https://sites.google.com/site/exhaustlessnuclearpropulsion/
I found this while looking for something completely different (story of my life ;D).
It seems reasonable, what do you think?
No I don't think it would work. I skimmed the article and I think I see the concept however I believe he is ignoring the equal and opposite reaction by the bullet being slowed down even if it is done by friction. I may be wrong but I don't sense it would work. However if he was correct it would seem that is a very simple way to free energy.
I have few tips for improvement. Braking can be done magnetically. With magnetic braking heat is also released, but no material is damaged.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iABmUEH5s0k&feature=related
next tip:
Instead of ball, can be used aluminum piston and electromagnet. Piston must be very conductive but not magnetic. Piston goes back and forth between electromagnets. While piston goes in one direction electromagnet is off. When piston reach top dead, it switches on electromagnet. On second cycle when piston goes in another direction, it goes with braking effect. In starting position it switches electromagnet off. Cycle is now complete.
3-rd tip:
By using optical switchers(like in old computer mouse), entire mechanism can perform incredibly fast with high RPM
If a hot ionized gas is magnetically accelerated, travels a low friction path along an eliptical bend and encounters a brake at the same end as the accelerator then your braking adds to the inertia of the craft as well as the acceleration cycle.
sparks if you add up all the accelerations in your loop they add up to zero.
every change in speed and direction requires acceleration. not just the start
and finish.
fritznien
my bad. Forgot the guide is part of what we are trying to accelerate and would run into the bullet. Question though. Is space plasma dense enough to use as a propellant?
Quote from: sparks on February 28, 2011, 11:22:10 PM
my bad. Forgot the guide is part of what we are trying to accelerate and would run into the bullet. Question though. Is space plasma dense enough to use as a propellant?
no worries.
as for space plasma it depends what you mean by propellant and plasma. you could look up
solar sails and magnetic sails. not to mention the sci fi standby the bussard ramjet.
fritznien
Quote from: sparks on February 28, 2011, 11:22:10 PM
my bad. Forgot the guide is part of what we are trying to accelerate and would run into the bullet. Question though. Is space plasma dense enough to use as a propellant?
Density doesn't matter (pun!), it's all about mass and speed when you expel propellant.
I was thinking that if space has this low density plasma and your ship intakes this your engine could use this mass as a propellant. Collect it accelerate it jet it.
Not so long a ago they discovered they can create particles in a vacuum by using a powerful laser.
http://scienceblog.com/40901/theoretical-breakthrough-generating-matter-and-antimatter-from-the-vacuum/