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star wars - Was Yoda wrong about the limits of telekinesis?


In Empire Strikes Back, Yoda tells Luke that an object's size doesn't matter and that the difficulty of levitating an X-Wing was only in his mind. If the upper limits of TK are determined by belief, what's to stop a Jedi/Sith from pulling a moon out of orbit, moving an entire solar system, or splitting an atom with the Force?



Answer



Yes and No. Yoda may have been being metaphorical in his explanation of size not mattering. He was doing that zen master thing where the master asks or promotes an idea which makes the student think differently about whatever they are discussing. (What is the sound of one hand clapping...)



Size may matter less than one might believe but mass is surely a factor in moving something with Force Telekinesis. All things being equal, Force telekinesis likely has both mass limits and size limitations which vary from Jedi to Jedi. Even all of the greatest Force Telekinesis feats ever performed none have ever tried to move a natural body as large as a moon.


However, there are several examples of Jedi using Force Telekinesis to do amazing feats including pulling starships from the sky, and pushing entire fleets out of starsystems. Without an understanding of the physics of Force Telekinesis, it is impossible for anyone who wants to use physics to understand the physical limits.


Wookiepedia lists several examples of Force Telekinesis, canon and non-canon.



Among the most skilled users of telekinesis were the Zeison Sha. Neither Jedi nor Sith, their skilled use of telekinetic force use was developed over decades of simply surviving their planet's harsh environment, surpassing even some of the most powerful of Jedi in their skills. Their weapon of choice was a discblade, a circular bladed weapon that was thrown and manipulated with the Force and could be recalled. It required great skill in telekinesis to be wielded effectively.


The finest display of telekinesis ever, Jedi Dorsk 81, utilizing the channeled Force powers of all available Jedi of Luke Skywalker's Jedi Praxeum, used telekinesis to push seventeen Imperial I-class Star Destroyers out of the Yavin system. The massive amount of Force energy claimed the Jedi's life.


Perhaps, the most powerful of telekinetics were Galen Marek and Revan. Galen Marek was able to pull up the Imperial Star Destroyer, to himself. Revan broke away a considerable piece of Star Forge and crushed more then a hundred droids and Sith acolytes, by it.



Galen Marek was able to pull up the Imperial Star Destroyer, to himself


Galen Marek was able to pull up the Imperial Star Destroyer, to himself. How much do those things weigh, anyway?



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