About two years ago there was a plan to build a space rocket powered by two electromagnets disconecting - when two electromagnets disconnect from each other they release a large ammount of energy, there was a plan to harrness this and use it to power a space rocket. I havn't heard since about it.
2006-07-10 06:56:47 · 5 answers · asked by Alex B 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I think you may be referring to the ionic drive, which uses an electromagnetic coil to channel a stream of ions (electrical energy) in a single direction. It is a nice idea for a low-thrust, long-duration engine for interstellar flight.
There is also an idea for using electromagnet boosters to fire metallic projectiles as a propellant (relatively high thust, but oh, that backwash'll kill ya).
Electromagnetic rail guns have been proposed for surface to orbit, but there are some concerns about the weapons potential of the rail cannons when they are not being used for peaceful intent (read Heinlein's Moon is a Harsh Mistress for some possible applications).
So far, there have not been any "bootstrap drive" proposals such as you suggest (where two magnets pull each other along, ad infinitem), but if you have the schematics, there is probably a department chair waiting for you at MIT.
Cheers, and thanks for posting such a cool topic.
2006-07-10 07:28:12 · answer #1 · answered by Grendle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No... it's just in the form of a more mature form of girl power... Feminism. Haha.. men would run at the sight of that word. Honestly, I'm a thirteen year old girl... and I'm not exactly a feminist, but I can hold my own... but I just don't do any of the following: 1. Jump at a guy's throat cause he makes a sexist joke... we do that too. 2. Say I'm better than guys at sports or whatever because I think both genders are equal... Girl power isn't gone... the girls that HAVE girl power don't go overboard with it. If a boy makes a sexist joke? I'll laugh.. If he is dead serious about being sexist? I'll stand up for what I believe in... "Both genders are equal."
2016-03-26 23:51:38 · answer #2 · answered by Rebecca 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two magnets, or electromagnets, of the same polarity will repel each other. Motors use this force combined with attraction of opposite poles. Linear motors consist of a payload electromagnet of constant polarity passing a string of electromagnets (EMs)arrayed with such distance and timed to energize so that as the payload passes each, it is pulled ahead by the next (for the moment) linear EM and optionally pushed by it after having passed it. Greater aiming stability has been achieved by using pull-only however.
This has been conjectured as a useful method to launch lunar ore to be smelted in weightless foundries.
2006-07-10 07:09:36 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Electromagnetic Rail Gun has already been developed.
2006-07-10 07:14:01 · answer #4 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are talking about Ion Propulsion, there is a spacecraft called "Deep Space 1" already using it, see source.
2006-07-10 08:31:31 · answer #5 · answered by RedCoat999 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋