Magnetic influence on a sphere/Voyager space program

[Pirate88179]

Is anyone familiar with the voyager program instituted at JPL in the early 60's?  This is where some brilliant German scientists figured out a way to "tour" the galaxy by utilizing the gravitational attraction of the planets along the tour to both steer and propel the Voyager spacecraft along its journey.  Well, isn't gravity and gravitational pull or attraction very much like magnetic attraction?  I remember something one of my physics proffesors did.  He rolled a steel ball/sphere along on a path that took it near a magnet and, of course, the magnet altered the direction of the traveling sphere.  From what I have read, in the voyager program, the calculations were intense because they not only had to know all of the orbits of the planets and positions, but exactly where they would be when the voyager reached them, one by one.  What I am leading up to is this: would it be possible to construct a "table" or very accurate flat/level surface and place magnets in a very precise way to allow a rolling sphere to "tour" the magnets as voyager did, and is doing, in space? I know there is no friction in space but traveling bodies still behave in much the same manner as here on earth as they still have mass.  If Voyager could accelerate from "slingshotting" around the planet's gravitational fields, then maybe, with correct placement, a sphere could go from one magnet to another, slig around it, to another, and so on.  It would take energy for the initial push, just like with Voyager, but does anyone think this is possible?  Has anyone tried this? I think, in theory, that once started, a sphere could "tour" around in a never ending pattern.  This is either a brilliant question, or one the the dumbest ever asked on here, you decide. Thanks

Bill

[Pirate88179]

In retrospect, I probably should have put a better title on this question or topic.  I could not think of one short enough.

Bill

[hansvonlieven]

G'day Bill and all,

The reason this slingshot effect works because gravity is unidirectional whereas magnetism is not. What works with gravity does not work here with magnetism, unless someone comes up with a homopolar magnet, though that has never been done and is perhaps not possible

Hans von Lieven.

[Pirate88179]

Hans:

Thanks for the reply.  Gravity is unidirectional?  I was under the impression that gravitional waves, or particles, were radial accelerations directed toward the center of mass, in this case, the center of mass of a planet. I apoligize if I am not correct on this point.  If I have learned one thing it is that a lot of what I learned in school, including college, was not correct.  If you don't mind, what is the definition of  a "homopolar" magnet?  I am still reading the material on your site.  what you are working on is incredible. I am sure you are aware of the latest announcement of a Dr. that, while searching for a cancer cure, discovered that he could split water on demand into H and O2 using radio frequency?  After reading your materials the key word I saw here was frequency.  Of course, his method would have high power demands for the transmitters which is why I find your efforts very interesting. Thanks.

Bill

[Pirate88179]

Hans:

You must excuse me for my ignorance. I just realized that radial waves/particles are omni-directional. What was I thinking? I need to get a cold beer and think about this some more.  Thanks.

Bill