6o 



THE SEVEN FOLLIES OF SCIENCE 



small opening of the tube with practically little or no fric- 

 tion, and also without leakage. The tube is then filled with 

 water. The rope above the line WX balances over the 

 pulley, and so does that below the line YZ . The rope in 



Fig. 14. 



the tube between these lines is lifted by the water, while 

 the rope on the other side of the pulley between these lines 

 is pulled downward by gravity. 



The inventor offers the above suggestion rather as a 

 kind of puzzle than as a sober attempt to solve the famous 

 problem, and he concludes by asking why it will not work ? 



In addition to the usual resistance or friction offered by 

 the air to all motion, there are four drawbacks : 



1. The friction in its bearings of the axle of the wheel B. 



2. The power required to bend and unbend the rope. 



3. The friction of the rope in passing through the water 

 from z to x and its tendency to raise a portion of the water 

 above the level of the water at x. 



