Lightsabers (and the lack of the weight of the blade)

[Golem2176]

I know that lightsabers are relatively light. Basically, the weight is comprised of just the pommel. However a friend of mine had an idea. What if lightsabers suddenly became a modern day item? How would most people who know how to effectively wield a sword, deal with the weightlessness of the blade? It would definetly seem awkward, to many people. However, my friends idea is that lightsabers have a small ball, protroding from where the blade starts and when the lightsaber is turned on, the ball is hidden. The ball gathers gravity to its center, and simulates weight. The weight simulation is only effective when the lightsaber is turned on. What do you guys think of this? Is my friend onto something?

 

[clark411]

I think it's entirely plausible for a fictional weapon to work as such. ^_^ Unless i'm picturing it wrong, however, I'd think the ball would be destroyed by the saber's activation. Unless its a cortosis ball- but I'm sure we could all agree that would better for the hittee than the hitter.

I suppose the ball wouldn't be that necessary, if the front of the saber (erm, part you hold that is) is weighted properly, and your hand is at the far end of the saber (erm, again the part you hold), the weight of whatever material is there may be near the saber (this time... the glowy bit) might be sufficient to create a center of gravity, praps.

 

[Golem2176]

The ball would be made of some sort of indestructable material, unless the saber itself could be modified, so that it is just a shell around the area. Or, on the flipside the ball could be inside the pommel. I think, clark, that (correct me if I am wrong, I haven't seen the movies in a while) most are held with both hands anyway.

 

[Morgenstern]

The center of gravity is clearly down the length of the blade somewhere. Many of the flourishes and twirls performed with them require the weight of a blade. Early (SW) scenes they actually used a "bladed" prop, while the two prequels both uses Chinese jian-style moves that use a certain amount of momentum. Even when you throw them in most video games, they spin on an axis that suggests weight. I'd say either the weapon harnesses/is linked to a plasma "blade" (hance their ability to interact with and obstruct other sabres) or you find some other reason for the blade to have weight, because they've never demonstably been weightless...

 

[ThoughtBubble]

Against anything other than another lightsaber, weight isn't really the primary concern. All you need to do is point it at the enemy and flail a little. It might open up a few more manuvers, and close off a few, but I think a bigger concern is the user accidentally vaporizing themselves during an attack.

Against another lightsaber though, things would be more interesting, as suddenly you can have weight and friction as they strike.

edit: And while I'm thinking about it, I think the ball thing is thinking too hard. Given the technology to make a lightsaber, simulating a center of mass further down the blade should be easily doable.

 

[clark411]

I have found some very informative sites for this discussion that I hope will help solve this baffling issue. =D