Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site iham1.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!iham1!gjphw From: gjphw@iham1.UUCP (wyant) Newsgroups: net.physics,net.research,net.misc Subject: Re: Newman's Energy Machine (2) Message-ID: <474@iham1.UUCP> Date: Tue, 5-Nov-85 11:28:46 EST Article-I.D.: iham1.474 Posted: Tue Nov 5 11:28:46 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 7-Nov-85 04:28:02 EST References: <175@tulane.UUCP> <471@iham1.UUCP> <536@talcott.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 42 Xref: watmath net.physics:3499 net.research:316 net.misc:8841 Since this seems to be a juicy new topic, I will go ahead and bite. > .... since the potential energy stored > in something CONTRIBUTES TO ITS RESTMASS. It is unclear to me how potential energy contributes to an object's rest mass. All of the cases known to me, small though that may be, show that mechanical potential energy is due solely to the location of an object within some force field. Potential energy is due to location and not the mass of an object. Examples include gravitational potential energy (an object above some reference level within a gravitational field), electrostatic potential energy (a charged object in an electric field), and harmonic or spring potential energy (an object away from the equilibrium position of a spring). Since the potential energy, compared to some reference, is due to location, there would seem to be no necessity to treat it as part of the rest mass. This also violates my naive concept that the rest mass, like electric charge, is a constant property of an object independent of location and velocity. Some of the rest mass of the (atomic) nucleus is stored as binding energy to overcome the electrostatic or coulomb repulsion. But this reduces the rest mass of the nucleus from its component parts, not increases it. I remain confused... > You are evidently thinking of the annihilation of electrons, protons, > and neutrons by antimatter. Being a mere mortal, I am not knowledgeable of many other mechanisms for mass to energy conversion except by mass annihilation (however, if you consider potential energy to be stored as part of the rest mass, then other means of mass conversion do suggest themselves). However, you may wish to argue either that I am simply unaware of other known mechanisms for mass conversion (certainly possible) or that Mr. Newman has discovered a different mechanism (which is not yet recognized). Another mechanism for converting mass into energy is nuclear fusion, but that was not mentioned as being utilized in the Newman machine (and the device was primarily composed of copper). Fusion is also accompanied by some energetic radiation. Patrick Wyant AT&T Bell Laboratories (Naperville, IL) *!ihwld!gjphw