Posted by Jeff (216.12.50.253) on August 25, 2003 at 08:07:04:
First:
During each turn 8 weights or impacts were heard to strike or fall. Was this for both the one-directional wheel and the two directional wheel? The one-directional wheel (I think this is correct) turned at about 50 rpm. This comes out to 400 impacts per minute, or one impact every 0.15 seconds? If so, does this time constraint not limit the distance the weight could have moved, if it was moved only by gravity? I mean if a weight was dropped from rest, how far could it travel in 0.15 seconds if in free fall? Perhaps someone with the mathematical skills could work this out. My calculations come out to 4.35 inches. If the weight was attached to something the distance would probably be less. The diameter of the one-directional wheel was 10 feet (I think). If the weights were four pounds each, could a movement of only 4 inches per weight cause a rotation of a 300 pound (guess) wheel with enough power to lift a 70 pound box of stones?
Second: Maybe Oystein has already posted about this, but could someone calculate (again the mathematics) the rpm needed for a 10 foot diameter wheel so a weight at the rim would not fall, but would remain at the rim?
Jeff