Center of gravity analysis of machines. by Donald E. SimanekOne
of the reasons that analysis of unworkable devices is
fascinating and educational is that there are usually several
valid approaches, all leading to the same conclusionsthe devices
don't work. Some methods that we have used on these pages
include: Take, for example, the most ancient of perpetual motion
wheels, the Baskara Wheel. It consisted of a wheel with evenly
spaced vials partially filled with sand, mercury or water.
Supposedly the weight of the material in the vials was always
biased toward one side of the wheel, causing that side to fall,
and since the "overbalance" was present in every wheel position,
the wheel should turn continually. But, to the frustration of
believers ever since, the wheel just sits there unmoving. We
often hear folks say that the possibility of perpetual motion
was believed because science hadn't advanced sufficiently to
deny it. I don't buy that. Let's examine this idea using only
principles well known from the time