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Science

muriel_volestrangler

(101,405 posts)

13. If the 1st gear is about 5cm in radius

Reply to Flying Squirrel (Original post)

Tue Nov 5, 2013, 08:30 AM

Nov 2013

then its circumference is about 31cm; 200 rev/min = 0.31*200/60 = 1 m/s speed on its circumference, roughly.
So the 2nd gear goes at 0.02m/s
3rd: .0004 m/s
...
6th: 3.2 nanometres/sec. Roughly the diameter of 12 iron atoms. Or about 2mm in a week.

8th gear: the diameter of a single iron atom in about 200 seconds. Less than a micron in a week - he could have set this one in concrete comfortably, I think.

10th gear: the diameter of a single iron atom in nearly 6 days - if he ran the machine that long.

12th gear: the diameter of a single iron atom in about 40 years.

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17 replies

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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