Propulsive Effects of a Rotating Mass 



Q. 



(9. 



-R< 



Fig. 8 - Graph plot of Q against t 



rotating in space. We studied above all the device with two masses indicated in 

 Fig. 3. The tests were carried out on land, in the water, and in the air, with no 

 saving of time. We can now report the most important results of these tests. 



Land Tests 



These tests were carried out on the floor, on horizontal tables, and on 

 inclined planes. 



Figure 9 shows a device with two masses placed at the front extremities 

 of two sets of longitudinal poles, one of which is attached to two transverse 

 poles which rest on the floor by means of four heels. The device weighs 30 

 kg; the two masses consist of two pieces of lead each weighing 200 grams, and 

 are driven by an electric motor. 



In Fig. 10 the results of the tests are shown; in the abscissa we have the 

 speed with which the device moves on the floor, and in the ordinate the gross 

 motor power absorbed by the apparatus. Since it was a small motor and since 

 we did not have at our disposal any torque meter qualified to calibrate these 

 motors, we cannot effectively say what the net power absorbed by the device is. 

 K, in the case we are considering, we assume that the efficiency is 0.25 for the 

 motor and the transmission, we may deduce that at the maximum speed of 0.41 

 m/sec the net power measured on the motor shaft is 50 watts. 



1381 



