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Science

Towlie

(5,332 posts)

7. This is nonsense. Nobody can possibly know if the last gear is even moving at all!

Reply to Flying Squirrel (Original post)

Mon Nov 4, 2013, 01:32 PM

Nov 2013

With the inevitable slop in the gear train, the last gear is probably not moving at all. Any moving that it does will be in quick spurts as friction is overcome, and there may even be times when it moves backward. All they can really know with any precision is the average revolution rate over some very long period, and the minimum value of that period is almost certainly longer than this device will even exist.

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Highlight:

This mind-bending machine completes one turn every 2.3 trillion years [View all] Flying Squirrel Nov 2013 OP

Hah, hah, Nature... She can mess up the most careful plans. hunter Nov 2013 #1

Yeah, it doesn't sound like it's going to last too long, even now. AtheistCrusader Nov 2013 #3

I suppose there's nothing truly wrong with this but it could have been done in a cooler way. BlueJazz Nov 2013 #2

They need nikto Nov 2013 #4

So, this is a simulation of the GOP method of running the House then? Rosco T. Nov 2013 #5

DUzy! klook Nov 2013 #14

I automatically assumed that the gears were turning very slowly, hedgehog Nov 2013 #6

Plus the Elasticity of the metal in the Gear Train. PeoViejo Nov 2013 #8

Since all atoms are constantly in motion passiveporcupine Nov 2013 #9

My brain hurts! hedgehog Nov 2013 #10

This is nonsense. Nobody can possibly know if the last gear is even moving at all! Towlie Nov 2013 #7

"Nobody can possibly know if the last gear is even moving at all!" greiner3 Nov 2013 #16

If you take into account the stack up tolerances and backlash of the gears, it could be off by about Snake Plissken Nov 2013 #11

Why? Peace Patriot Nov 2013 #12

If the 1st gear is about 5cm in radius muriel_volestrangler Nov 2013 #13

What a waste! Rain Mcloud Nov 2013 #15

Beautiful gear sets! dreampunk Nov 2013 #17