http://www.grand-illusions.com/acatalog/info_22.html
regards
Jon
interesting toy
Moderator: scott
re: interesting toy
What would happen if the track was circular and channelled the shooting ball back around to the other side? When it hit the row of balls would it send another shooting off like Newton's cradle and so on until the magnet was at the end of the row?
KNIGHT
re: interesting toy
It appears the 4th ball is only held with minimal magnetic force as it is so far away from the magnets.
The impact ball is set rolling towards the magnets. As it gets closer it accelerates exponentially [attractive force by the inverse square of the distance of separation] impacting the magnets & transferring its Kinetic Energy in the way of momentum.
At the same time the magnets & original 4 balls are attracted to the single ball but have far greater inertia to overcome than the single ball in opposition [thats why the magnets & 3 remaining balls travel backwards to point of collision].
ATEOTD the impact force generated & the escape velocity of the end ball in the chain are due to the Kinetic Energy of impact which is a function of its mass & acceleration to final velocity.
Imo if you were to loop this around I would suspect that it might circulate 2 balls b4 there was insufficient acceleration & velocity of impact to escape the attractive force from the magnets of the remaining 2 balls.
The impact ball is set rolling towards the magnets. As it gets closer it accelerates exponentially [attractive force by the inverse square of the distance of separation] impacting the magnets & transferring its Kinetic Energy in the way of momentum.
At the same time the magnets & original 4 balls are attracted to the single ball but have far greater inertia to overcome than the single ball in opposition [thats why the magnets & 3 remaining balls travel backwards to point of collision].
ATEOTD the impact force generated & the escape velocity of the end ball in the chain are due to the Kinetic Energy of impact which is a function of its mass & acceleration to final velocity.
Imo if you were to loop this around I would suspect that it might circulate 2 balls b4 there was insufficient acceleration & velocity of impact to escape the attractive force from the magnets of the remaining 2 balls.
re: interesting toy
Cannot remember the name of that artist that has the rolling steel ball machine, but what if:
As the leading magnet shoots away it runs over an inclined lever. Lever is attached to magnet pulling it down (or up) , thus allowing one previous ball to pass. Magnet via attraction and leverage returns before the active ball completes the loop.
I would think installing the magnet at the 4:30 position would make impact and break-away the most efficient.
Wonder it WM2D could handle such a critter?
Ralph
As the leading magnet shoots away it runs over an inclined lever. Lever is attached to magnet pulling it down (or up) , thus allowing one previous ball to pass. Magnet via attraction and leverage returns before the active ball completes the loop.
I would think installing the magnet at the 4:30 position would make impact and break-away the most efficient.
Wonder it WM2D could handle such a critter?
Ralph
re: interesting toy
That is a pretty neat 'device', and it is tempting to wonder about a circular track. However, I wonder if the table is tilted (notice how he positions it), or the camera angle? Keep in mind the website is called 'grand illusions', and they ARE in the business of selling these. I can't discount it, nor endorse it. (but I won't forget about it either)
re: interesting toy
The effect is called a gaussian gun. It is not a trick, "Gauss gun" is , reference to Carl Friedrich Gauss, who formulated mathematical descriptions of the electromagnetic effect used by magnetic accelerators. There is lots of information on the internet about these.
To the eye it seems you get more energy out then you put in... that is till you have to break the magnetic field to start the cycle again on the first ball. I tried making different wheels with the effect but am baffled on a easy way to to reload several guns in the wheel.
To the eye it seems you get more energy out then you put in... that is till you have to break the magnetic field to start the cycle again on the first ball. I tried making different wheels with the effect but am baffled on a easy way to to reload several guns in the wheel.
re: interesting toy
I saw this like a year ago, they really work, but your not getting any energy from it, it's like a magnetic spring if you will.
A comparison to this would be a spring. You pull it back and let it go, wow there's a lot of energy cause it moves fast! Not really, because you put the energy in the machine and it just gives it back. To reload the Gauss gun you have to break away the ball bearing, wich'll take between 5-10 pounds of force (I'm pretty sure each of those magnets have a 5lb pull).
A comparison to this would be a spring. You pull it back and let it go, wow there's a lot of energy cause it moves fast! Not really, because you put the energy in the machine and it just gives it back. To reload the Gauss gun you have to break away the ball bearing, wich'll take between 5-10 pounds of force (I'm pretty sure each of those magnets have a 5lb pull).
re: interesting toy
I am not saying to look in this direction is futile. In fact just the opposite, because the answer to the riddle may lie in the transition between two forces (gravity and magnetism), then just a loop hole between gravity and acceleration. There is definitively lots of force in the guass gun which can be used in a small space such as a wheel.
I read some where that a inspector of Besslers wheel went around it with a compass looking for a magnetic field and that Bessler said he did not use magnets. Was wondering if this is true?
I read some where that a inspector of Besslers wheel went around it with a compass looking for a magnetic field and that Bessler said he did not use magnets. Was wondering if this is true?