Star Wars
movies using epic AP Physics skills.
● How?
○ Using formulas for rotational acceleration, and linear
acceleration, measuring variables to calculate rotational
velocity, linear velocity, rotational momentum, rotational
kinetic energy, Force, and net torque.
● Why?
○ To express the physics involved in the motion of a lightsaber
in ways we can understand.
How did we get our data?
● Used videos of iconic lightsaber duels on
youtube
● Found time by using a stopwatch
● Found the angular displacements with the unit
circle
● Found mass, height, etc. with the internet
Luke vs. Vader
Angular Displacement
Mass of Lightsaber

Assumption: Both the

masses of Luke’s and
Vader’s lightsaber are
equal to the average
weight of a lightsaber in the
Star Wars universe
Length of Lightsaber

Assumption: The lengths of

both Luke’s and Vader’s
lightsabers are equal to the
average length of lightsabers
in the Star Wars universe
Rotational Velocity of
Vader’s Lightsaber

Equation: w=ΔΘ/Δt
Rotational Velocity
of Luke’s Lightsaber

w=ΔΘ/Δt
Linear Acceleration
of Vader’s Lightsaber

Equation: a=Δv/Δt
Linear
Acceleration of
Luke’s Lightsaber

Equation: a=Δv/Δt
Rotational
Momentum of
Luke/Vader
Lightsaber system

Equation: L=mvr
Rotational Acceleration
of Luke/Vader
Lightsaber System
During Collision

Equation: a=Δw/Δt
Rotational
Acceleration of
Luke/Vader Lightsaber
System After Collision

Equation: a=Δw/Δt
Rotational Kinetic
Energy

Equation: KErot=1/2Iw2
Force of Vader’s
Lightsaber

Equation: F=ma
Force of Luke’s
Lightsaber

Equation: F=ma
Anakin vs. Obi Wan
Distance in X between
Anakin and Obi Wan

Assumption: We assumed
that Obi Wan was standing
relatively straight and used
the actor’s height in
conjunction with the
proportion of the screen to
estimate the distance
Anakin’s Mass Before
Amputation

Assumption: We assumed
that the mass of Anakin and
that of the actor were the
same
Force of Jump

Equation: F=ma
Acceleration of Anakin
Immediately After
Jumping

a=Δv/Δt
Momentum Before
Amputation

Equation: p=mv
Apex of Jump (ΔY)

Assumption: We assumed
Obi Wan to be standing
approximately straight and
used the proportion of the
screen to estimate the
distance
Potential Energy of
Anakin

Ug=mgh
Kinetic Energy of
Anakin

KE=1/2mv^2
Anakin’s Velocity

V=Δd/Δt
Rotational Velocity of
Anakin

Equation: w=ΔΘ/Δt
Rotational
Acceleration of
Anakin

Equation: a=Δw/Δt
Mass After
Amputation

Assumption: We assumed
that the mass of Anakin’s
limbs fit the average for
human body proportions
Momentum After
Amputation

Equation: p=mv

Assumption: We
assumed that Anakin’s
velocity was maintained
for a split second after
his limbs are removed
Example of
real life
“lightsaber”
Feasibility of a Lightsaber
● Under normal circumstances photons pass
through each other because of photon
scattering
● However, if the the photons are highly
concentrated and incredibly high energy then
the photons will make contact and release
oppositely charged Boson particles
Feasibility
Continued
● This effect can achieved with high
energy gamma ray beams
● However, doing this would release
large amounts of radiation, more
than likely killing the user, and
would require insane levels of
power
● Gamma rays have so much energy
that a 10 second burst holds more
energy than the entire 10 billion
year lifespan of the Sun
Thanks For
Watching :)