The Energy System of Matter: A Deduction from Terrestrial Energy PhenomenaWeir, James, active 1883-1912
Science
The Energy System of Matter: A Deduction from Terrestrial Energy Phenomena
Weir, James, active 1883-1912
Force and energy
Under the given conditions, then, any vibratory motion of the pendulum
masses to and from the central axis would be accompanied by alternate
retardation and acceleration of the moving system. The storage of energy
in the springs (central and radial) produces retardation, the
restoration of this energy gives rise to a corresponding acceleration.
The angular velocity of the system would rise and fall accordingly.
These are the natural conditions of working of the system. As already
pointed out, the motion of the pendulum masses may be regarded as
executed over the surface of an imaginary sphere. Their motion against
the radial springs would therefore correspond to a displacement outwards
or upwards from the spherical surface. A definite part of the effect of
retardation is, of course, due to this outward or radial displacement of
the masses.
Assuming still the property of constancy of energy of rotation, let it
now be supposed that in such a vibratory movement of the pendulum masses
as described above, the energy required merely for the displacement of
the masses _against the radial springs_ is not withdrawn from and
obtained at the expense of the original rotatory energy of the system,
but is obtained from some energy agency, completely external to the
system, and to which energy cannot be returned. The retardation,
normally due to the outward displacement of the masses against the
radial springs, would not then take place. But the energy is,
nevertheless, stored in the springs. It now, therefore, forms part of
the energy of the system, and consequently, on the returning or inward
movement of vibration of the masses towards the central axis, this
energy, received from the external source, would pass directly from the
springs to the rotational energy of the system. It is clear, then, that
while the introduction of energy in this fashion from an external source
has in part eliminated the effect of retardation, the accelerating
effect must still operate as before. Each vibratory movement of the
pendulum system, under the given conditions, will lead to a definite
increase in its energy of rotation by the amount stored in the radial
springs. If the vibratory movement is continuous, the rotatory velocity
of the system will steadily increase in value. Energy once stored in the
radial springs can only be released by the return movement of the masses
and _in the form of energy of rotation_; the nature of the mechanical
machine is, in fact, such that if any incremental energy is applied to
the displacement of the masses against the radial springs, it can only
be returned in this form of energy of motion.
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