Posted by Scott Ellis (216.87.95.64) on August 08, 2002 at 01:32:02:
I think atmospheric air pressure is ultimately caused by gravity. As gravity condenses the earth's atmosphere, the air density and pressure increases. Atmospheric pressure changes inversely with altitude, just like gravitational force. At sea level, the average air molecule is travelling at 450 m/s (over 1,000 miles per hour!). That represents a LOT of energy. And that energy ultimately came directly from gravity. Solar heating makes the air molecules move even faster, but it is not necessary. So I think air pressure itself is a REAL conversion of gravitational potential energy into (effectively permanent) kinetic energy. The question is how to tap it?
As you know the Costa Wheel has glass bottles all along its rim. I read somewhere that the bottles supposedly protect some particular moving parts (like springs) from the weather and elements. This may or may not be true. But glass bottles definitely do a good job of storing energy in the form of air pressure. Could the Costa wheel somehow be exploiting the difference in air pressure between the highest and lowest points of the machine? Could that be why the wheel needs to be so large?
???
-Scott