Dissipation and mass redistribution as a mechanism of propulsion in closed systems

• Autor(a) principal: Xavier Jr,Ademir L
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira de Ensino de Física (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1806-11172019000400417
• topic: closed systems; dissipation; propulsion; self-propulsion; reactionless drive

Abstract In this work, the mechanism behind motion in closed systems is investigated by studying two simple mechanical systems. Firstly, a simple “ballistic” car system introduces the subject of propulsion as a function of a parameter that modulates the amount of ejected mass, thus allowing a transition between a closed to an open system. The second example provides a physically realizable (and optimizable) system, in which a mass sliding on the internal surface of a mechanical wheeled cavity is shown to produce a net movement, provided that dissipation is present. Several additional ways are discussed by which to ‘open’ a system whilst keeping the mass constant. As a function of strict momentum conservation, it is concluded that both internal mass motion and dissipation are key factors in the only way a mechanical system can move itself in a weak sense, in contrast to a strong meaning of ‘self-propulsion’.