Re: Is it possible to use gravity as an energy source?

Date: Thu Aug 2 12:30:16 2001
Posted By: Dan Berger, Faculty Chemistry/Science, Bluffton College
Area of science: Earth Sciences
ID: 996188813.Es

Message:

Is it possible to use gravity as an energy source?

Since gravity is a force that keeps us on ground, would it be possible to actually "capture" this energy and use it as electricity or other energy form?

Not only is it possible, but it's done all the time. Any device that converts gravitational potential energy into some other form of energy "captures" the energy of gravity, and the way it's done is to allow an object to fall and capture the motion. Some examples:

Counterweights allow us to move very heavy objects easily. They do this by offsetting the object's weight, using gravity acting on the counterweight.
Falling water, driven by the force of gravity, can be used to turn water wheels and turbines, to grind grain or generate electricity.
Many clocks, such as my father-in-law's cuckoo clock, are driven by a system of falling weights. The energy comes directly from gravity.

Of course, you don't get something for nothing; you have to expend energy to raise the weights or the water so they can fall!

Dan Berger

Bluffton College

http://www.bluffton.edu/~bergerd

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