CoAM then says that increasing radius leads to a decrease in speed
Increasing the radius does
not decrease speed. It decreases rotations per second (or minute). The speed and energy are constant.
Ever seen a figure skater spin? They start with arms extended out their sides, twist their body as they skate, as they stop they turn in to a spin, gradually they pull their arms into their chest and the spin is faster. The energy hasn't changed, they just shortened their radius.
I also had a quick look at pequaide's thread. I am a little intimidated by 38 pages of thread, but I get the gist of the mv=momentum thing. I am not sure how we are applying this though.
I did see the bola clock. The model is similar but instead we keep the string solid and only let it swing out radially. Remove the wrapping posts, and just let the thing spin.
And I just found the file attachment feature. Thx.
But to assume it will maintain any degree of lift on the pendulum at the same time within a gravity field is pushing the envelope.
Because it is spinning, a constant force will act like it is repelling away from the axis.
I came here to chew some bubble gum, and kick some ass.....and I'm all out of bubble gum.