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OLD TIMER WINS
IMPOSSIBLE ARGUMENT! By
Norris Chambers
“There is a strong gravity force that pulls downward with
tremendous power!” I told him. “Where there is power there can be
motion if it is properly applied. There is tremendous power in the sun,
the tides and the magnetic field of the earth. A permanent magnet exerts
power in its own way.”
His argument was the old belief that it will take more power to
harness any of this power than can be generated from it. Of course that
has been the problem that has kept us from using this free power.
“If I can make a little motor that will run continuously, day
and night, without stopping, will you admit you lost the argument?” He
was quick to agree and told me to get busy. I already had an idea so I
started making some serious looking formulas and drawings on a clip
board and told him I was already deep into the problem. The paper work
didn’t mean anything, but it made the project look more impressive.
The actual work on the model would start in my radio shop at home.
My first step in building my motor was to take a match stick with
the striking end removed and insert a sewing needle in each end with the
point protruding. This was to provide a shaft for my motor that would
encounter practically no friction from the end bearings. The needle
points would revolve in a slight dent in a nail on each end of a wooden
base.
I had built a similar motor a few years earlier. The secret to
success was to keep everything very light and well balanced and have
well tuned coils. The motor was not perpetual motion, but someone not
knowing its secret might wonder how it continued to run. Actually, the
answer was pretty simple. The small mount of power required for the
rotation was obtained from the broadcast signal of a nearby radio
station.
The signal was received by a loop antenna tuned carefully to the
frequency of the station. The signal that was present was rectified by a
high frequency diode and a condenser and was applied to the simple coil
and permanent magnet arrangement of the motor. The rotor turned at a
moderate speed and would continue to do so as long as the station was on
the air. Luckily the strong nearby station was on the air 24 hours a
day.
I arrived a little early the next day and prepared to set my
motor to work. Luckily, we were in an outside room with very little
steel in the structure and there was enough signal from the station to
operate my motor. I placed it prominently on the work bench and waited
to see the expression on Dave’s face when he arrived and saw the
successful model doing its job.
When Dave arrived the first thing he saw was the active motor
doing its thing. He grinned a little and said, “Well, it looks like
you got it going.” He then walked over and inspected it closely.
“Where have you hidden the battery?” he asked.
“No battery!” I answered. “You can take my word for it or
disassemble it and see for yourself. It’s true perpetual motion.”
“I don’t think so.” His answer was very positive and it was
evident that further argument would be useless. I figured it was time to
bring the subject to an end I patiently explained to him how the little
motor operated on power radiated by the radio station. Then I explained
to him the terms of our agreement and told him that I was claiming a win
for my argument.
“I guess you tricked me into losing the argument,” he
responded, “but perpetual motion is still not possible.” I told him
I accepted his congratulations and asked him a question.
“What do you think about the new proposal to install speed
control devices on all automobiles and open up constant surveillance by
computer enforcement? I think it’s a good idea.”
Another argument began. Are arguments fun? There are many types
of arguments – you should only get involved in the FUN types!
Remember, it is more fun to win than to lose.
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