08-03-2015, 07:30 PM
Joe wrote:
I wonder whether this design would be rotationally stable, though. Even with the two torii counter-rotating, I worry that it would end up tumbling end-over-end. It'd be more stable if you shortened (or removed entirely) the distance between the torii, so the spinning mass is as close to the middle as possible.
I'm sure you've developed good instincts about such things, and a tool that can probably test it out. Keep in mind this book cover image is just an artist's conception based on KSR's descriptions and perhaps sketches. Stan credits a lot of technical helpers, so there may have been some modeling done of some aspects. He probably needed dimensions and other details to define some of the action in the book. But they may all be back of the envelope approximations.
I wonder whether this design would be rotationally stable, though. Even with the two torii counter-rotating, I worry that it would end up tumbling end-over-end. It'd be more stable if you shortened (or removed entirely) the distance between the torii, so the spinning mass is as close to the middle as possible.
I'm sure you've developed good instincts about such things, and a tool that can probably test it out. Keep in mind this book cover image is just an artist's conception based on KSR's descriptions and perhaps sketches. Stan credits a lot of technical helpers, so there may have been some modeling done of some aspects. He probably needed dimensions and other details to define some of the action in the book. But they may all be back of the envelope approximations.