Gravity CAN do Work

[onthecuttingedge2005]

it's not that you are blind, it's that you wish to be blind,

[mondrasek]

Gravity causes the weakest or strongest Force we know of.  Depending on the mass at the center of it's acceleration field, or something like that.  Here on Earth it is a pretty miniscule Force.  That is because the mass of the Earth is relatively small compared to other celestial bodies, or even when viewed as a fraction of the mass of the entire Universe, etc.  Even the tiniest magnet can overcome it!

I agree that using gravity to power anything meaningful is a stretch.  Is it a practical solution to any energy need?  Probably not too many cases.  But gravity does exist everywhere on this planet, regardless of the location's proximity to a conventional power grid or accessibility to solar, wind, or other natural energy sources.  But enough with that for now... 

I was taught that Gravity is a Conservative Field of Force and therefor cannot do Work.  More recently I was told of a device that appears to contradict that claim.  I assembled a simulation of a principle form of that device in a Physics based software program.  The simulation reacts in a similar manner to the device it was intended to model and therefor also appears to contradict the claim that Gravity cannot do Work.

I think the discussion should be focused on the principal of the device more so than on the intentions of myself or the inceptor.  I am of no consequence AFAIK.  The device and what it potentially demonstrates is, however, significant.

M.

[Gabriele]

I think it is probable with moving right the weight ,the system lose potential energy. If you can attach the wm file it's sure we understand the trik

[mondrasek]

Here is the WM2D file from the video.  Also attached should be the DXF file of the geometry in a .zip file so you can build your own if you like.

The geometry file has extra circles to be targets for the pins (axles).  I erased all of those (after placing the pins) except the one on the far upper left that is the counterweight and the two smaller ones that are rollers.  After assembly I added the "slider weight" from the included WM2D tools and changed it's mass to be 1 kg.  I positioned it somewhat near the center of the lever arm that I moved it on in the video and then adjusted the mass parameter of the counterweight until the system nearly balanced.

No other changes to parameters of object or additional items were added.

I think I changed the collision value from .01 to .001 to accommodate the scale of the objects and the clearance I allowed for the rollers.

M.

[Gabriele]

numble numble...