[ale] OT: Maglev funding?

[Geoffrey]

Jim Kinney wrote:
> On Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 1:33 PM, Geoffrey <lists at serioustechnology.com> wrote:
>> Jim Kinney wrote:
>>> On Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 12:21 PM, Geoffrey <lists at serioustechnology.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I was specifically referring to when a loaded car takes a curve.
>>>> Certainly a load of 80 tons is going to 'push' the car to the outside of
>>>> the curve?
>>>>
>>> It's not the weight of the car that will cause it to "push" to the
>>> outside of the track on a curve. It's inertia. The car will keep
>>> trying to go in a straight line. But tracks try to curve out from
>>> under the wheels and are stopped by the flange on the wheels.
>> I understand the physics.  Greater inertia with a loaded car?
> 
> Yes. More mass = more inertia. But the wheels max out at the flange
> with an empty car so more load has no further effect.

I guess I need to go out and look at a train wheel...  Trip to Kennesaw. ;)


-- 
Until later, Geoffrey

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
  - Benjamin Franklin