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From: Mark Sylvester <msylvest@XNET.IT>
I suppose a related question is how the conservation of angular momentum
applies in the case of a tidal power plant, which must also take energy
from the rotation of the earth.
Mark
At 02:48 22/12/03 +0000, fred bucheit wrote:
> A gyroscope wheel is mounted in a gimbal so that the spin axis of
the
>wheel maintains a direction that is constant in space and so that this
axis
>is perpendicular to the spin axis of the earth.
> The axis of the gyroscope wheel will appear to rotate once in 24
hours
>because of the earth's rotation.
> The gimbal can be mounted in such a way that the spin axis of the
>gyroscope wheel can move in one plane only, a plane perpendicular to the
>spin axis of the earth (the gimbal's axis is pointed at the north star
and
>the bearings that support it are mounted within posts driven deep into
the
>earth).
> If one applies enough torque to the gimbal, its rotation relative to
the
>earth can be stopped completely. If that torque is diminished a bit,
there
>will be a torque acting through a distance, which does work. Thus, work
>derived from the rotational KE of the earth. This may not be a clear
>explanation of what I have in mind, so I built a model and took pictures
>that will make my idea more understandable. I will emial the 2 pictures
to
>anyone who is interested.
> It is obvious to me that this system will produce work as a result
of
>the relative motion between the earth and the gimbal, but it appears to
>violate some basic laws-conservation of angular momentum of the earth.
Would
>someone give me some ideas on why this will or will not work?
>
>Fred Bucheit retired Physics teacher.
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>Enjoy the holiday season with great tips from MSN.
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Mark Sylvester
UWCAd
Duino Trieste Italy