Energy from asteroids orbiting each other. Would it work?

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mason_strong

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I have an idea for a method of getting energy from the tidal, gravitational forces produced from one object orbiting another in space. Please understand that this would be, compared to all of the knowledge possessed by humanity at present, a very complicated idea. And I'm no expert. But I think it could work.<br /><br />Start with two large asteroids, though one will much bigger than the other. The smaller one will be approximately 5 percent the mass of the larger. Place the small one in orbit around it, like a planet would orbit a moon. A "satellite asteroid", if you will, orbiting what I will call the larger, "parent asteroid". Suspend a vastly smaller mass in between them both. This mass, call it, well, "the weight", would have to be so small that its own gravity does not significantly alter the positions of either of the asteroids; for a practical energy generating device, I'd suggest that whatever orbital alterations it made would be virtially unnoticable (a subjective term I know, but I'm sure a reasonable definition could be worked out with more research) for millions of years. The mass will be placed in between the orbit of the satellite asteroid, to the point where the satellite will pull it up when it passes over. After it passes away, the weight would begin to fall, pulled down by the parent asteroid. In some way, the weight would be attached to an energy creating device anchored to the parent asteroid. Perhaps the weight could be secured to the middle of a long cable. The cable could be attached at both end to large pistons, or generators. These would sit atop large towers that were securely anchored to the parent asteroid. <br /><br />Each time the satellite asteroid passed overhead, the weight would be pulled up. Whenever it went back around, the parent asteroid would pull it back down. It works on the same principle of gravitational interaction as the tides found in the earth/moon system, as well as many moons of the gas giants. I realize this plan would
 
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nexium

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We may be able to test your hypothesis soon. At www.liftport.com we are discussing the Space Elevator. Some alternatives to the 91,000 kilometer ribbon are as long as 250,000 kilometers (with a puny counterweight at the end) which is close enough to Earth's moon several times per month, perhaps stretching the ribbon enough that several possible winches might generate electricity instead of using electricity. Even rare electric production would mostly confirm your hypothesis. Problems are our moon's gravity is 1/6 g and big asteroids a only about 0.01 g, so there is not much energy to be produced by this method. Also the moon will tend to pull the counterweight sideways more than outward. Neil
 
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tomnackid

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To generate electricity you need to move a conductor through a magnetic field. when you do this the magnetic field exerts a force against the conductor impeding its movement. The faster you try and move the conductor the more electricity you generate, but the harder it gets to move the conductor. If you have ever cranked a hand or bicycle powered generator you have felt this effect. In fact this is used to brake large electric locomotives. The electric motors are reversed and become generators. The motion of the locomotive now generates electricity, slowing it down. Something similar would happen if you tried to generate electricity from the motion of a body in space. The act of generating electricity would rob the body of its kinetic energy (motion). Now if the body were big enough you could get a lot of electricity out of it before it becomes unusable. For example we can extract energy from earth's tides--in other words from the motion of the earth and the moon. It barely makes any difference in the overall motion of the earth and moon. In fact the earth's rotation is slowing down everyday by a fraction of a second due to the action of the tides and our use of it to generate electricity would hardly even register.<br /><br />Asteroids are commonly found orbiting one another. This could be a quick and dirty way to generate electricity while at the same time altering the orbits of asteroids.
 
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webtaz99

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Where is the moving part(s) in a transformer? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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MeteorWayne

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<img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />Ain't physics wonderful <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>
 
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bitbanger

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Actually what is moving is the magnetic field.<br /><br />Which is why transformers only work with AC current, not DC.
 
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webtaz99

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That was my point. Making electricity only requires a changing field, not a moving one. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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nexium

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Another possible variation if the asteroids are tide locked = keep the same face toward each other, a ribbon (tieing the asteroids together) with a winch at each end can generate some electricity, each time the asteroids move apart until the orbit is circularized. Neil
 
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why06

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I agree with all others.. <br /><br />You would generate something but it would be terribly enefficient. you could use this idea maybe if you wanted to build a shack on a asteroid, but I would take my energy from the sun. It is a virtual power house of energy. <br /> Using something like the dyno-sphere you mentioned could genrate devastating amounts of energy.Earthligs would have to be having to be up to something terrible to use that much power. <br /><br />George Bush: "Since we can not defeat the terrorist we will move the entire solar system away from them"<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div>________________________________________ <br /></div><div><ul><li><font color="#008000"><em>your move...</em></font></li></ul></div> </div>
 
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billslugg

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Mason_Strong<br />Correct! There is gravitational potential energy between objects. By rods, levers, cables, or generators you can extract energy. The efficiency depends upon how clever you are. Understand that the objects will eventually come close enough to merge and the party will be over. <br /><br />Edited to remove babble/attempt to insert info <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>
 
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superluminal

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Very nice answer. <br />I've learned a truth today.<br />Thank You. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><br /><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Columbia and Challenger </font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Starships of Heroes</font></strong></p> </div>
 
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publiusr

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I have thought about SPS systems around the sun itself...or perhaps tethers around Jupiter to discarge some of that power...
 
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keermalec

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At the Lagrange point between the two bodies their gravities are equal and opposite. If the "weight" moves beyond the lagrange point, it cannot be pulled back as one gravitational attraction is now larger than the other.<br /><br />You can therefore not generate energy with such a scheme as the weight will move only once, and not back and forth.<br /><br />I believe the best way of generating energy from gravity is using tides. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>“An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.” John F. Kennedy</em></p> </div>
 
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kelvinzero

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(edit: oops, missed mention of tides in last post)<br /><br />This sounds similar to extracting energy from the tidal force on earth, ie anchoring a buoy somewhere and using its rise and fall with the tide to drive a piston.<br /><br />Its not a perpetual motion machine, if thats what you are looking for <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />
 
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publiusr

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If you can slice an asteroid up, or find two asteroids merely in contact--you might make a bola--where rotational energy becomes translational energy. release one end at the proper time, and the only thrust needed is to adjust the axis of rotation...
 
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publiusr

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<p>Wasn't there a recent article talking about a triple asteroid system?</p>
 
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Swampcat

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Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Wasn't there a recent article talking about a triple asteroid system? <br />Posted by publiusr</DIV><br /><br /><font color="#008080"><p><font color="#ff6600">Triple Asteroid Found Near Earth</font> </p></font> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>
 
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