The Lee-Tseung Lead Out Theory

[chrisC]

G'day

Hans von Lieven

Great one Hans! I'm pretty sure this will fly..... no drills required!

cheers
chrisC

[utilitarian]

I know that people like to make jokes on proof-or-concept experiments.  The actual practical device is likely to be very different and much more sophisticated.  However, I again claim with absolute certainty that the Physics involved in Experiment001 is 100% correct.

The two identical magnets repelled by the electromagnet will produce equal and opposite reactions (Newton's Third Law).  They will travel in opposite directions with same velocity.  No friction is required whatsoever for their motion.

When they hit the surfaces, Newton's Second Law will apply (Force = Mass x Acceleration or Force = rate of Change of Momentum).  The force F1 hitting the padded surfaces will have a slower rate of change momentum.  This is elementary Physics and cannot be wrong. 

Sorry, but you are incorrect.  For a top gun, you make very elementary mistakes.  Your equation about forces is right but you confuse force with energy.  While an object hitting a padded surface takes a longer time to transfer all of its kinetic energy to the hull of the spaceship, it nevertheless transfers it anyway, and there will be no net motion.

You are right that there would be some temporary movement of the container.  In your example, in a low friction environment, I predict you would probably observe the container first move in the direction of the padding, since the ball makes contact with that surface first.  Then the container would jerk in the opposite direction, and it would eventually come to rest in the position it started.

If you are concerned about durability, instead of a padding, you could use an Archimedes screw, which would be more durable.  (It took me about 5 seconds to think of this solution, so pardon if you already considered this and dismissed it).  This would have a similar effect of changing the rate of momentum of the moving ball on one half of the container.  But it would not help at all in propelling the container/spaceship in a frictionless environment.

[Top Gun]

Sorry, but you are incorrect.  For a top gun, you make very elementary mistakes.  Your equation about forces is right but you confuse force with energy.  While an object hitting a padded surface takes a longer time to transfer all of its kinetic energy to the hull of the spaceship, it nevertheless transfers it anyway, and there will be no net motion.

Dear utiliarian,

I believe you already know that air cushions or padded surfaces are used in fire fighting - allowing the persons to jump from a few floors.  The purpose of such padding is to reduce the force and absorb the energy.

[Pirate88179]

Quote from TopGun

"Dear utiliarian,

I believe you already know that air cushions or padded surfaces are used in fire fighting - allowing the persons to jump from a few floors.  The purpose of such padding is to reduce the force and absorb the energy."

I can't believe this statement above.  You know even less about physics than I thought.  The purpose of such padding is NOT to reduce the force, the force is the same.  The only thing padding does, as does the crumple zone in vehicles, is to space the force out over a longer period of time.  That is all.  The net force is the same.  It is always the same.  A person jumping from a building hits the padding with the same force as if he hit concrete.  The only difference is that the sudden deceleration is spread out over a longer period of time which allows him to survive.  This is high school physics here TopGun.  Energy can not be created nor destroyed. (Nor absorbed)  Remember, it is time that is the only difference.

Bill

[chrisC]

Quote from TopGun

"Dear utiliarian,

I believe you already know that air cushions or padded surfaces are used in fire fighting - allowing the persons to jump from a few floors.  The purpose of such padding is to reduce the force and absorb the energy."

I can't believe this statement above.  You know even less about physics than I thought.  The purpose of such padding is NOT to reduce the force, the force is the same.  The only thing padding does, as does the crumple zone in vehicles, is to space the force out over a longer period of time.  That is all.  The net force is the same.  It is always the same.  A person jumping from a building hits the padding with the same force as if he hit concrete.  The only difference is that the sudden deceleration is spread out over a longer period of time which allows him to survive.  This is high school physics here TopGun.  Energy can not be created nor destroyed. (Nor absorbed)  Remember, it is time that is the only difference.

Bill

Bill:

Like I said before, turkey brains ARE DIFFERENT!

cheers
chrisC