Missbee

Thanks for the input. This makes me feel so much better about the intellectual abilities of classically trained scientists!

I didn't think turbines were an option for this particular project, but what you show well falls within the broad requirements.

I'm confused - I have a hobby that prompts people to endlessly remind me that perpetual motion is impossible. And yet everything I see and know states that motion is the only constant. Umm??? So confused. Edification please. Thanks in advance to the forum. I am positively delighted to have found this forum. This is better than s'mores (though nothing beats a campfire for pure enjoyment).

1. Passive solar is simply using the heat that comes from the sun without anything fancy (i.e. no panels or batteries) 2. Yes the water can definitely run back down. In my original design the returning water added to the momentum that ran the fountain and in all of my designs water coming back down is the main reason for the invention. 3. There are many who have said that what I want to do defies the second law of thermodynamics and is therefore impossible (which is quite untrue) so I added the springs and gears option. My theory is that the fountain could be built like a clock. Though it is not 100% true to my original idea, a water clock of sorts would satisfy. Most excellent! In all my years of asking scientists you are the first to be aware of this device. I learned of the 1800s version when I presented my project to a farmer at a 4H Jimmy Pop engine convention (as one would expect from farmers the "convention" was in an empty lot in the middle of a small town). Now that we have a prior version of the fountain on the table, let's see if we can expand the design - my ideal design is for this to work with water wheels instead of tanks. I have a sudden desire to study Archimedes! I don't think the screw, however, qualifies here as one needs to put in constant energy to get the water to flow. What we need here is a short investment followed by a more prolonged return. But then again perhaps I've misunderstood A's screw. As for using the sun to create the steam to drive a turbine - has this been done? For my purposes I would have to say that turbines aren't allowed, but am fascinated by the consept. Indeed, indeed. Capillary action is one of the things that told me that my invention was quite possible but it doesn't get me to where I want to go, which is to some sort of fountain (which I decided not to note when initially presenting my challenge to the forum). The bottle with a small hole in a vice totally on point and super basic. Have to say I feel pretty dim not having thought of it. It is as a simple way to point out that what I want is totally doable. So what's the next step - how does this get taken to the next level of creativity, artistry and sophistication?

Hullo! I'm an armature scientist, engineer, pre-med sort of person. Raised by highly intelligent parents, equipped with insatiable curiosity and blessed with many mentors, I consider myself to be well educated. I am very pleased that I have always held my ground and gone for direct entry education rather than university. It leaves my mind free to wander, theorize, speculate and postulate. For my first post I have offered up a challenge: http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/67877-a-challenge-for-the-forum/ I am pleased to be here. I have already found the forum to be funny, practically informative and challenging. I already find myself knee deep in Einstein's fish riddle (http://www.englishforums.com/English/EinsteinsRiddleFish/bhvj/post.htm) Cheers! B

Hello the forum. I would like to introduce myself by way of a challenge. Make water move uphill Create a fountain that takes an initial short input of kinetic energy and runs for a few minutes or a few hours or whatever. Rules: No electricity Magnets are allowed Gears are allowed Gears and springs only as a last resort Passive solar is allowed To give a bit of context : I have been working on this project for two decades and can tell you that your initial assumptions may well miss the mark (judging from the many conversations I have had with scientists over the decades). My hope is that the challenge I present you is worthy, illuminating or both.