Magnetic Elevator

[Gardamorg]

Ever since I found this site, I have been trying to come up with the perfect space craft propulsion method, the most efficient of them all, though I didn't realize this at first. But I think that I have come up with it.

A magnetic field's expansion in one direction could be used to push a magnet in a vacuum as means of space flight, as opposed to your typical rocket propulsion. A stationary structure could produce a tremendous magnetic field, that would repel a tremendous magnetic as it expands, this structure would be refueled as to maintain the energy it takes to generate a magnetic field that can expand beyond millions of miles in length in a matter of hours, causing the magnet to travel millions of miles in length in a matter of hours.

Although the space craft would have to travel in a straight line, and it still can't achieve 100% of the speed that light travels, it could travel at sub-lightspeed, the magnet is powerful enough that it will not sink through the magnetic field no matter how hard they're pushing together.

To prevent the magnet's axis from tilting, the magnetic field would be shaped like a tunnel at it's end.

I believe that this particular propulsion method is THE most efficient, and not because of the energy efficiency of forming and shaping a magnetic field, but because all the energy required is produced when shaping the magnetic field, and the magnetic field could be produced by a stationary structure on earth, that can hold way more fuel and produce way more energy than the space craft that's traveling.

With this method, over the course of a year, we could launch hundreds of crafts, (carrying photovoltaic solar panels) into the sun's orbit and harness the sun's vast energies.

[Zylatis]

Ok im not entirely sure i understand: are you saying you want to make a railgun-esque launch device? ie move a magnetically susseptible (sp) item from behind with a magnetic field. If so it wont work without the spaceship being supported from the side, as theres nothing to stop it flipping over to align with the magnetic field below which it will want to do.

If my initial observerations are incorrect ignore the above crap =)

[Gardamorg]

If so it wont work without the spaceship being supported from the side, as theres nothing to stop it flipping over to align with the magnetic field below which it will want to do.

Magnetic field's don't have to have a certain shape, the field could curve around the sides of the space craft, as well as behind it, to keep it from tilting it's axis.

[Zylatis]

that would require you to have current flowing perpendicular to the ship, ie a tunnel and so you mind as well just push it up

[Gardamorg]

Originally Posted by Zylatis

that would require you to have current flowing perpendicular to the ship, ie a tunnel and so you mind as well just push it up

I'm not sure what you mean.

[Moontanman]

Gardamorg, magnets could be used to accelerate an object in almost any context from a train on the earths surface to a magnetic sling from the surface of the earth or any other planetary body.

It could not be used to accelerate a manned vehicle to high speeds because the gee forces involved would turn a living being into paste. A magnetic field could only be used to accelerate an object at very close distances from the accelerator. The energy of a magnet drops off with the square of the distance so there would be some real problems with trying to accelerate anything except when It was very close to the magnet.

I can't see this being used to accelerate anything to much faster than a few miles a second at most due to acceleration stresses. No way to slow down at the end no way to accelerate once you a few meters beyond the launch mechanism. You could use such a device to sling objects into orbit but not much more than that.

[Gardamorg]

This is how the magnetic field would be shaped around the magnet it's repelling to avoid a tilting axis yet still take the magnet with it as it expands;

[Moontanman]

Originally Posted by Gardamorg

This is how the magnetic field would be shaped around the magnet it's repelling to avoid a tilting axis yet still take the magnet with it as it expands;

Again the acceleration of the magnetic field would only be for a few meters beyond that the magnetic field would drop off too much to accelerate the magnet.

[Gardamorg]

Originally Posted by Moontanman

Gardamorg, magnets could be used to accelerate an object in almost any context from a train on the earths surface to a magnetic sling from the surface of the earth or any other planetary body.

It could not be used to accelerate a manned vehicle to high speeds because the gee forces involved would turn a living being into paste.

What makes you thing there has to be an organic crew? Machines are manned, and they can function just as well when being operated via radio signals.

A magnetic field could only be used to accelerate an object at very close distances from the accelerator.

There is no accelerator, it's just a magnetic field growing larger.

The energy of a magnet drops off with the square of the distance so there would be some real problems with trying to accelerate anything except when It was very close to the magnet.

What makes you think the magnet leaves the magnetic field?

I can't see this being used to accelerate anything to much faster than a few miles a second at most due to acceleration stresses. No way to slow down at the end no way to accelerate once you a few meters beyond the launch mechanism. You could use such a device to sling objects into orbit but not much more than that.

If the magnetic field is wrapped completely around the magnet/space craft, when the magnetic field stops expanding the magnet will be force to stop, in order to avoid damage to the craft the magnetic field would have to gradually slow down it's expansion until it stops.

[Gardamorg]

Originally Posted by Moontanman

Again the acceleration of the magnetic field would only be for a few meters beyond that the magnetic field would drop off too much to accelerate the magnet.

So are you saying that magnet would sink through the magnetic field due to the force required to keep accelerating?