Surely this will NOT work: violation of conservation of momentum?

In summary, the discussion revolves around the mechanics of using a rotating ball to push a vehicle first to the right and then to the left with the help of an airbag. However, automating and repeating this process poses a challenge as it requires the motion to be reversed. Additionally, the idea of using human energy to power the vehicle is deemed inefficient and not in line with the laws of physics. This topic is not supported on the forum due to its violation of the Conservation of Momentum.
  • #1
gggnano
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The rotating ball should push the vehicle first to the right and once it hits the airbag - to the left?? Even if this works, how are you going to automate it and repeat it?
 
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  • #2
Correct. You can't reset it without reversing the motion. The vehicle might rock back and forth, but it will not make any progress. You can make it ever more Rube-Goldbergian, and have the passenger supply the energy into moving it, but that's just an inefficient human-powered machine.

BTW, such perpetual motion discussion is a forbidden topic on PF, so I expect this thread won't be open long.
 
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  • #3
Yep, thread is closed, not because it's a PMM, but because we don't support discussions of "propellantless propulsion" with a violation of the Conservation of Momentum.
 
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1. How can momentum be violated?

Momentum is a fundamental principle in physics that states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant. This means that in any interaction or process, the total momentum before and after the event must be equal. Therefore, it is not possible for momentum to be violated.

2. What happens if conservation of momentum is violated?

If conservation of momentum is violated, it would mean that the total momentum before and after an event is not equal. This would go against the fundamental laws of physics and would require a re-evaluation of our understanding of the universe.

3. Can conservation of momentum be violated in any situation?

No, conservation of momentum is a universal law that holds true in all situations. It has been extensively tested and has never been found to be violated. However, there may be hypothetical scenarios where it appears to be violated, but these are often due to incomplete understanding or incorrect assumptions.

4. Are there any exceptions to the law of conservation of momentum?

No, the law of conservation of momentum is a fundamental principle that has been observed to hold true in all interactions and processes. It is a cornerstone of classical mechanics and has been confirmed by countless experiments.

5. What would happen if conservation of momentum was not a law?

If conservation of momentum was not a law, it would mean that the total momentum of a closed system could change without any external forces acting on it. This would have major implications for our understanding of the universe and would require a significant shift in our understanding of physics.

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