theoreticly couldnt you put a generator that we use everday in power plants in space and just spin it as fast as humanly possible and then it would just spin forever? i mean if space is a vacum then there is no friction, or gravity slowing it down.
2006-06-27 13:07:01 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
there is friction in space as said before but it is also because there is matter in space, just not very much, and eventually it would cause the object to stpo spinning
2006-06-27 13:40:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're wrong in assuming that the absence of air and gravity will eliminate friction. But more importantly, you're overlooking the fact that a generator only puts out as much energy as is put into it, minus friction and other losses. The more electrical power you draw from the generator, the greater the resistance to rotation due to the magnetic field, and the more power you have to apply to keep it spinning.
2006-06-28 00:11:42 · answer #2 · answered by injanier 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While there is no gravity in space there is friction, just no friction due to air on your spinning generator. So assuming the spinning motion acted on something (lie a copper coil) it would eventually slow down.
2006-06-27 20:13:21 · answer #3 · answered by cinciskiguy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is still friction and resisting forces acting to slow down the generator. Besides the mechanical friction of the axis coming into contact with its support, contact points, etc, there is also the effect of countering the magnetic fields. This is also a form of resistance that will slow down the generator.
2006-06-27 21:45:31 · answer #4 · answered by ideaquest 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, not theoretically. The spinning of the magnet in the generator requires work, and you would need an infinite amount of energy to make the magnet spin forever, therefore it is impossible for this idea to work. In other words it is not theoretically feasible.
2006-06-27 20:48:03 · answer #5 · answered by dcg 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a generator the brushes are spring loaded against the shaft so there is friction.
2006-06-27 20:11:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
theoreticaly... once an object is put into motion it will continue until an outside force stops it... thus if the object had a clear path and nothing like gravity to slowly stop the object then it is likely it will be in perpetual motion incessantly.
2006-06-27 21:07:47 · answer #7 · answered by voni 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you take energy out of it, it will slow down. Energy is always conserved.
2006-06-27 20:53:19 · answer #8 · answered by beren 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋