General Discussion

Motown_Johnny

(22,308 posts)

43. I have a problem with the "Gravity Wheel"

Sun May 20, 2012, 02:00 PM

May 2012

Well, two really but one is more important than the other.

The lesser problem is that at 2 RPM this is gonna be like a merry go round. Trying to live like that could be a problem.

The larger problem is the law of angular momentum. You can't just spin a wheel like that. This would be like the early attempts to build the Helicopter. You need the tail rotor to compensate (or some dual rotor system). It would make more sense to have two wheels moving in opposite directions. Either of the same size, allowing for two areas with 1G. or having one smaller than the other. Then the one that is not 1G could be used for storage. Either way, the design on the site is flawed. I wouldn't trust them with a trillion for that thing.

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Humanity can now build the Enterprise from STAR TREK - but it's gonna cost you [View all] derby378 May 2012 OP

Just go see the Movie sequel. It'll cost you $10. leveymg May 2012 #1

$14 Liberal_in_LA May 2012 #19

First we have to discover a source of dilithium crystals rox63 May 2012 #2

The site proposes using three ion propulsion engines instead derby378 May 2012 #5

Not to mention the replicators to create food, clothing and other necessities. n/t Cleita May 2012 #6

We're making progress on that one IDemo May 2012 #13

Big problem! James Doohan is gone. longship May 2012 #9

That's a whole lot of steps past anything we can do. LeftyMom May 2012 #3

How much to buy a delorean and fit it with a 1.21 gigawatt flux capacitor? tularetom May 2012 #4

I say - do it. Lots of cool applicable technology xchrom May 2012 #7

More alien religion. Scientists/God, aliens will save us from ourselves. WingDinger May 2012 #8

Now that's what I call a midlife crisis! muriel_volestrangler May 2012 #10

LOL! Politicalboi May 2012 #11

Gah! jp11 May 2012 #12

Simple solution. Invent the holodeck first RZM May 2012 #14

... as society collapses. Cave_Johnson May 2012 #16

Actually they are in the process of inventing the holo deck nadinbrzezinski May 2012 #20

There's the key. +1 n/t Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #31

Oh yeah. That's what I call creative problem-solving. daaron May 2012 #27

We dropped a trillion bucks on crap (i.e.) TARP Cave_Johnson May 2012 #15

Oh Miguel de Alcubierre has you covered (Warp Drive) nadinbrzezinski May 2012 #17

It's the dilithium crystals that's the killer cost Canuckistanian May 2012 #18

Don't forget... daaron May 2012 #28

Idea Christopher Robbins May 2012 #21

Nobody will insure the thing PDittie May 2012 #22

The technologies that were used to develop the Apollo project nadinbrzezinski May 2012 #23

Our Military Industrial Complex will build something like this: hunter May 2012 #24

Way better use of the money than bailing out banks. Starry Messenger May 2012 #25

I don't care HOW much it costs! daaron May 2012 #26

sounds neat but... AsahinaKimi May 2012 #29

I'm on strike against the Star Trek franchise... gulliver May 2012 #30

Dallas flashbacks? Motown_Johnny May 2012 #39

They need to do something. gulliver May 2012 #40

Tom should have his own movie Motown_Johnny May 2012 #41

Creating artificial gravity would be tough, too E-Z-B May 2012 #32

By comparison it cost $140,000,000 to make the last Star Trek film. Initech May 2012 #33

This is my sons dream Marrah_G May 2012 #34

What's the point? Rex May 2012 #35

The only way that is was built in the ST world was because money didn't exist MrScorpio May 2012 #36

Less than 2 years of the open military budget so it seems like quite a bargain to me. TheKentuckian May 2012 #37

Without a transporter, replicator, warp drive, subspace communications, artificial gravity, Motown_Johnny May 2012 #38

I'll take the center seat, thank you... Blue_Tires May 2012 #42

I have a problem with the "Gravity Wheel" Motown_Johnny May 2012 #43

Yeah, it's a fun thought-exercise, but not an ideal configuration. backscatter712 May 2012 #44

They also don't consider acceleration / deceleration Motown_Johnny May 2012 #45

Hmm. And current VASIMR drive technology can't give 1G of acceleration with today's technology. backscatter712 May 2012 #46

Just a suggestion: Don't put in the Auto Destruct function. Gidney N Cloyd May 2012 #47