Whew. I was doing a search on the term "vacuum zero-point energy" because a relative of mine sent me a website touting this "new form of perpetual energy"...
I can't believe the number of zany pages out there!!
Established Member
Whew. I was doing a search on the term "vacuum zero-point energy" because a relative of mine sent me a website touting this "new form of perpetual energy"...
I can't believe the number of zany pages out there!!
Order of Kilopi
It get smore bizarre the more you read into it. Try this page and check out the quotation on the top! I wish I had the context of it...
Established Member
Here ya go.Originally Posted by The Bad Astronomer
the context of it
It's in a nice article where Clarke comments on the insanity of believing the Apollo landings were a hoax. =D>
Honored Member
I know Clarke used a zero-energy point drive in his book Songs of Distant Earth, but I've always wondered how you can use the energy to do anything. In the sense that having a lot of energy around isn't enough, one needs a potential difference. A steam engine will run fine on a railroad, but not so well inside a furnace.
Established Member
So, A.C. isn't all that in touch with reality. No worries: he is a science fiction writer, after all. At times he's dealt with plausible sci-fi, at times, not - either way, still a good story teller.
And Aldrin - well, he's old. He's been out of school for quite some time and ZPE is a relatively new hoax.
And I wouldn't be so quick to call the ZPE hoax "bizarre." Its a relatively simple and easily excusable (to the uninformed, ready and willing to be duped) misunderstanding of the theory. Frankly, IMO, we should use a broader application of fraud laws.
Established Member
AC has also written a lot of good stuff about science, but I'm surprised he said this:
Arthur C Clarke: "I'm fairly convinced that we have discovered life on Mars," Clarke told SPACE.com Sunday as Buzz Aldrin listened. "There are some incredible photographs from [the Jet Propulsion Laboratory], which to me are pretty convincing proof of the existence of large forms of life on Mars! Have a look at them. I don't see any other interpretation."
Established Member
This is the kind of thing that constantly reminds me to remain vigilant in my thinking since we can all have blind spots of irrational thought if we are not careful.
It's also a good lesson in not judging a people as completely insane just because they are irrational in one area.
Established Member
Established Member
I can't quite make sense of how what that person who came up with this is going to work, probably because of the fundamental error in there.
If a ball is balanced on a slope, and that slope is accelerated forward at a rate that will hold the ball from falling, the ball weighs only ~62.5% of its standing weight.
That will never be, its weight will always increase. Standing still on a platform, the ball will be accelerated at 1g. In order to balance it on an accelerated slope, the acceleration has to be adapted to local gravity and the slope. At 45° of slope the forward acceleration to balance will be 1g, adding up to a sqrt(2)g ~ 1.4g down on the slope. The weight will increase to 141% of its standing weight.
When that ball is slowed, ~37.5% of the dissapated energy would be routed from gravity.
There's not even any explanation of how that happens. That's all there is on that site. How disappointing.
Member
Or is Aldrin just being sarcastic?
Established Member
???
All I see is the impeller in my washing machine...
Established Member
Your washing machine can power the whole planet and get us to the stars all on Permanent Press?
Order of Kilopi
???
All I see is the impeller in my washing machine...I still have to plug my washing machine in but your northern location might have a better angle to catch the graviton flow. ](*,)
We know time flies, we just can't see its wings.
Established Member
Yes. And don't even THINK about what's happening inside your dryer!
Your washing machine can power the whole planet and get us to the stars all on Permanent Press?
Your head will implode.
:-s
Established Member
That's where all the socks go!!Yes. And don't even THINK about what's happening inside your dryer!
Your washing machine can power the whole planet and get us to the stars all on Permanent Press?
Your head will implode.
:-s
Established Member
Zero point energy does work! The evil energy companys have been supressing it. I've got a working model at home. If you send me $100 dollars, you can invest in this exciting new technology!
Established Member
I guess zero-point energy is a conservative process after all, can't get something for nothing it seems. :-(That's where all the socks go!!Yes. And don't even THINK about what's happening inside your dryer!
Your washing machine can power the whole planet and get us to the stars all on Permanent Press?
Your head will implode.
:-s
Established Member
Count me in!, but the US$ 100 will be sent in quatloos
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