Magnets/Buoyancy

[hartiberlin]

This concept is similar to an idea I had last year, ( See picture 1)
Finally I found out that the wheel can't work.

Please tell us, why it does not work.
Thanks !
Regards, Stefan.

[DarkLight]

Position of the hinge is very important! In my scheme the hinge is outside and the desired position is the position with minimum potencial energy - equilibrim , but in other schemes the hinge is "inside" , and the desired position of the plate is that with maximum potencial energy - the center of mass of the heavy plate goes up when the plate closes the element, and in my proposition it goes down => minimum potencial energy.
To move up the center of mass we need energy. In my prpopsition it is not so because the center of mass goes down to local minimum of potencial energy. That's why these schemes don't work and my will 

[macelyne]

I think the link posted by Omnibus explains it all,
I couldn't do it better...

[DarkLight]

Did you read my explanation?  Look at it and think for a moment. Take a  hinge with a massive body attached to it. Look what will happen when the hinge is lower than the center of mass of the body, and what will happend when it is above the mass center. There is a great difference. And exactly that difference determines will this work or not.

[macelyne]

...but when the hinge is outside of the wheel
the center of mass moves more to the outer side of the wheel,
when it opens up the air chamber !