Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

1. Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential? Benjamin T Solomon iSETI LLC PO Box 831 Evergreen, CO 80437, USA http://www.iSETI.us/ The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005

2. Objective of the Presentation Objective: To seriously investigate Laithwaite’s claims of “mass transfer”: 1. As this potentially has a bearing on the work of researchers, such as Podkletnov & Nieminen (1992), Hayasaka & Takeuchi (1989), Luo, Nie, Zhang, & Zhou (2002). 2. To present a potential avenue for gravity modification research, based on the Special Theory of Relativity. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

3. Agenda 1. Some Theoretical Considerations 2. Deconstructing the Laithwaite & NASA Experiments 3. What did Laithwaite Demonstrate? 4. The Solomon-Laithwaite Experiments The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

4. Some Theoretical Considerations Section Objective: To present a case for time dilation as the primary cause of motion, and therefore, of the gravitational field. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

5. Time Dilation Time slows down as the velocity of an object increases. That is the “distance” between clock ticks increases. Note that the effect is non-linear, and not noticeable at “normal” velocities. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

6. Time Dilation Time slows down as one approaches the center of a gravitational source. Or the “space” between clock ticks increases as one approaches the source of a gravitational field. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

7. Time Dilation The time dilation behavior of a gravitational field is such that the escape velocity is strictly governed by the Lorentz-FitzGerald transformation equation for time dilation. Ve = c . √ ( 1 – (1 / te )2 ) Ve = escape velocity at a given altitude te = time dilation at the same altitude. C = velocity of light, 299,792,458 m/s The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

8. Time Dilation The hypothesis of “An Epiphany on Gravity”1, was that time dilation causes gravity, not the other way around, as with modern physics. Source: Ben Solomon, “A New Approach to Gravity & Space Propulsion Systems”, International Space Development Conference 2005, May 25, San Jose, California. (http://www.iseti.us/) 1Ben Solomon, “An Epiphany on Gravity”, Journal of Theorectics, December 3, 2001, Vol. 3-6. (http://www.iseti.us/) The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

9. Hunt for the Window: Gravity versus Centripetal Force Field You have to find the window where physics behaves “differently”. Bob Schlitters The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

10. Principle of Equivalence The Principle of Equivalence (Schutz 2003) states that if gravity were everywhere uniform we could not distinguish it from acceleration. That is a point observer within a gravitational field would not be able to distinguish between a gravitational field and acceleration. Taking this to the limit, we will assume that any relationship with respect to the Lorentz-FitzGerald transformation and gravitational fields are interchangeable. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

11. Key to Analysis The key to the theoretical analysis is to compare the gravitational field and the centripetal force field in their entirety, and not as a point observer in the field. Tangential Further, we will use the nomenclature ‘tangential’, and ‘radial’ to represent the orthogonal relationships of orbital and freefall motion respectively. We will compare gravitational with centripetal, tangential, and radial motions respectively. Radial The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

12. Time Dilation Formulae Tangential time dilation, tt, at a distance, R, from the center of a gravitational field is given by tt = 1 / √( 1 -GM/(R.c2) ) Tangential time dilation , tt, at a distance, r, from the center of a plate spinning at ω revolutions per second, is given by tt = √( 1 – ω2.r2 / c2 ) The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

13. Tangential Time Dilation as f(Radial Distance) Centripetal Force Field Gravitational Field Computational Fault Line Gradient is POSITIVE Gradient is NEGATIVE If gyroscopic spin is to produce gravity modifications, of the type that results in some amount of weightlessness, the gyroscopic spin has to result in a parameter value that is opposite to gravity’s. Gradient is a good candidate. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

14. 1st Part of the Window 1st Part of the Window: The magnitude and direction of the time dilation vector created by gravitational or centripetal fields are indicators of the type of force field. Increasing Time Dilation ≡ Increasing Force The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

15. Gradient & Curvature Formulae: Gravity Tangential gradient, dtt/dR , and curvature, Ct, at a distance, R, from the center of a gravitational field is given by dtt/dR = - (GM/2c2)/R2 Ct = [(Kt/R3).((1- Kt/R)-3/2) + (3Kt2/4R4).((1- Kt/R)-5/2)]/[1 + (Kt2/4R4)/(1- Kt/R)3]3/2 ≈ d2tt/dR2 ≈ (GM/c2)/ R3 where Kt = GM/c2 The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

16. Gradient & Curvature Formulae: Centripetal Force Gradient, dtt/dR , and curvature, Ct, at a distance, r, from the center of a plate spinning at ω revolutions per second, is given by dtt/dr = (kr r).(1 - kr r2)-3/2 Ct = [kt.(1- ktr2)-3/2 + (3.kt2.r2).(1- ktr2)-5/2] / [1 + {(krr).(1 – kr.r2)-3/2)}2]3/2 ≈ d2tt/dr2 ≈ kt. + 3.kt2 . r2 where kt = ω2 / c2 The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

17. Tangential Gradient & Curvature as f(Radial Distance) Centripetal Force Field Gravitational Field • Curvature is POSITIVE • Change in Curvature ≠ constant • Gradient is POSITIVE • Change in Gradient = constant • Curvature is POSITIVE • Change in Curvature ≠ constant • Gradient is NEGATIVE • Change in Gradient ≠ constant If correct, gravitational effects are due to gradient, and not curvature. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

18. 2nd Part of the Window 2nd Part of the Window: The force created by gravitational or centripetal fields are a function of the gradient of the time dilation vector. Positive gradient = repulsion Negative gradient = attraction The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

19. Gravitation versus Centripetal Force Field • Gravity’s time dilation field is funnel shaped. • Centripetal force’s time dilation field is conic. • There isn’t any radial time dilation. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

20. Gravitational Field For a Gravitational Field the relationship between tangential and radial time dilation is given by, 1/tr2 – 1/tt2 = 1 Radial Time Dilation Tangential Time Dilation The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

21. Rotation & Spin Field For a Gyroscopic Centripetal Field the relationship between tangential and radial time dilation has not yet been determined. Tangential Time Dilation Tangential Time Dilation When Rotation exceeds a threshold value, the “flat”, tangential only, time dilation field pops and centripetal forces facilitate a radial time dilation field. The figures depict field strength values, not physical shape. Radial Time Dilation With Rotation No Rotation The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

22. Deconstructing the Laithwaite & NASA Experiments Section Objective: To deconstruct both Laithwaite’s and NASA’s experiments in a manner as to, 1. Ask the most possible questions. 2. Present theoretical validation or rebuttal of the observed effects. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

23. Prof Eric Laithwaite – A Short Biography • -Prof. Eric Laithwaite (1921 - 1997) • The inventor of the linear motor • The inventor of the maglev technology used in Japanese and German high speed trains. • Emeritus Professor of Heavy Electrical Engineering at Imperial College, London, UK • -Presented some anomalous gyroscopic behavior for the Faraday lectures at the Royal Institution, in 1973. • -Included in this lecture-demonstration was a big motorcycle wheel weighing 50lb. • -He spun and raised effortlessly above his head with one hand, claiming it had lost weight and so contravened Newton's third law. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

24. Excerpts for BBC Video ‘Heretic’ Video courtesy of Gyroscopes.org, http://www.gyroscopes.org/ The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

25. Laithwaite – Inferred Big Wheel Weight Laithwaite Demonstration: Prof. Eric Laithwaite’s carries a 50 lb wheel with both hands. • My Duplication: • I was comfortable with a 40 lb weight. • I could just barely carry a 60 lb weight. My Conclusion: The total weight of the wheel was some where between 40 and 60 lbs. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

26. Laithwaite – Inferred Gyroscopic Big Wheel Weight Laithwaite Demonstration: Note that, Prof. Eric Laithwaite’s wrist is apparently carrying the full 50 lb wheel, on a horizontal rod. At this point the rod is moving horizontally. • My Duplication: • Using a 3 foot pole weighing 2.5 lb: • I could just barely carry a 3 lb weight at its end. • I could not lift a 7 lb weight with my wrist alone. • My Conclusion: • The total effective weight of the wheel and rod could not have been much greater than 5.5 lb. • A rotation of about 6-7 rpm is insufficient to keep the wheel lifted by centripetal force (requires at least 80 rpm). The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

27. Is the wrist capable of a moment of ? 50 lb x 32 ft/s2 x 3 ft = 3,072 lbft2/s2 23 kg x 9.8 m/s2 x 1 m = 225 Nm Weight is 50 lb (23 kg) If Weight Exists, Suggests (1) Conclusion: Gyroscopic forces do not allow a substantial amount of the weight to be felt at the wrist (?) The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

28. Is the wrist capable of ? 50 lb (23 kg) weight back hand motion Is Total System Weight is 50 lb (23 kg) + Laithwaite’s weight ? Weight is 50 lb (23 kg) If Total System Weight is Conserved, Suggests (2) Conclusion: How does total system weight include gyroscope weight if it is not felt at the wrist? Also, consider that Laithwaite is doing a “back hand” with 50 lbs. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

29. Laithwaite – Big Wheel Properties Laithwaite Demonstration: Note that, the wheel design, is not solid but it has a substantial mass in the non-rim rotating plane. Also, note that the transparency (bottom picture) suggest a rotation greater than 3,000 rpm. My Conclusion: I estimate that the non-rim rotating plane mass is about 20% to 30% of the mass of the whole wheel or about 10 to 17 lbs. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

30. NASA Experiment* • NASA Experiment: • Used a bicycle wheel 6 – 10 inches in diameter. • Rotation was achieved by hand. • Inferred NASA Experiment Parameters: • Wheel diameter about 8 inches (20cm). • Rotation about 60 rpm. • Wheel properties: • Hollow plane of rotation. • Mass essentially at rim. • Estimated non-rim rotating plane mass is less than 2%, of the wheel. Picture courtesy of How Stuff Works, http://science.howstuffworks.com/gyroscope1.htm * Conservation with Marc Millis of NASA Glen on 06/22/2005 The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

31. Demonstration of Gyroscopes http://science.howstuffworks.com/gyroscope1.htm Comments: This video is an example of the experiment NASA conducted. Note that the period of precession is about 14s or equivalent to 4.3 rpm. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

32. Analysis of How-Stuff-Works Video My Conclusion: Theoretical results match observed results quite well. The mathematical relationships for precession,are correct. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

33. Comparisons Between Laithwaite & NASA Experiments • Inferences: • There are substantial differences between Prof. Laithwaite’s demonstration and NASA’s experiment. • The theoretical results differ significantly from observed values. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

34. Theoretical Sensitivity Ranges: • 1. 1.5m ≤ Lever Arm Length ≤ 2.5m • 2. 0.26m ≤ Gyro Radius ≤ 0.34m • 3. 4,500 rpm ≤ Gyro Spin ≤ 5,500 rpm 167 rpm ≤ωprecession ≤ 580 rpm Big Wheel ωprecession≈ 7 rpm Rotating Precession Frequency (Hz) 2.78 Hz ≤ωprecession ≤ 9.68 Hz 1.6 0.0 1.2 0.8 Ratio of Spin Disc Radius to Rotating Lever Arm 0.4 5500 0.0 RPM 500 Estimation Error Sensitivity Not Significant The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

35. Estimation Error Inference One concludes that: the phenomenon Laithwaite was demonstrating was not gyroscopic precession, because the practical results do not match theoretical results by two orders of magnitude. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

36. The Key Questions: What is the Total System Weight? When? Precession Spin Torque = Gravity Can we, in a scientifically robust manner, answer two questions: What is the Net Weight of the Gyroscope? And When? The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

37. What did Laithwaite demonstrate? Section Objective: To review what Laithwaite had presented. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

38. Different Phenomena Hypothesis: Laithwaite demonstrated 2 different phenomena, weight loss and directional motion. • Big Wheel Demonstration: The Laithwaite Effect • Under one set of conditions a spinning disc will lose weight, independently of its orientation with the Earth’s gravitational field. • Small Wheel Demonstration: The Jones Effect1 • Under another set of conditions spinning discs will provide directional motion that is dependent upon the gyroscopic orientation of the device. 1. Alex Jones was the first to demonstrate this effect. Source: BBC’s ‘Heretic”. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

39. Precession versus Rotation Is this big wheel PRECESSING or ROTATING? The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

40. Spin Precession Spin Precession Torque = Gravity Torque = Gravity Not Precession • The analysis of the Big Wheel demonstration, shows that precession due to gravity is perpendicular to the gravitational field. Weight loss requires the equivalent of a vertical upward force. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

41. Rotation is also clockwise (from above) Precession is clockwise (from above) Spin Spin Pivot Pivot ≈ Precession occurs when lever arm length is < wheel radius (?) ≈ Rotation occurs when lever arm length is > wheel radius (?) Torque = Gravity Torque = Gravity Precession versus Rotation • I believe that there is a key difference in the demonstrated behavior. The natural frequency of the precessing Big Wheel should be 157 rpm, clockwise. However, Laithwaite is rotating the Big Wheel at about 7 rpm.The Big Wheel is rotating, not precessing. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

42. Precession SIDE VIEW TOP VIEW Net Force Spin Net Force Net Force Pivot Point Net Force ≈ Precession occurs when net forces change direction across plane of rotation Pivot Point Precession Torque = Gravity Gyroscopic Precession Forces • Precession causes the net forces acting on the wheel to be bidirectional with respect to the pivot. They change direction from towards the pivot to away from the pivot. Precessing net forces acting on the wheel change sign/direction. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

43. Rotation Rotation SIDE VIEW TOP VIEW Net Force Spin Net Force Net Force Net Force Pivot Point Pivot Point ≈ Rotation occurs when net forces are centripetal across plane of rotation Torque = Gravity Centripetal Forces • Rotation causes the net forces acting on the disc to be centripetal towards the pivot. Rotating net forces acting on the wheel are centripetal. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

44. The Four Laithwaite Rules: Rule 1 Rule 1: A rotating gyroscope does not exhibit lateral forces in the plane of rotation The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

45. The Four Laithwaite Rules: Rule 2 Rule 2: A rotating gyroscope does not exhibit centrifugal forces in the plane of rotation The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

46. The Four Laithwaite Rules: Rule 3 Rule 3: A rotating gyroscope will not exhibit angular momentum in the plane of rotation The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

47. The Four Laithwaite Rules: Rule 4 Rule 4: A rotating gyroscope will lose weight The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

48. Solomon-Laithwaite Experiments Section Objective: To present the experiments and results obtained to date. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

49. Experimental Set-Up Upper Stand Houses Bearings to Enable Free Rotational Movement Flywheel (55lbs) Spin Ball Bearing Tube of Upper Stand Rotation Lower Stand (Steel Tube) Supports Upper Stand Massive Steel Table Steel Bars to Secure Lower Stand to Table Torque = Gravity Weight Scale (up to 400 lbs) Measures Total System Weight The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?

50. Some Things to Note • The rotation is in the opposite sense of what precession allows. • Rotation is at most 10 rpm (revs) << than precession. • Weight measurement is of Total System Weight. • Weight of spinning flywheel is the same as stationary wheel when not rotating. • No nutation (wobble within a wobble) is allowed. • Weight loss not due to inertia. • Weight “crashes” back and exceeds when rotation slows down to zero. The 8th International Mars Society Conference 2005 Does the Laithwaite Gyroscopic Weight Loss have Propulsion Potential?