WikiWorld comicstrip featuring the tractor beam.

A tractor beam is a hypothetical device with the ability to attract one object to another from a distance. Tractor beams are frequently used in science fiction books and movies. A Book is a set or collection of written printed illustrated or blank sheets made of Paper, Parchment, or other material usually fastened together Less commonly, a similar beam that repels is called a pressor beam or repulsor beam. No real-world equivalents of these beams exist outside microscopic level (see optical tweezers). An optical tweezer is a scientific instrument that uses a focused Laser beam to provide an attractive or repulsive force (typically on the order of pico Newtons) depending The exact specifics vary, but there are generalities.

Usage in fiction

Tractor beams are most commonly used on spaceships and space stations. A spacecraft is a Vehicle or machine designed for Spaceflight. A space station is an artificial structure designed for Humans to live in Outer space. They are generally used in two ways:

1. As a device for securing or retrieving cargo, passengers, shuttlecraft, etc. This is analogous to cranes on modern ships. A crane is a lifting machine equipped with a Winder, Wire ropes or Chains and sheaves that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size
2. As a means of preventing an enemy from escaping, analogous to grappling hooks. In Grappling or Wrestling the term hook refers to an arm or leg position designed to help control an opponent

In the latter case, there are usually countermeasures that can be employed against tractor beams. These may include pressor beams (a stronger pressor beam will counteract a weaker tractor beam) or plane shears aka shearing planes (a device to "cut" the tractor beam and render it ineffective). In some fictional realities shields can block tractor beams, or the generators can be disabled by sending a large amount of energy back up the beam to its source. An energy shield is a form of technology commonly found in Science fiction, but also in development for real-life space travel

Tractor beams and pressor beams can be used together as a weapon: by attracting one side of an enemy spaceship while repelling the other, one can create severely damaging shear effects in its hull. Another mode of destructive use of such beams is rapid alternating between pressing and pulling force in order to cause structural damage to the ship as well as inflicting lethal forces on its crew.

Two objects being brought together by a tractor beam are usually attracted toward their common center of gravity. This means that if a small spaceship applies a tractor beam to a large object such as a planet, the ship will be drawn towards the planet, rather than vice versa.

Tractor beams do not always work like this. In Star Trek, tractor beams are non-Newtonian. The target is always drawn toward the emitter, irrespective of mass, because the beam does not actually transmit a force across space. It functions similarly to the warp drive, manipulating space-time at the target's position. Warp drive is a form of Faster-than-light propulsion in the Fictional universe of Star Trek, capable of propelling spacecraft or objects to many multiples

Appearances

Works containing well-known appearances of tractor beams include:

• The Skylark of Space books by E. E. Smith (possibly the original appearance: 1929). The Skylark of Space is one of the earliest novels of Interstellar travel. E E Smith, also Edward Elmer Smith PhD, EE "Doc" Smith, Doc Smith, "Skylark" Smith, and (to family Ted The protagonist invents "attractor beams" and "repellor beams. " Repellors can also be emitted isotropically as a sort of defensive Force field against material projectiles. In Science fiction and Fantasy literature a force field or protective shield is a barrier made up of energy to protect a person area or object from
• In Buck Rogers' first book, Armageddon 2419, (1928), by Philip Francis Nowlan the enemy ships used "repellor beams" for support and propulsion. Buck Rogers is a fictional character who first appeared in 1928 as Anthony Rogers the hero of two Novellas by Philip Francis Nowlan published in the magazine Philip Francis Nowlan (b 1888 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, d
• The Lensman books by E. E. Smith
• Star Trek (TV series, movies, books, games)- However the USS Enterprise in the prequel series Enterprise does not employ tractor beams in favor of grappling lines. The Lensman series is a serial Science fiction Space opera by E E E Smith, also Edward Elmer Smith PhD, EE "Doc" Smith, Doc Smith, "Skylark" Smith, and (to family Ted The Enterprise (NX-01 is a fictional Starship in the Science fiction Television series Star Trek Enterprise. Star Trek Enterprise (simply titled Enterprise prior to season three is a Science fiction Television program created by Brannon
• Star Wars (movies, books, games)
• Tom Swift - In the The New Tom Swift Jr. Star Wars is an epic Space opera franchise initially conceived by George Lucas during the 1970s and significantly expanded Tom Swift is the young protagonist in several series of juvenile adventure novels which began in the early twentieth century and continues to the present book Tom Swift and The Deep-Sea Hydrodome (1958), Tom invents the "repellatron. " The device can be set to repel specific chemical elements. It was used to create a bubble habitat on the ocean floor, and as the propulsion system for his spacecraft Challenger.
• Babylon 5 (TV series)
• Buck Rogers comic strip - originally just repulsor beams; tractors appeared by 1970s
• Galaga - used by the Galagas to steal the player's ship. Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created produced and largely written by J Buck Rogers is a fictional character who first appeared in 1928 as Anthony Rogers the hero of two Novellas by Philip Francis Nowlan published in the magazine Galaga is a Fixed shooter Arcade game and the sequel to Galaxian.
• The "Grabber" in Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil (games)
• The Salvage Corvette's "Salvage Field" in Homeworld (games)
• The Honor Harrington books by David Weber
• The Grapple Beam from the Metroid series (games)
• The seaQuest DSV episode "Splashdown. Doom 3 Resurrection of Evil is a First-person shooter Expansion pack for the 2004 Computer game, Doom 3 Homeworld is a Real-time strategy (RTS Computer game released in 1999 developed by Relic Entertainment and published by Sierra Honor Stephanie Harrington is a Fictional character, the Eponymous heroine of a series of Science fiction books set in the " Honorverse David Mark Weber is an American Science fiction and Fantasy author. is a series of Science fiction adventure Video games conceived by designer Gunpei Yokoi and produced by Nintendo. seaQuest DSV was an American Science fiction television series created by Rockne S Plot The episode begins with a recounting of the episode " Dream Weaver. "
• The Sector General books by James White The 1963 novel Star Surgeon is the source of the combined tractor/pressor beam weapon, the so called "Rattler. Sector General is a series of Science fiction books created and written by the Northern Irish science fiction author James White. James White ( April 7, 1928 - August 23, 1999) was a prolific Northern Irish author of Science fiction Novellas short Star Surgeon is a 1963 science-fiction book by author James White, and it is part of the Sector General series " These weapons attract then repel the target (entire ship or a segment of the ship's hull) at 80 gs, several times a minute. The novel also featured a type of Force field called a "repulsion screen. In Science fiction and Fantasy literature a force field or protective shield is a barrier made up of energy to protect a person area or object from "
• Starfire series - the combined tractor/pressor beam weapon
• Starplex by Robert J. Sawyer
• One Crystal Eres (magic spell) in Tales of Legendia and a magic spell in Tales of Phantasia (games) is named Tractor Beam, that launches the enemy in the air. David Mark Weber is an American Science fiction and Fantasy author. Robert J Sawyer is a Canadian Science fiction writer born in Ottawa in 1960 and now resident in Mississauga.
• In Eve Online (game), tractor beams are modules that can pull wrecks or cargo canisters towards the ship in space.
• The Trigger by Arthur C. Clark involves the development of tractor beams in the early part of the novel. The Trigger is a 1999 Science fiction novel by Arthur C Clarke and Michael P Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE (16 December 1917–19 March 2008 was a British Science fiction Author, Inventor, and
• in Spaceballs, Spaceball 1 uses a tractor beam - referred to as a "magnetic beam" in the film - to intercept Princess Vespa's Mercedes space cruiser. Spaceballs is a 1987 Science fiction Parody film of Star Wars co-written directed by and starring Mel Brooks.
• The Taelon mothership on Earth: Final Conflict used tractor beams on several occasions. The Taelons are a Fictional race of Humanoid aliens appearing in the Canadian Science fiction Television series Earth Earth Final Conflict is a Canadian Science fiction Television series based on story ideas created by Gene Roddenberry, and produced
• In The Incredibles, Syndrome uses zero-point energy. The Incredibles is a 2004 Computer-animated feature Film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures, Syndrome is a Fictional character, the main antagonist in the 2004 film The Incredibles. In Physics, the zero-point energy is the lowest possible Energy that a Quantum mechanical Physical system may possess and is the energy of the
• In Time Crisis 4, Wild Dog uses a Tractor Beam at one point to direct crates and other heavy objects at the players. Time Crisis 4 is the fourth installment in Namco 's ''Time Crisis'' series. This is a list of central characters from the Time Crisis series Protagonists Vital SituationSwift Elimination "V
• In Austin Powers in Goldmember, Dr. Evil's evil plan involved using a tractor beam to crash a golden asteroid into the Earth, causing a torrential flood. Austin Powers in Goldmember is the third Film of the Austin Powers series starring Mike Myers in the title role. Dr Evil (born Douglas "Dougie" Powers) is a fictional character played by Mike Myers, in the Austin Powers Film series
• Archie Comics, where it is caricatured as a literal "tractor"
• Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando, It is used as a Gadget to move marked objects from one place to another, often presenting a plot advance. Archie Comics is an American Comic book publisher known for its many series featuring the fictional teenage Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper Ratchet & Clank Going Commando ( Ratchet & Clank 2 Locked and Loaded in Europe Australia and New Zealand is a 3D platform
• In Half-Life 2, Gordon Freeman is armed with a device called the Zero-Point Energy Field Manipulator or simply the "Gravity Gun", which can pick up, throw, and "punt" heavy or sharp objects with little or no effort. Half-Life 2 is a Science fiction First-person shooter computer game and the sequel to the highly acclaimed Half-Life Dr Gordon Freeman is the silent Protagonist of the ''Half-Life'' series of First-person shooter Video games developed by Valve Software In the last mission, it is accidentally modified to manipulate biomatter, and can throw Combine soldiers to their deaths. The Combine, also referred to as the Universal Union, is a fictional multidimensional empire which serves as the primary Antagonistic force in the
• A similar gun to the one in Half-Life 2,, called the "Uplink", appears in TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, available to the player beginning with the second mission. In addition to a "gravity gun", the item also serves as a map and a time machine for the player's character, Sergeant Cortez. TimeSplitters is a series of First-person shooter Video games created by Free Radical Design.
• Another similar gun to Half-Life 2's gravity gun called the "Capture gun" appears as the primary tool in the Wii video game Elebits, where it is used to manipulate objects and capture the titular creatures. known in Europe and Australia as Eledees, is a Video game for Nintendo 's Wii console by Konami.
• Yet another similar gun to Half-Life 2's, which is title the "Aperture Science Hand held Portal Device", can create a weaker zero-point energy field by simply lifting objects and carrying them, but cannot throw or pull in from a distance. These items can also be dropped through the portals it can create.
• In Recess: School's Out a villain attempted to use a tractor beam to move the moon. Recess School's Out is an Animated film based on the Television series Recess.
• The anime Uchuu Senkan Yamato (known as Star Blazers outside Japan). is a Japanese Science fiction Anime series and the name of its eponymous space craft. In one episode, multiple tractor beams on planet Gamilon were used to drag the Yamato into a trap.
• Pixar's 2006 short movie Lifted is based on an alien character who is in a tractor beam usage test. Pixar Animation Studios is a CGI animation production company based in Emeryville California. Lifted is a 2006 Pixar computer animated short film directed by Gary Rydstrom.
• In the Metroid prime series, the charged beam has a tractor beam effect. is the first game in the ''Metroid'' series of video games It was released first for the Famicom Disk System on August 6, 1986

External links

• Tractor beam article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki