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

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the impossibility of creating a vehicle that utilizes a rotating ball for propulsion while violating the conservation of momentum. Participants agree that any attempt to automate such a system would fail due to the inability to reset motion without external energy input. The conversation highlights the inefficiency of human-powered solutions and emphasizes that discussions on propellantless propulsion are not supported due to their contradiction with established physical laws.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the conservation of momentum
  • Familiarity with basic physics principles related to motion
  • Knowledge of propulsion systems
  • Awareness of perpetual motion machine concepts
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of conservation of momentum in physics
  • Explore various propulsion systems and their efficiencies
  • Study the concept of perpetual motion machines and their historical context
  • Investigate automated systems for energy input and motion reset
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physicists, engineering students, and anyone interested in the principles of motion and propulsion systems, particularly those exploring the limitations of energy systems.

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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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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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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