Posted by Nick Hall (195.74.122.243) on May 30, 2003 at 03:40:26:
In Reply to: Re: "Unnaturally lifting weights" - For Darren posted by ovyyus on May 30, 2003 at 01:56:53:
: Hi Nick,
: I don't know about using different muscles to achieve an apparently effortless lift?
Well, try lifting a heavy weight at arms length when standing - then try by bending down (back upright) and lifting it while it is close to your body - it will 'feel' easier to lift.
Admittedly the apparent difference is more startling (I just watched it again now) in Laithwait's demo - but I feel there is an element of this effect here. You can see that at the start of lifting the (now precessing) gyro, he bends down, and uses BOTH hands to start the circular motion - once that is established, the precessive forces kick in and he lifts it 'easily'
: It's a very easy experiment to perform. I did it years ago using a similar setup to that used by Laithwaite. You should definately try it, it's a remarkable feeling to be able to lift a heavy weight in this way.
I`m sure - I just wish that Laithwaite had been a tad more rigorous in analysing the weight/time data - that would settle it once for all. Eventually he majored on the "force through space without reaction" line of investigation.
: No free lunch though. Energy must be invested to spin the mass, then the spinning mass must be forced to precess. Doesn't sound like the simplicity referred to by Karl. All food for thought.
I personally doubt gyros were involved in Bessler's wheel - if the wheel was only 6 inches in diameter, then it only gives a couple of inches radius for the gyro (assuming the plane of rotation is right angles to gravity). These would need a lot of angular velocity to give a precessive effect, and the mechanics of hooking them up so that the wheel's main movement fed energy in to keep them spinning would be difficult to say the least.
I think you are right - simplicity will be the key....or one of the main ones!
Thanks
Nick