World's first wooden electrostatic engine?

Hi all,

Not claiming any new discovery's, but I'm proud to present my 100% wooden "engine"
Just having some fun with electrostatics and was surprised an joyed to see it work!
Not sure if my explanation is correct... but hey! I like it !

Interesting project . Does the type of wood used make a difference ?

a reply to: VengefulGhost

I don't think so, the moisture in the wood could make a difference.

Although the would used is aged an dryed for years.

Here is another vid not all wood, but same effect:

Neat, the ball looks like an eyeball.

It shows it works, But what can it be used for other than a neat conversation piece.?

Will that keep working for a really long time? Is the interval consistant, could it be used to tell time?

a reply to: rickymouse

tnx.

Lol, It might be possible to make a clock out of it, but i think you will need to encase it to have an steady air and wood humidity. And, you do understand it needs power?

But agreed, you could make a nice talking peace out of it.

For those interested in some electrostatic fun here is another one i made in my little exploration

Here i'm testing an electrostatic motor with two rotors on the same axle, one with three plates ( torque; according to science ) and one with 8 plates ( speed; idem ) on the same axle.
Why?
Because i like to tinker and experience hands on before i make up my mind : )

a reply to: EartOccupant

Really cool.

What other materials can you use? How do you think this might be applied?

Some people are buried in twitter and snapchat then you have inventors creating cool things.

a reply to: EartOccupant

cool video. any idea on energy consumed from source?
and can you get any useful torque from this engine?

a reply to: John_Rodger_Cornman

Tnx

Technically you could use almost any material.
There was some research on this ..but that disappeared, i think has gone dark.
I might have a video about it somewhere, i will look.

And an actual real world appliance for this, well there could be situations where metals are not wanted.
But hey, this is just a proof of concept.

a reply to: Hyperboles

I'm almost ashamed to say i do not have an idea about the power consumption.

I'm using an air ionizer from a second hand shop as power source.
I used an spectroscope and do know its negative ions DC , but that's all i know.
I can touch it, without dying ; ) I do get some small shocks every now and then.

The wooden engine does not deliver much useful torque, it's more a showcase of the concept.
Electrostatic engines in general are not very powerful but have there uses.
Although i've seen some more powerful designs recently popping up.

Fun fact: Trumps uncle was a researcher of these things, and even was involved in experiments using electrostatics as a satellite power-source.

Hi all, something completely different i noticed while doing some tinkering.
Any experts around?

Why does a combination of a magnet and a piece of iron differ in speed according to orientation, while falling to an aluminium tube?

There is no:

Change of mass
No change of magnetic strength.

Anyone a clue?

a reply to: EartOccupant

Ferromagnetic materials such as the screw focus a magnetic field in much the same way as a lens focusses light so the screw on the magnet is distorting the otherwise uniform magnetic field around it making it more concentrated at the screw end IE less to interact with the tube walls than there is at the magnet end. The speed variation appears to be determined by where the centre of mass is in relation to the shape of the magnetic field. This could be confirmed by timing the magnets alone falling through the tube which should be even slower the the two orientations with a screw attached even if something non-ferromagnetic is added to make up the same mass as the first combination due to a more uniform and wider field distribution.

a reply to: Pilgrum

Tnx for replying Pilgrum, it sounds feasible.
Maybe i try a timing experiment when i can find three combinations with the same weight.

a reply to: EartOccupant
You could also try reducing the air gap between the magnet assembly and the tube wall by using a larger magnet &/or smaller tube. An air gap in a magnetic field is analogous to a resistor in an electric circuit so less gap means higher flux density therefore higher induction in the tube wall.

a reply to: EartOccupant

ok no probs. thanx for your reply tho