Is This Genius or Nonsense?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a set of images depicting a contraption involving a windmill and a person, with participants debating its practicality and underlying physics. The conversation touches on concepts from physics, including energy generation, inertia, and the implications of using such a device.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the purpose of the setup, with one noting confusion about whether the person is kicking the windmill.
  • Others argue that using wind to turn windmills is preferable due to the wind being a nearly infinite power source, suggesting that the person should engage in a different activity that does not involve a vacuum chamber.
  • A participant humorously suggests submitting the idea to the Department of Energy for potential funding, while also raising concerns about the practicality of converting the grid to a lower voltage.
  • Several participants express skepticism about the feasibility of the idea, with one stating that the setup would lead to the person dying from asphyxiation due to the finite oxygen supply.
  • Another participant explains that drawing current from the generator would cause it to stop due to Lenz's law, sharing a personal experiment to illustrate this point.
  • Some participants make light-hearted comments about the absurdity of the idea, suggesting it might be intended as a joke rather than a serious proposal.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential dangers of the setup, including overheating wires and the risk to the person involved.
  • References to conservation of energy and friction are made, indicating a recognition of fundamental physics principles that may undermine the proposed idea.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express disagreement regarding the viability of the idea, with multiple competing views on its practicality and safety. The discussion remains unresolved, with no consensus on whether the concept has any merit.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about the setup's operation, the finite nature of oxygen supply, and the implications of energy conservation laws that are not fully explored in the discussion.

Kartiky14
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http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/2314/97254530.jpg
 
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Stupidity. The guy would be dead in a minute or so from asphyxiation.
 
I can't even tell what he's doing. Is he kicking the windmill?
I don't see the purpose of that set up.
 
the reason why windmills use wind to turn them is because wind is a nearly infinite source of power as long as it's blowing. If the guy (or something else) pushed on the windmill, all of his energy would go directly into generating electricity. So why not just have the guy do something else that doesn't involve a giant vacuum chamber.
 
I'd suggest submitting it to the Department of Energy. May get some funding to develop this idea.

Would we have to convert our grid to 9v?

Oh and for patent protection update the battery type to rechargeable, so your patent doesn't get trumped with a superior design, however unlikely the possibility of something being superior to this.
 
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/9827/41973280.jpg
Version 2 for the first reply.
 
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nitsuj said:
i'd suggest submitting it to the department of energy. May get some funding to develop this idea.

Would we have to convert our grid to 9v?

Oh and for patent protection update the battery type to rechargeable, so your patent doesn't get trumped with a superior design, however unlikely the possibility of something being superior to this.

l.o.l
 
SHISHKABOB said:
the reason why windmills use wind to turn them is because wind is a nearly infinite source of power as long as it's blowing. If the guy (or something else) pushed on the windmill, all of his energy would go directly into generating electricity. So why not just have the guy do something else that doesn't involve a giant vacuum chamber.

Remember, Newton's law of inertia ??
 
leroyjenkens said:
I can't even tell what he's doing. Is he kicking the windmill?
I don't see the purpose of that set up.

Just get it moving somehow, initially.
OK, assume that the man in the picture is Bruce Banner and he'll hurt his leg doing so and his heart rate will increase == HULK!

Happy!?
 
  • #10
Perhaps these pictures were intended to be funny, but the only thing they do is they break the forum formatting because they are too wide.
 
  • #11
Kartiky14 said:
Version 2 for the first reply.

You've only delayed the issue because that oxygen tank can only last a finite amount of time. He will die soon. Physics demands this.

Seriously though, this idea is stupid and I hope you realize this. The instant someone tries to draw a current (in other words, actually use the electricity), the turbines will come to a stop via Lenz's law. I actually did this once in class as it is very easy to show. I setup a steam turbine generator system and boiled some water to spin the sucker. It setup a good 10-12V AC potential. Then I hooked up a small 1 watt incandescent light bulb to the generator , allowing current to actually flow. The instant I connected it, the generator stopped dead in its tracks. The back EMF stopped the turbine just as any actual load on your hypothetical system would stop the turbines immediately as well.
 
  • #12
Kartiky14 said:
Remember, Newton's law of inertia ??

remember conservation of energy and friction?
 
  • #13
I thought it was one of those make funny comments threads.

The idea of it as a practical joke is far far better then it as a practical idea.
 
  • #14
Pengwuino said:
You've only delayed the issue because that oxygen tank can only last a finite amount of time. He will die soon. Physics demands this.

Seriously though, this idea is stupid and I hope you realize this. The instant someone tries to draw a current (in other words, actually use the electricity), the turbines will come to a stop via Lenz's law. I actually did this once in class as it is very easy to show. I setup a steam turbine generator system and boiled some water to spin the sucker. It setup a good 10-12V AC potential. Then I hooked up a small 1 watt incandescent light bulb to the generator , allowing current to actually flow. The instant I connected it, the generator stopped dead in its tracks. The back EMF stopped the turbine just as any actual load on your hypothetical system would stop the turbines immediately as well.

Hmmm...Seems like a flaw.It needs a bit of a thought, though :P
 
  • #15
shishkabob said:
remember conservation of energy and friction?
"gigantic vacuum chamber"
 
  • #16
Borek said:
Perhaps these pictures were intended to be funny, but the only thing they do is they break the forum formatting because they are too wide.

Sorry, for the dimensions
 
  • #17
Kartiky14 said:
shishkabob said:
remember conservation of energy and friction?
"gigantic vacuum chamber"
And the friction on the mechanisms and via the magnetic field :rolleyes:
 
  • #18
Since you have the battery shorted out all this setup will do is create a very hot wire and/or blow the battery.
 
  • #19
phinds said:
Since you have the battery shorted out all this setup will do is create a very hot wire and/or blow the battery.

Thus, killing the guy.

See, the guy always dies.
 
  • #20
Pengwuino said:
Thus, killing the guy.

See, the guy always dies.

Maybe the purpose of the device is to kill the guy in an innovative way.
 
  • #21
leroyjenkens said:
Maybe the purpose of the device is to kill the guy in an innovative way.
Or a stupid way...
 
  • #22
omg you guys are too funny. :smile:
 
  • #23
For some reason it makes me think about

 
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  • #24
lol :D
 
  • #25
Possibly on par with this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z86V_ICUCD4
 
  • #26
Kartiky14 said:
"gigantic vacuum chamber"

"conservation of energy and friction"
 
  • #27
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
More depressing than the pictures :P
 
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  • #28
rollcast said:
Possibly on par with this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z86V_ICUCD4

I saw that just a day ago and had an idea.

Fortunately, someone else wasted their time building it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkgoSOSGrx4
 

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