Posted by Scott Ellis (206.168.33.195) on August 08, 2002 at 10:11:36:
In Reply to: Re: Air Pressure Engine posted by Web-ster on August 08, 2002 at 08:08:18:
Actually, I don't believe this is correct. There is always a fixed amount of air in the piston, so there are a fixed number of air molecules. The air just has different volumes.
In fact, the change in volume shifts the center of gravity of the air in the pistons in a way that INCREASES the overbalance effect. I believe the device would work without any weights at all, but soley by the shift in the center of gravity of the pistons.
Look at my diagram again:
On the righthand (downward) side, the center of gravity of the air in the piston is at the geometric center of the piston itself. On the left hand (upward) side, the center of gravity of the air in the piston is shifted over toward the center of the wheel by 1/4 the piston length.
Therefore, the weight of the air in the piston alone creates an overbalance effect.
Another point to note is that the diffence in gravitational force between the top and bottom of the device, due to the decreasing effect of gravity at high altitudes, is negligible. By my calulations, the weight at the top is only about 0.08% (0.0008 = 8 10-thousandths of a pound) less than the weight at the bottom. This difference is easily overcome by the imbalance of the weights and pistons in the horizontal position (which weigh exactly the same but are substantially imbalanced on the wheel).
-Scott
: As with any theoretical device, there are many "ifs".--if you could built it, if there was no weather (wind, rain) affecting it, if you could have frictionless bearings, etc. ---the thing that would still stop it is the weight of the air in the cylinders.---Web-ster