G'day Niels, Something that's puzzling me is that the potential energy of a falling weight is directed vertically downwards and the kinetic energy will not be converted to forward movement unless it acts against a deflecting force as it might in your invention. So I can see that your invention might work albeit probably with a very slight mechanical advantage. However, if your arms move horizontally as they fall to provide the deflection they will be doing work to propel the kayak. Alternatively if they are static as your arms fall they will both provide a braking force to the blade in the water and consume energy as the muscles are continually triggered faster than their relaxation time to maintain position against the braking force. A double inefficiency. Its late here so I may not be thinking straight but happy to hear it explained. All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Apr 29 2011 - 03:07:47 PDT
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