2010-11-12 15:54:41.465031+00 by petronius 5 comments
From Boing Boing: a British inventor demonstrates his designs for a perpetual motion machine. He thinks he's on the verge of cracking this, if he can get some more "leaverage" on the outer wheel. I respect his earnestness, but it is fascinating that a design that hasn't worked in the last 500 years is still attracting attention.
[ related topics: Interactive Drama Invention and Design Machinery ]
comments in descending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment Re: made: 2010-11-12 22:51:19.75911+00 by: Dan Lyke [edit history]
Ahh walking that thin line:
The very fact that man-made equipment has been built into the UFO grid system, which I put forward as a theory four years ago, is evidence that at least some people had prior knowledge of the grid and its workings. ...
#Comment Re: made: 2010-11-12 20:05:20.377303+00 by: petronius
I notice that in the second video some of his commentors are giving him ideas about the ideal ratio of the large wheel to the small. They are obviously pulling his leg, instead of explaining why the effort is doomed. If this fellow keeps trying and then realizes his error, it will be a great thing. He is also a fine woodworker; maybe we can get him interested in the Maker world.
if you want to read something of a similar nature, try this work, a classic of misapplied engineering and wrong-headed physics. You can get some idea of where he's coming from here, with one chapter from the book. I would say that confusing magnetism with kinetic energy is a classic error of the perpetual motivationist.
#Comment Re: made: 2010-11-12 17:50:05.159449+00 by: Jim S
Sadly, he then went on to experiment with "HHO" gas for running a mower and ultimately a car and has probably blown himself up by now.
#Comment Re: made: 2010-11-12 17:12:15.854685+00 by: Dan Lyke
You'd think that given that he's physically glued twice the ball cups to the perimeter as he has to the inner section he'd have a real tangible feel for why his project is doomed.
Oh well, the woodworking is nice.
#Comment Re: made: 2010-11-12 16:24:48.50967+00 by: meuon
Beautifully made. It's a classic design right out of one of my favorite books on Perpetual Motion Machines. Is he looking for VC yet? That's usually the next step unless he's just having fun.