Can a Sword Be Electrified? Let’s Dive into the Shocking Truth
Ever wondered about electrifying your sword? Not just waving it in a storm. We mean real, weaponized electricity. An electric sword isn’t just fantasy. It’s been explored in fiction and real-world weapon development too.
Electric Swords: Fiction vs. Reality
Let’s look at fiction first. Remember those sleek electric swords from the Dark Hand? They were high-tech weapons, collapsible for concealment. These blades unleashed currents through their edges. They delivered electric shocks more than cutting power.
There are energy swords too. This term covers plasma blades. It also includes items that glow and look cool. Within energy swords, we discover some interesting sub-types.
Plasma Blades: The Superheated Edge
If you play games, you know about energy swords. The one from
- An energy storage module.
- A plasma generator for superheated plasma.
- Magnetic generators for blade shape and containment.
When activated, the plasma blade is a superheated edge. It inflicts gruesome damage: impalement, dismemberment, decapitation. Fictional versions often have failsafes to disable the weapon if dropped. This keeps enemies from using your tech against you. However, close combat makes the wielder vulnerable to ranged attacks.
The challenge with plasma swords is the plasma itself. The main issue is the gas source. Hacksmith Industries attempted to build a real plasma blade, as shown on Hackster.io. Their prototype was tied to bulky gas tanks which made it unsuitable for battle. A sustained, portable plasma blade remains tough.
Power Swords: Warhammer 40,000’s Disruptive Edge
In the future of
Lightsabers: Elegant Weapons for a More Civilized Age (and EMP Vulnerable?)
No energy blade discussion is complete without lightsabers. From
Despite their tech, lightsabers have a weakness: electromagnetic pulses (EMPs). Like any advanced tech, they can be disabled by EMPs. These may come from bombs or other sources. When affected, the wielder faces danger.
Electric Weapons and Electromagnetic Pulses
The term “electric weapons” involves more than swords. They fall into two categories: directed-energy weapons (DEWs) and electromagnetic (EM) launchers. DEWs send energy at targets directly, lacking physical projectiles. These include lasers and particle beams. EM launchers propel projectiles using electromagnetic forces.
The vulnerability of lightsabers to EMPs mirrors a real concern: electromagnetic bombs (E-bombs). Many nations, including the United States, may be working on non-nuclear EMP bombs. These do not destroy cities but fry electronic systems. This serves as a reminder that advanced tech can have weaknesses.
You can learn about protection against E-bombs and other threats via resources like Wikipedia’s article on bulletproofing. Although focused on physical protection, it covers broader security concepts relevant to electromagnetic threats.
So, can a sword be electrified? In fiction, undoubtedly! From Dark Hand blades to plasma and power swords, imagination runs wild. Yet, in reality, a true “electric sword” like a portable plasma blade is still just science fiction. Concepts like plasma generation and electromagnetic energy are practical possibilities now.
