article_snippet: This, Boeing says, creates a buffer that can refract, deflect and absorb the energy contained within the shockwave.
article_snippet: Damage from shrapnel may be prevented by, for example, physical barriers. '
article_snippet: Shockwaves are travelling discontinuities in pressure, temperature, density and other physical qualities through a medium such as the ambient atmosphere. '
article_snippet: Shockwave damage is more difficult to prevent because shockwaves can traverse an intermediate medium including physical barriers. '
article_snippet: Damage from shockwaves may be lessened or prevented by interposing an attenuating material between the shockwave source and the object to be protected.'
article_snippet: This would then trigger an 'arc generator' to produce a temporary force field between the vehicle or building and the shockwave.
article_snippet: This change in medium would interfere with the shockwave and help to deflect the shockwave force from hitting the vehicle, says Boeing.
article_snippet: This would heat the gas and change its density to interfere with the path of the shockwave.
article_snippet: This movement by the shockwave may do mechanical work against the magentic field force and remove energy from the shockwave making the shockwave weaker.'
article_snippet: the shockwave also says that by forming the shield in the shape of a convex lens, the shockwave can deflect the energy from the shockwave.
article_snippet: As the density of the charged air in the forcefield is different from the surrounding air the density of the charged air in the forcefield is different from the surrounding air would also cause the shockwave to be refracted.