| Author |
Topic:
DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
|
Darthbane2007
Registered:
Oct '07
|
Date Posted:
12/26/07 7:01pm
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
|
Atlas1946 posted:
Because the fighters are too small and can escape the tractor beam's grip quickly. That's just my educated guess.
I know it's moviewise and storywise, but being a Moon sized battlestation and with 768 tractor beams, you think it could have pulled in those 30 fighters.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Danimorph9
Registered:
Sep '04
|
Date Posted:
12/27/07 3:56pm
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
|
|
Not all of those 768 tractor beams were on the same side though...
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
TwiLekJedi
Title: Classic Trilogy & YJCC Manager
Registered:
Jun '01
|
Date Posted:
12/27/07 4:12pm
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
|
|
yes they were. on the opposite side. you have uncovered the secret!
-----signature-----
We do what we must
Because we can
For the good of all of us
Except the ones who are dead
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Vortigern99
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Nov '00
|
Date Posted:
12/27/07 8:20pm
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
|
DroidGeneral posted:
They have tractor beam deflectors.
"We're passing through the magnetic field, switch your deflectors on, double front!"
But is a tractor beam the same as a magnetic field? I never equated these two ideas before, though DroidGeneral certainly makes a good point as far as an obvious and oft-heard but nonetheless long-ignored piece of dialogue answering this question summarily.
-----signature-----
"I knew from the beginning I was not doing science fiction.
I was doing a space opera, a fantasy film, a mythological piece,
a fairy tale."--George Lucas
My "Vader's Origins" thread:
http://boards.theforce.net/Classic_Trilogy/b10002/8708417/p1
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Atlas1946
Registered:
Dec '07
|
Date Posted:
12/27/07 9:01pm
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
- Date Edited:
12/27/07 9:03pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Atlas1946
|
Darthbane2007 posted:
Atlas1946 posted:
Because the fighters are too small and can escape the tractor beam's grip quickly. That's just my educated guess.
I know it's moviewise and storywise, but being a Moon sized battlestation and with 768 tractor beams, you think it could have pulled in those 30 fighters.
They'd have to calculate a precise lock on a single fighter in order to achieve a successful capture. It's pretty hard to simultaneously do that, really. Unless they were well trained and had use of their communication up par.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Arawn_Fenn
Registered:
Jul '04
|
Date Posted:
12/28/07 7:14am
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
|
Vortigern99 posted:
DroidGeneral posted:
They have tractor beam deflectors.
"We're passing through the magnetic field, switch your deflectors on, double front!"
But is a tractor beam the same as a magnetic field? I never equated these two ideas before, though DroidGeneral certainly makes a good point as far as an obvious and oft-heard but nonetheless long-ignored piece of dialogue answering this question summarily.
No, that line is a referenec to deflector shields. As in, the X-Wings have them.
-----signature-----
The world will look up and shout, "Save us." And I'll whisper: "No". - Rorschach
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Vortigern99
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Nov '00
|
Date Posted:
12/28/07 12:00pm
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
|
Arawn_Fenn posted:
Vortigern99 posted:
DroidGeneral posted:
They have tractor beam deflectors.
"We're passing through the magnetic field, switch your deflectors on, double front!"
But is a tractor beam the same as a magnetic field? I never equated these two ideas before, though DroidGeneral certainly makes a good point as far as an obvious and oft-heard but nonetheless long-ignored piece of dialogue answering this question summarily.
No, that line is a referenec to deflector shields. As in, the X-Wings have them.
If the line refers only to laser-deflecting shields, whence the reference to a magnetic field? Does the magnetic field equate to the tractor beam? If not, what is it, and why do the Rebels turn on their deflectors when passing through it?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Atlas1946 posted:
They'd have to calculate a precise lock on a single fighter in order to achieve a successful capture. It's pretty hard to simultaneously do that, really. Unless they were well trained and had use of their communication up par.
I challenge the idea that the tractor beam has to lock onto a single fighter at a time, based on the event in 'ANH' in which both the TIE Fighter and the Millennium Falcon are tractor beamed into the DS. At least, that's what I've always believed was happening. Anyone care to elucidate?
-----signature-----
"I knew from the beginning I was not doing science fiction.
I was doing a space opera, a fantasy film, a mythological piece,
a fairy tale."--George Lucas
My "Vader's Origins" thread:
http://boards.theforce.net/Classic_Trilogy/b10002/8708417/p1
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
zombie
Registered:
Aug '99
|
Date Posted:
12/28/07 1:02pm
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
- Date Edited:
12/28/07 1:03pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
zombie
|
|
Whatever purpose or reason the magnetic field has for existing, I think its different than a tractor beam. Are we to believe that the Death Star uses a literal gigantic magnet to bring in ships? I have this visual of Loony Tunes acme horseshoe magnets lining the surface of the Death Star....
-----signature-----
I'll swallow your soul! --------------------------------- If you're gonna die, die with your boots on! -------------------------------- author of The Secret History of Star Wars http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
DarthButt
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Jun '03
|
Date Posted:
12/29/07 10:28am
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
- Date Edited:
12/29/07 10:28am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
DarthButt
|
Yeah, so when they lock on to a ship all kinds of things come along with it like silverware, an ironing board, road signs, etc. 
But seriously, given it's mass, anything that big will generate a large magnetic field just based on physics alone. 
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Arawn_Fenn
Registered:
Jul '04
|
Date Posted:
1/1 8:54pm
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
|
Vortigern99 posted:
I challenge the idea that the tractor beam has to lock onto a single fighter at a time, based on the event in 'ANH' in which both the TIE Fighter and the Millennium Falcon are tractor beamed into the DS. At least, that's what I've always believed was happening. Anyone care to elucidate?
Why would you assume the TIE fighter was being tractor beamed into the DS?
-----signature-----
The world will look up and shout, "Save us." And I'll whisper: "No". - Rorschach
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
the_immolated_one
Registered:
Sep '06
|
Date Posted:
1/2 12:26am
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
- Date Edited:
1/2 12:38am (4 edits total)
Edited By:
the_immolated_one
|
It's obvious that there is a breathable atmosphere inside the Death Star but what you don't really get from the movie is that this same breathable atmosphere surrounds the outside of the Death Star like a natural planet and that's why the docking bay in which the Millennium Falcon was grappled into doesn't have a door or whatever.
This atmosphere is generated and held together by a magnetic field and in "Star Wars" the rebel pilot are passing through the edge of the Death Star's atmosphere and the vacuum of space when Red Leader tells them to switch their shields to double front.
If you understand that then it makes sense why Biggs tell Porkins to eject right before Porkins bites down.
But as to why the imperials didn't just grapple all the X and Y-Wings in with tractor beams well the answer is simple:
Because then "Star Wars" would have ended with the bad guys winning like in "Chinatown" and that gritty realism that had consumed Hollywood movies during the 70's was what Lucas was wanting to move away from.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Vortigern99
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Nov '00
|
Date Posted:
1/2 8:01am
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
|
the_immolated_one, I appreciate and agree with your explanation of the magnetic field. However, as to the tractor beam, I'm looking for an "in-universe" explanation, not a "plot-motivation" explanation.
Arwan Fenn, I just always thought that's what was happening: that the TIE was being pulled straight into the DS in the same way the MF was. I'm willing to let that assumption go, however, if no one else agrees with it or if it isn't supportable.
-----signature-----
"I knew from the beginning I was not doing science fiction.
I was doing a space opera, a fantasy film, a mythological piece,
a fairy tale."--George Lucas
My "Vader's Origins" thread:
http://boards.theforce.net/Classic_Trilogy/b10002/8708417/p1
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
the_immolated_one
Registered:
Sep '06
|
Date Posted:
1/2 12:03pm
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
|
Vortigern99 posted:
the_immolated_one, .... However, as to the tractor beam, I'm looking for an "in-universe" explanation, not a "plot-motivation" explanation.
The only rational explanation is that the rebels possess some kind of counter measure equipment that prevents the tractor beam from grappling them. Remember the main reactor of Leia's ship was shut down and Han did not see the Death Star as a threat until it was too late, so these could be the reasons that the Tantive IV and Millennium Falcon did not engage their tractor beam counter measure equipment. I have nothing to back my claim up that the rebel ships are equiped with counter measure equipment that thwart the grapple effects of the tractor beam, however, I just don't like that the tractor beam would have still been shut down because of Kenobi's actions. There was too much time that took place in between the Falcon's escape and the Rebel's assault on the Death Star to make this a practical reason, but it may very well be the reason nevertheless.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Vortigern99
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Nov '00
|
Date Posted:
1/2 1:31pm
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
|
|
I think it's at least possible that the Empire didn't discover the tractor beam was out, because as General Kenobi said on the previous page of this thread, they tracked the Falcon to Yavin and would have had no cause to test the beam between their leaving Alderaan space and arriving in Yavin space.
-----signature-----
"I knew from the beginning I was not doing science fiction.
I was doing a space opera, a fantasy film, a mythological piece,
a fairy tale."--George Lucas
My "Vader's Origins" thread:
http://boards.theforce.net/Classic_Trilogy/b10002/8708417/p1
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
DarthButt
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Jun '03
|
Date Posted:
1/3 12:57am
Subject:
RE: DS Tractor Beam: Why no effect on the Rebel Fighters?
- Date Edited:
1/3 12:58am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
DarthButt
|
but: [C3PO]...the power beam that's holding the ship here... blah blah.. must be disabled to allow the ship to leave...[/C3PO]
They have must have known it was disabled when the Falcon left the hangar.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
