How does mechanical motion start at the deepest, smallest level?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the initiation of mechanical motion at the molecular level, particularly in machines and biological systems. Participants examine how motion starts and propagates through materials, considering various physical principles and analogies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that molecular motion in machines begins with forces such as compression, tension, or shear waves propagating through materials.
  • One participant suggests that the Pauli exclusion principle may play a role in initiating motion at the smallest level.
  • There is a discussion about how an object at rest can start to move, with some expressing confusion about the mechanics behind this process.
  • Participants explore the analogy of magnetic fields causing motion in metals and question how similar principles apply to non-magnetic machine parts.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the relevance of philosophical interpretations to the physical question being posed.
  • There is a call for concrete examples to clarify the mechanics of motion initiation in machines.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on how mechanical motion starts at the molecular level. Multiple competing views and uncertainties remain regarding the mechanisms involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexity of understanding how motion initiates, particularly in non-magnetic systems, and express the need for clearer definitions and examples to address the question effectively.

  • #31
Well, it is difficult to choose which turtle! This is all a little bit difuse for sure.
 
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  • #32
Why the focus on electricity and magnetism?

An alternative is pendulum clocks that can be powered by gravity and initiated by the user moving the pendulum to one side. A key part of the mechanism is an "escapement".

Or the turbines in a hydroelectric dam that are ultimately powered by hydrogen fusion and initiated by the user turning a valve in a penstock.
 
  • #33
jbriggs444 said:
... the turbines in a hydroelectric dam that are ultimately powered by hydrogen fusion ...
Er what?

Oh, you mean ultimately ultimately!
 
  • #34
Sol, the great evaporator.....
 
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  • #35
Thanks for everyone's replies, gained a much better understanding, and I'll watch the videos on the way to work tonight.
 
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  • #36
Dale said:
It comes from me
Frabjous said:
For non-rigid bodies, waves are how the rest of the body learns that something happened at a location
Sorry for what appears to be an 'flaming' post.
Transient response of system is a broad field on its own, with either discrete lumped elements or with a continuum medium.
 
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  • #37
hutchphd said:
The great R P Feynman gave this some thought. The first part of this interview is wonderful, in my opinion.
Please give it your attention.

Great video! A physicist who realizes the value of imagination and visualizing the currently unviewable parts of physics.

Thinking something people would really enjoy is a 'Feynman forums' where physics people can team up with visual artists to 'explain like they're Feynman'.

Visuals for the travel of energy from the net motions of electrons into fields could've been such a benefit to his explanation, and the types of visuals today are really advanced and so much more available to everyday people.
256bits said:
Sorry for what appears to be an 'flaming' post.
Transient response of system is a broad field on its own, with either discrete lumped elements or with a continuum medium.
Seems totally reasonable, not flaming at all.
 
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